It has always been about access for all and is best known for heading the fight for the public's right to roam Britain's ancient footpaths.

But the inclusive ethos of the Ramblers' Association has not always been reflected in its public image, with the popular view of a rambler being white, middle aged and middle class.

Yet despite the stereotype it has inadvertently become a champion of racial integration, its ranks swelled by refugees eager to see more of their new home.

It's a partnership which is working well for both parties - the association finding enthusiastic new walkers and the refugees a way to enjoy the UK without spending money they don't have.

'New friends'

Back in Iran, Shirin Slami, her husband and two children used to enjoy walking in the mountains.

Now living in Sheffield, the family regularly meet up with the local Ramblers' Association, and have found walking in the UK a great source of relaxation. Even if the scenery is more than a little different.

"I just love it and I have made new friends from different cultures and seen new places," says Shirin.

"Where we go varies but I have seen countryside and famous places. It is all new for me and educational."

The Walking Out campaign was set up to reach those who felt excluded from the countryside and to get them out and enjoying it.

Run on a shoe-string budget and mainly by volunteers, it targets groups not usually associated with rambling in three areas of the country.

Volunteers in Sheffield decided to work with local refugees and rambling has proved so popular among the community it has now started organising its own clubs.

The success of this unusual coupling has surprised many.

"The refugees have embraced rambling and their enthusiasm has been the most exciting thing about the whole campaign," says Emily Richmond, head of promoting walking at the Ramblers' Association.

Families taking part in the organised walks have come from a range of countries including Iran, Somalia and Kosovo. For many walking as a leisure pursuit is a totally new concept.

"It isn't something many of them would do in their own countries, especially if they are hot, so the campaign's success has taken us all a bit by surprise," says chief executive of the Northern Refugee Centre in Sheffield, Jim Steinke.

He puts the success down to the informal nature of the events, saying refugees often feel stigmatised by activities based solely around them.

Dr Chris McDowell, director of the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the UK (ICAR), agrees.

"It's often the case that refugees feel formalised schemes tailored towards their interests don't help them integrate and often do the reverse and make them stand out. With this they are just walkers who happen to be refugees.

"Mixing on an informal level with local people peels away the mystery of a new country.

"Most refugees are fascinated by the cultural difference from their own countries and getting involved in an organisation as uniquely British as the Ramblers' Association is a great way for them to enjoy the differences."

The walks also provide a safe environment for the refugees, who often feel intimidated going out. They are also an escape from the toil of daily life.

Themes

"The places refugees live and the conditions they live in are often poor, so walking events offer them some relief from that," says Helen Todd, a refugee communities development worker at the Northern Refugee Centre.

"It also costs very little, if anything. The money refugees have to survive is so small, they are very limited as to what they can afford to do. The cost of one ticket to get into a theme park would probably cost them their week's budget for the family."

For Shirin the scheme has been such a success that she has now started to arrange her own walks and last week led a group of six Iranian families around Sheffield.

The locations have moved away from the traditional countryside stroll. Some are now in the city and have themes, such as local archaeology or history.

"It is all about giving people the knowledge and confidence to go out on walks on their own," says Ms Richmond.

"Our vision is to enable people to understand what's around them and make use of the local circumstances."