Below is a summary of items to consider when leading a walk. The Rambers also have a checklist of items (download pdf) which you may wish to peruse.
Choose your Walk
This can seem a bit of a challenge but there are a lot of sources out there with descriptions of walks. Examples are:
Walks description walks.
Walking Magazines
Websites (for example google “walk descriptions”)
It is not necessary to reccie your walk at this stage. Your choice of walk should be due to the description seeming interesting to yourself.
Describe your Walk for the Website
The way we inform walkers of the walks is on the Walks Description page on the website. To create the description we need information on the walk. The following information is needed (and should be emailed to the Walks Coordinator who’s email address is on the contact page):
A name for the walk
The length of the walk.
A grade for the walk (Easy, Moderate or Strenuous).
Information on the start point. At least one of the following:
A name of the start point (eg a Pub or car park name) if available.
And/or OS Map reference
And/or Latitude & Longitude
And/or Post Code
Some description of the walk (a few lines only to sell the walk and with any pertinent information).
Your contact details (not included in the website description).
Preparing for the Walk
Reconnoitre
The most important part of preparing to lead a walk is the Reccie. The intent is both convenience and safety:
When you are leading a group it is a much more relaxed experience if you have done the walk on your own (or with a friend or two) so that the inevitable wrong turns etc occur without a large group in tow.
For a strenuous walks good familiarity with the route is essential, especially at high points where a good knowledge routes down can be helpful if visibility is poor on the day you get up there with a group. Even for the most easy walk, the walk description might for example take you through a plantation of trees which is being felled. If this occurs a route around the hazard might be necessary. For strenuous walks it is useful to have alternative routes in mind in case of very bad weather on the day.
The Days before the Walk
Keep an eye on the weather in the area of the walk in the days leading up to the walk. This is especially important if the walk goes onto high hills and moors where visibility (not to mention the comfort of walkers) can be significantly reduced in poor weather conditions. Walkers are a tough lot and we don’t often call off walks due the weather but extra care to ensure participants are properly equipped in challenging weather. As leader you are allowed to tell poorly equipped people that they should not come on the walk.
The Day of the Walk
It is normal (but not required) for the walk leader to travel (at no charge) on the bus. This can assist the driver with finding the way to the starting point.
When at the starting point check through the list of expected walkers. If anyone is missing (for those arriving in cars) and you have cell phone numbers, you can attempt to call them to see how far they are or just wait 15min past the advertised stating time for the walk.
Lead the walk from the front with a Backmarker (you can ask for a volunteer Backmarker) at the back of the group. Keeping the group between the leader and the Backmarker is especially important on strenuous walks. Check with your Backmarker at rest stops in case there are any problems.
The Bus Driver
The bus driver is a volunteer. We ask the walk leader (if they are travelling on the bus) to pass a bag around to collect a “tip” for the driver on the return journey from the walk.
Be Prepared
It is important to be knowledgeable about the walk before you lead it. This is especially important for strenuous walks were the reccie is an opportunity to familiarise you with the route and to organise for Getting lost (have a map of the area), hazards and blocked paths, deteriorating weather, accidents and illness, people forcing the pace, managing the group/drawing on group expertise/keeping people informed.
