European Ramblers' Association
| Sport | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ERA-EWV-FERP |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | D - 34121 Kassel |
| President | Lis Nielsen, Danemark |
| Official website | |
|
www | |
The European Ramblers Association (ERA; Europäische Wandervereinigung – EWV; Fédération Européenne de la Randonnée Pédestre - FERP) is a network organisation working for promotion of walking, creating trails, exchange of the know-how over the borders and secure the rights of free access to nature for the walkers. Through this work, ERA also cares for protecting and developing of European cultural heritage and for strengthening of mutual understanding between European citizens.
Already at the beginning of its existence, ERA started creating a network of long distance trails maintained by its member organisations to make it possible to walk all over Europe on foot to strengthen the connection people to people over the borders. Today the network consists of 12 E-paths and covers more than 55.000 km crisscrossing Europe. The newest E-path is E12 going along the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
To bring walkers in Europe together, ERA organizes every 5 years a pan-European walking event EURORANDO (next editions in 2016 and 2021).
In order to secure a high standard of European paths, ERA developed a transparent system of criteria for the improvement of trail quality: Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe. These criteria assess the trail surface format, the marking, signposting and network with other walking trails. Part of the criteria is also the service for walkers along the trail or access points for a transport.
Further, through its programme Walk Leader ERA provides certification for the training of voluntary walk leaders performed by its member organisations.
ERA was founded in 1969 and nowadays its members are 58 walking organisations from 32 different European countries representing more than 3 mill registered walkers.