ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR LEADERS OF RAMBLES
PLANNING
Choose a walk from a book, such as our own Rambling for Pleasure books, the Chiltern Society books or maps, Hill Walks in the Chilterns or any of the many similar books available locally. Alternatively, and better in many respects, plan your own route from the local Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps.
Plan your walk to stay off-road as much as possible. Remember safety comes first, especially when walking on or crossing roads. Plan safe crossing points.
Give particular thought to the starting point - can cars be parked without causing annoyance? Remember on rare occasions we can get nearly 60 people on some walks, i.e., this can mean about 30 cars. If you are using a car park preferably check it out at 10.00am on a Wednesday - would there be sufficient space left for our cars? Make a note of parking charges to put in the Walks Programme (at least 3 to 4 hours required for a half day walk of 5 – 7 miles).
If possible, avoid bridleways, especially in Autumn, Winter and early Spring. Also try to avoid long lengths of narrow footpath confined on both sides by barbed wire or hedges - they can get very wet and muddy in poor weather.
Remember that too many stiles or narrow kissing gates slow up a walk and make it difficult to prevent the group from getting strung out.
Walk your planned route well in advance, noting any problems that could be reported to the local authority and remedied before the date of the walk. Rewalk your route within a week or so of the planned date, to refresh your memory and to take notes of any recent changes. For more confidence, ask an experienced walks leader to walk the route with you.
On a half-day walk have a “banana stop” in mind. If it is an all-day walk consider your lunch stop - ideally with a view and with shelter available if wet. If a pub is convenient, will it accommodate the likely numbers and is food available, or, alternatively, will the landlord allow peoples’ own food to be consumed providing drinks are purchased?
Make notes, if you can, of any items of general interest concerning places to be seen on the walk (often the walks books give this information). As long as it is not excessive, such information will be appreciated by members on the walk.
INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THE WALKS PROGRAMME
Eve Norton, the Group’s Walks Organiser, should first be notified that you wish to lead a walk (Tel: 01628 622279, email: walkorganiser@eastberksramblers.org). She will require the following information for the Walks Programme:-
Day, date and time (usually 10.15am),
Title of your walk (ideally to include place names to help identify the area of the walk),
The starting point of the walk and its Grid Reference. Car parking charges or any special points regarding parking,
Mileage and some meaningful description of the terrain, i.e., easy, moderate, flat, undulating, hilly, steep, etc.
Book reference, if applicable,
Lunch stop details, including the need to bring own food and drink, if applicable,
Your landline telephone number and mobile number (if applicable).
ON THE DAY
Announcements:
Eve Norton, or in her absence another Committee member, will welcome everyone, give general announcements, ask if there are any and welcome new members present, members’ guests or non-members (to whom an RA Membership Form should be given). If no Committee member is present the walks leader must do the welcoming. You will then be introduced.
Give brief details of your walk and remind the group of the code of conduct for walking on roads, if applicable (walk in single file to face oncoming traffic and cross over for blind inside bends). The group should also be asked to walk not more than two abreast when crossing ploughed or cropped fields, if applicable, and to stand still on one side of the path if ridden horses are met.
Appoint a backmarker and request that all gates should be assumed to need closing unless told otherwise. Remember it is the leader’s responsibility not to lose contact with the backmarker.
In the event of bad weather you have a responsibility to go to the start point of the walk, if at all possible. It is your decision, however, on whether conditions are such that the walk should be cancelled. You are not obliged to lead the walk if you consider it unsafe. If members decide to go ahead with the walk you must make it clear that they do so on their own judgement and that it is no longer a Group walk.
On the walk:
Ask someone to count the party at a convenient point, such as at a stile or gate.
Try to avoid large gaps by moderating the pace, or by making frequent stops to allow the rear to catch up. Do not move off as soon as the backmarker is in view - those at the rear are the most likely to need a short stop. Start timing your break only when the backmarker arrives. Give a two-minutes warning when moving off from a “banana stop” and a five minutes warning when moving off from a lunch stop. Have a look around to ensure no litter has been left. If at a pub, take glasses back to the bar and thank the landlord.
Make a note of any problems encountered.
After the walk:
Please complete the Walk Leader’s Report Form and return it to Mrs. Alma Richardson, 8 Worcester Close, Cox Green, Maidenhead SL6 3HP (Tel: 01628 781827) or, better still, email it to walkreports@eastberksramblers.org. Please also be proactive and report any problems with the route, i.e., broken stiles, overgrown paths, cross-field paths not re-instated, etc., yourself direct to the appropriate local authority using the form which will be sent to you in advance of the date of your walk.
VERY IMPORTANT!!! Enjoy the whole experience of planning, reconnoitring and leading your walk. It is very satisfying and is much appreciated by Group members.
Gerald Barnett - updated 16th March 2012