You may wonder why some places offer Tramper hire and others don’t, or perhaps you have a favourite outdoor spot that you think would be perfect. This page explains how locations come about, how they’re funded and supported, and how you can help shape the future of the scheme.
Site Selection and Funding
Countryside Mobility is a small charity-run service, and our hire locations are made possible by the commitment of our partner sites who approach us to come on board.
Rather than Trampers being placed by us, each partner chooses to invest in the scheme by either purchasing or leasing a Tramper and paying an annual support fee. These fees cover most of our running costs, while membership fees help with the administration of the scheme.
Although early Lottery funding helped establish Countryside Mobility, the service has always relied on this partner-led model to remain sustainable.
Because we don’t have the funds to buy and place Trampers ourselves, new locations usually come about when an outdoor attraction approaches us to express interest in offering the service.
This means our network can sometimes appear uneven, with a few surprising gaps. However, our experience over more than 15 years shows that this approach works – partners who choose to invest in the service are highly committed to maintaining it and supporting users.
When a site is interested in becoming a partner, the process usually follows these steps:
We talk through what’s involved and often visit the site to assess its potential.
If the site decides to proceed, this is confirmed through a Partnership Agreement.
We carry out a Tramper audit to identify suitable routes for inexperienced users and recommend any physical improvements or route information.
Support fees cover our running costs, but not the purchase of Trampers. In most cases, we apply to external funding bodies to help cover the cost, unless a Tramper is being redistributed or funded through a significant donation.
Once everything is in place, we provide training and resources for staff and volunteers so the service can launch safely and confidently.
While we can’t decide where Tramper hire will be offered, knowing where there’s demand is still incredibly helpful. Your suggestions can prompt outdoor attractions to consider joining the scheme.
Using Tramper hire at our partner sites is also one of the most important ways you can support the network, especially for sites that review each year whether they can continue offering the service.
Together, these choices help Countryside Mobility grow and reach more people and places.
