Interested in walk leading or backmarking?

We are always in need of walk leaders and backmarkers and welcome new volunteers.

To lead walks you should ideally have good navigation skills and be confident in handling a group, however we would like to help new leaders develop these skills where we can - see below for details of walk shadowing and navigation courses. It may be however that you don't yet have navigation skills, but know a few routes particularly well and would like to lead these. You don't have to commit to walk leading in every programme, it could just be a one off, or you could lead / backmark ocassionally.

For a full description of what the roles involve see our Walk Leader Guidance and Backmarker Guidance

If you are interested in finding out more or being put on the walk leaders / backmarkers email list, then please get in touch with the Vice-Chair - email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or have a chat with an existing walk leader / committee member.

Prospective leaders are also welcome to attend our regular Walk Planning meetings which take place quarterly - see socials page for details.

Walk Shadowing

If you fancy a gentle try-out of leading a walk, this may be for you. The idea is that you can 'shadow' a leader or backmarker on a walk, to see more closely what it involves. Volunteering to shadow does not mean you solemnly promise to become a leader - think of it as a test drive! If you are interested please contact a committee member, who will be happy to discuss it with you.

Navigation Courses

Navigation Courses available locally include: 

Foothills Outdoor shop runs navigation courses from March - September

The Peak District National Park Authority runs free navigation courses - see their events programme for dates.

Northern College offers low cost weekend residential Navigation and walk leading courses - SWG sometimes organises one of these courses as a weekend away for just our group, check the weekends away page for details.

If you'd like more information / advice, or are interested in attending one of these courses, please email the committee.

Also, SWG walk leaders usually run a practical session in Map Reading out in the Peaks once a year - look out for this in the walks programme.