As a club we pride ourselves in welcoming new members to enjoy the experience of the outdoors and to ensure the safety of all our members. In order to achieve this, we as a committee would like to inform you of how we plan and conduct each walk with your safety in mind.

The Planning of Walks

The planning of a walk begins with the Walks Convener who has to find a suitable walk or walks. This involves (in our club) Ken Paton who generously gives of his own time and effort to research routes that are interesting, scenic and safe. It is not an easy task by any means and consists of weeks or months of research to compile a list for each summer and winter seasons. When Ken has completed the list it is presented to the committee members for their consideration and any adjustments made. This will include the dates of the walks and who will lead them. We rely on the generosity of our members to volunteer for the walks and to be competent in keeping everyone safe.

The Walk Leader

The responsibility of a walk leader is no easy task. The walk they choose has to be recced in advance. They are given a map by the Walks Convener and they then have to go and familiarise themselves with the route. This is done in their own time. To begin with they have to consider a breakfast stop for members. This involves seeking out cafes that can accommodate our numbers, speaking to the owners to ensure they can meet our needs, and assessing where the bus can park safely. They have to find a safe parking spot for the bus at the start of the walk, and if its a linear walk,- where the bus has to pick us up. The Walk Leader will give a brief talk before the walk to make sure everyone is prepared. They will make sure the paperwork is correct The Leader will appoint a Back Marker who will have accompanied the leader on the recce and also is familiar with the route.

This is to ensure that the group is kept together and no one will be left behind. On the walk itself, the leader will have chosen the best place for short stops and lunch breaks. Timing is essential on a recce. It is important to remind everyone that No one should walk ahead of the leader unless they have given permission to do so. Walk Leaders have a legal responsibility under Ramblers Association rules to ensure everyone is safe and it has been known that people have got lost by going ahead of the leader and taking a wrong turning, this results in a delay trying to locate them and affects the timing of the walk. It is important that no one should go off on their own for ‘comfort stop’ without informing the back marker. If any walker has a medical condition they should inform the Walk Leader in the event of an emergency. It is important that walkers wear the correct clothing and footwear as it is well known that the weather changes quickly. The Walk Leader will take control and be assertive when needed.

All of the above is to ensure that members enjoy the walk, are safe and well informed. In the event that there are 2 walks on the same day, each leader will have done the recce and collaborated on the times on starting the walk and finishing the walk and where the starting point will be and the finishing point. There may be a delay on the finishing time due to location of the walks and any problem that may develop. Please be patient as safety is a priority.

Thank you for your understanding

Bernadette Boulton
(Former Chairperson)