Open Country

Helping People with Disabilities to Access and Enjoy the Countryside

#OutThereTogether

Breakfree Trails

Hello and a very warm welcome to Open Country! Thank you for visiting our website; we hope you find what you are looking for.

We are a Yorkshire charity with over 30 years of experience of working alongside disabled people, helping them to access and enjoy the countryside. We accomplish this through a variety of outdoor activities and the provision of information, training and advice for all.

We spend our days in the great outdoors, having fun whilst looking after our health and wellbeing. We have a dynamic team of staff, volunteers and trustees ready to welcome and support you.

Please get in touch to find out how you can join us, we’re waiting to take your call: 01423 507227

Best wishes from us all at Open Country

Harrogate charity brings the Yorkshire countryside to your armchair

by OpenCountry | October 9, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

As we settle down into Autumn, many of us will be looking forward to atmospheric walks, enjoying the sights and sounds of the changing countryside. But what if you are unable to get ‘out there’ in person, due to disabilities, lack of transport or bad weather? An...

Our Impact 2023-2024

by OpenCountry | September 24, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

Open Country is proud of what we achieve each year, and we want to share some of our recent highlights with you. Our new 'Impact Report' highlights our successes, adventures and stories from 2023-2024, much of which we could not make happen without your help! Thank...

Disability empathy training in Nidderdale

by OpenCountry | September 20, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

Our Chief Officer David Shaftoe enjoyed a splendid day at Pateley Bridge delivering a training course on disability and awareness - part of Open Country’s work with Nidderdale National Landscape’s ‘Access for All’ project. Representatives from organisations such as...

Nominations open for Inclusive Access Awards

by OpenCountry | September 5, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

A Yorkshire disability charity is inviting the community to share great examples of accessible outdoor places, for its annual Good Access Scheme awards We're Open Country, based in Harrogate, with a hub in Wakefield, and we make this award to highlight accessible and...

Voices of Open Country – John, Member

by OpenCountry | August 15, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

As part of Open Country's mission to enable people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside the charity organises daily activities including five popular tandem clubs. The front riders are volunteers and the back riders (stokers) are members. John,...

Open Country’s role in opening up Nidderdale

by OpenCountry | July 16, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

We're on a mission to help people with a disability to access and enjoy the countryside. We have been selected to support the formerly-named Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with an Access for All project, to improve accessibility for people of all ages...

Could you be a treasured trustee?

by OpenCountry | July 5, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

We're looking for a new treasurer to join our skilled trustee board. We'd love to hear from anyone with a sound financial skill set to take on this pivotal volunteer role. We've been supporting people with disabilities to access and enjoy the countryside for more than...

Voices of Open Country – tandem volunteer Ian

by OpenCountry | June 11, 2024 | Open Country News | 0 Comments

We're collecting stories and experiences from our family of members, carers, volunteers, and trustees, which we will share monthly. Today, as part of #NationalBikeWeek, we're spotlighting one of our amazing tandem club volunteers. Keen cyclist Ian Ladley has been...

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