Non-landed Club

[John P]

I don't know what can have gone wrong with Youtube, but maybe your computer environment isn't the same as mine. I use AdBlock Plus, which may avoid some features of Youtube as it exists now, with extensive "monetizing" of content. I just went to the site and searched on "Manchester Rambler", and found 2 performances with no login required, while the little AdBlock icon showed double-digit eliminations of unwanted material.

Here it is performed by MacColl himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENYMwuCG2Y

And here it is sung by the Irish folk band the Dubliners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrT2E2U4t18

That word "ramble" is interesting. Dr Johnson (same guy who wasn't impressed by the scenery of Scotland) edited a publication called "The Rambler" which I think was meant to imply a person who walked around without much of a destination, but with the intent to find interesting things to see. And then there was a vogue for it in the 1930s, with the founding of the Ramblers' Association, which still exists. There was a "mass trespass" on the lands owned by the Duke of Devonshire and closed to public access, which was led by left-wing activists. Yes, communist hikers, it does seem strange! Ewan MacColl grew up with a father who was a trade union militant. He wrote the "Manchester Rambler" inspired by the trespass event at age 17, by which time he was already under police surveillance. (He would certainly use AdBlock Plus.) But apart from the name of the organization, I don't think anyone would say they "ramble" in Britain now. They'd be more likely to "walk". Americans tend to "hike" if they're serious about going somewhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ramblers

Ewan MacColl certainly led an interesting life:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewan_MacColl

[nuduke]

I don't think there is any difference for most practical purposes.  Rambling is the name of a pleasurable hike through the countryside.  A hike might be imbued with more purpose - e.g. they made the long hike to freedom - in which you wouldn't really substitute the word ramble.
Rambling may carry the connotation of less arduous or 'serious' walking than does hiking which carries connotations of greater purpose, fitness and excersise….but doesn't have to!


John

[yeldew]

No need for me to say any more!!!   

I certainly meant to imply that the Nat Ram walks aren't arduous to a fit person.

Around 12 miles;
usually split into three 4-mile sections with 2 breaks for refreshments lazing in the sun;
starting at noon and finishing between 6pm and 7pm.

Usually, a good half of the walkers stop for a pub meal after.
Last week there were 44 walkers and at least 20 stopped to eat, so the pub owner was happy!

Norman.

[Greenbare Woods]

I tend to think of hiking as heading for a particular destination.   "We hiked to the upper hot springs." 

I tend to think of rambling as wandering about hither and yon without any particular place to go.  "We were out rambling in the woods for 4 hours."    Rambling is a lot like moseying. 

 

[eyesup]

Last week there were 44 walkers and at least 20 stopped to eat, so the pub owner was happy!

That reminds me of Ian. Many of his walks seemed to end at a pub for a pint and a bite.

Duane

[nuduke]

Last week there were 44 walkers and at least 20 stopped to eat, so the pub owner was happy!

So Norman, I assume the walkers got dressed to eat.  With that sort of number, though, you could almost carry on being naked as you'd fill a substantial proportion of any pub and who's going to argue with a posse of 44 recalcitrant old geezers!
John

[yeldew]

So Norman, I assume the walkers got dressed to eat.  With that sort of number, though, you could almost carry on being naked as you'd fill a substantial proportion of any pub and who's going to argue with a posse of 44 recalcitrant old geezers!
John

We have been in a backroom to ourselves occasionally, and often joked about that.
Several of the pub managers know that we are naturists.
On one occasion, the room was rather hot and the manager offered to open the only window.
We all said it would be easier just to get naked, but nothing happened. 
Norman.