This summer, an exciting opportunity awaits people across Great Britain as they are invited to participate in the inaugural Great Slow Ways Waycheck—an event that aims to establish a new national tradition.
The objective is clear: collectively walk, run, wheel, and evaluate as many Slow Ways walking routes as possible from June 16th to 25th, taking advantage of the longest and brightest days of the year.
The Great Slow Ways Waycheck is organized by Slow Ways, a grassroots initiative dedicated to creating a comprehensive national network of walking routes that connect towns, cities, and national parks across Great Britain.
Communities such as Nottingham, Exmouth, and West Kirby have already accomplished the remarkable feat of 100% checking all their local Slow Ways routes. However, numerous towns still require thorough checking to integrate them into the new national walking network.
Dan Raven-Ellison, the founder of Slow Ways, expressed the vision behind the initiative, saying, “Imagine if we could establish a world-class walking network that allows people to journey between any two towns, cities, or national parks in Britain. Wouldn’t that be truly wonderful?”
“Slow Ways is a remarkable and unifying endeavor, with thousands of individuals contributing by sharing and checking routes. To finalize the network and make it accessible for everyone to enjoy, we not only need to ensure the quality of all routes but also undertake regular reassessments to ensure they remain open, navigable, and enjoyable. To accomplish this, we’re seeking passionate individuals who love exploring the outdoors from every corner of Great Britain.”
“This is a mission that truly matters. By participating, you will help create a network that extends beyond walking, running, and wheeling—it will be a network of joy, health, love, ideas, creativity, relationships, communities, cost-saving, environmental responsibility, connection with nature, and so much more,” added Raven-Ellison.
Each day during the Great Slow Ways Waycheck, valuable insights are gathered as people walk and evaluate different routes, enabling the identification of the best paths. Their reviews, photos, and surveys provide invaluable guidance and data for future walkers and wheelers. This extraordinary network, lovingly crafted by hand, is rapidly taking shape. However, Slow Ways invites thousands more walking, running, and wheeling enthusiasts to participate in the Great Slow Ways Waycheck.
The Great Slow Ways Waycheck draws inspiration from the ancient tradition of “beating the bounds,” where individuals would annually walk the boundaries of their area. The elder members would lead, imparting their profound understanding of the landscape through each step.
Even after the completion of the Slow Ways network’s full checking, regular assessments will be required once or twice a year to ensure the routes remain of high quality for public use. Hence, the Great Waychecks!
This initiative aspires to establish a future tradition, commencing now, with the ambitious goal of creating an extensive walking network that millions of people can trust. It also aims to raise awareness about the value of exploring Britain’s paths, showcasing national unity.
Slow Ways is seeking individuals from every town and city in Great Britain to participate in the Great Slow Ways Waycheck over the ten days of mid-summer. To join this remarkable event, simply travel, assess, and review as many Slow Ways routes as possible between June 16th and 25th.
To learn more about the Great Slow Ways Waycheck and how to get involved, visit www.slowways.org and www.slowways.org/greatwaycheck.
