Walk Leader and Participant Expectations
We take the safety and wellbeing of our walkers and walk leaders very seriously, and want everyone to be able to enjoy our walks as much as possible.
To help us achieve this, we have set out what we expect from both participants and walk leaders.
Participant expectations
Signing up
Sign up for the walk in advance, no later than 6pm the day before the walk.
Please don’t sign-up for walks beyond your capability or fitness.
If your plans change and you can no longer make it, please remove yourself from the event no later than 6pm the day before the walk.
If you can no longer make the walk and it is after 6pm the day before, please attempt to contact the walk leader to let them know. Please note, a reply may not always be realistic where leaders are dealing with large groups, or possible where signal is poor.
Repeated late cancellations and/or no-shows may result in a temporary pause on booking onto walks and events.
Start of the walk
Arrive in plenty of time, we’d recommend 10-15 mins BEFORE the walk departure time. In some circumstances (and at walk leader discretion), leaders may choose to wait for late-comers where they have contacted the leader or confirmed their ETA, but this is not expected.
If you are delayed due to disruption on the public transport option listed for the walk, leaders will do their best to wait for the specified bus or train (within reason). Leaders may well be on it themselves.
Come prepared. Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing, and pack enough food and water for the walk.
A leader may refuse your attendance on their walk if they feel you are not prepared or may pose a risk to the safety of the group.
If you have never walked with us before, please introduce yourself to the leader at the start.
Let the walk leader know if you have any health conditions that may impact your walk, or be relevant in an emergency.
During the walk
Please follow walk leader instructions on the day.
Let the leader know if you are struggling at any point.
If for any reason you need or want to leave the walk before it finishes, let the walk leader know before departing from the group. Please tell them in person, rather than sending them a digital message.
Be kind and considerate to other people in the group and those we meet along the way.
Leader expectations
Plan and submit your walk for publishing on the SWG website.
If possible, please perform a recce. A recce is a try-out walk for you do to check whether there are any obstructions on the route and to get a feel for the intensity and length.
Check the weather forecast, come prepared, and adapt plans to local circumstances to keep walkers safe.
Introduce yourself at the start of the walk, and briefly describe the route and any intended breaks.
Where possible, nominate a backmarker or co-leader to assist you managing the group, and introduce them at the start of the walk.
If contacted by participants prior to the walk, you are encouraged to reply if you are able to do so, but there is no expectation for this (and this may not always be possible), especially if this is after 6pm the day before the walk.
Be responsible for the group during the walk. If any incident or accident happens on the walk, report it quickly to the Ramblers.
Put the safety of the group first. This means adapting the walk where necessary (due to unsafe paths, changing weather, etc.). It could also involve turning away participants who you feel are not appropriately equipped or who may pose a risk to the safety of the group.