A. A Right of Way in the countryside is either a footpath, a bridleway or a byway. Generally, footpaths are for people only on foot. Bridleways are for people on foot, on a horse or on a bicycle. Byways are open to all classes of traffic, including cars. There are 140,000 miles of 'Rights of Way' in England and Wales alone. Best Foot Forward suggests some interesting places to walk.

A. Yes, providing you keep it under close control. Both you and your dog benefit physically from regular walks! [For more ideas to get you walking, see Take a Walk

A. Many local councils mark public footpaths and bridleway with a sign. As you walk along the path, you may also see waymarks. These are usually simple arrows and are yellow for footpaths, blue for bridleways and red for byways. They indicate the direction that the path takes. If you are unsure whether you can use a particular path, check with your local highways authority or look on a local Ordnance Survey Map to see if the footpath is shown. If you are still unsure, contact your local Ramblers Association. [See Information]

A. You probably have most of things you need already. Comfortable clothing and sensible shoes. Walking Gear gives you more details.

A. Why don't you join a group and try one of the longer National Trails. It is unlikely that you will do any of them in one go, but you could set yourself the challenge of doing one over a certain number of months. Some of them are listed in Best Foot Forward.

A. You can join the Ramblers at any age. Younger children may go on some of the shorter walks with their families. They also hold special family days. As a teenager, you could join the Ramblers yourself to take part in their walks. For details of their activities and for information about local groups contact their headquarters [See Information and Take a Walk: Clubs

A. A lot of the enjoyment you get from walking is by sharing it with other people. It can be dangerous to go out walking on your own, especially in isolated areas. There is safety in numbers, so walk with a group of friends or join a local club.