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INTRODUCTION TO LEADING A
RAMBLERS WALK
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PLAN OF THE DAY
1. INTRODUCTIONS
2. WHAT MAKES A GOOD WALK/WALK LEADER
3. PLANNING A WALK – BEFORE, DURING & AFTER
4. LUNCH
5. MAP AND COMPASS SKILLS
6. QUESTIONS & CLOSE
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!
INTRODUCTIONS
Who you are and something about yourself
Do you already lead walks?
Why do you want to lead?
What type of walk do you lead or want to lead?
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THE RAMBLERS - BRITAIN’S WALKING CHARITY
Working to safeguard the footpaths, the countryside and other places we
go walking, and to encourage more people to take up walking. With
122,000 members in England, Scotland and Wales, we've been working
for walkers for 75 years.
• Over 28,000 Ramblers led walks per year by almost 500 Groups, from
short walks to remote walks in challenging terrain in winter
• Grant funded projects to reach out into new communities
• Approximately 15,000 Walk Leaders (roughly 10% of membership)
• It’s important that walks are led well and safely
• Dedicated full time officer to support led walks
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!
WHAT MAKES A GOOD WALK?
Think of things that make a good walk, you may have been on
a walk that you really enjoyed, why did you enjoy it, was it the
knowledgeable leader, the scenery or the challenge?
In groups write down what you think makes a good walk.
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD WALK? - ANSWERS
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RIGHT LENGTH
INTERESTING ROUTE
INTERESTING, FRIENDLY & COMPETENT LEADER
FRIENDLY MIX OF PEOPLE
VARIED TERRAIN/LANDSCAPE (OPEN, WOODS ETC)
AVOIDS BUSY TRAFFIC/ROADS
AVOIDS BUSY AREAS/HOTSPOTS
BIT OF CHALLENGE
GOOD LEADER
WILDLIFE
RIGHT SPEED
SOMEWHERE NEW
GOOD VIEWS
PUB OR CAFÉ VISIT
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!
WHAT MAKES A GOOD WALK LEADER?
Have you been on a walk where you were impressed by the leader?
Why were you impressed? Was it because the leader was
welcoming, knew about local history or because they walked at an
appropriate pace?
In groups write down what you think makes a good walk leader.
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD WALK LEADER - ANSWERS
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GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS
MAKES THE WALK A “SOCIAL” OCCASION
INFORMATIVE
OBSERVANT (ROUTE HAZARDS / PEOPLE IN DIFFICULTIES)
ENTHUSIASTIC BUT NOT OVERBEARING
RELIABLE AND PUNCTUAL
WARM APPROACH / WELCOMING
DOESN’T LEAVE THE GROUP BEHIND
FAMILIAR WITH ROUTE (AND ALTERNATIVES)
CAN DEAL WITH SITUATIONS AS THEY ARISE
FRIENDLY
FIRM
ORGANISED
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BEING PREPARED – THINGS TO CONSIDER
Planning your walk
Navigation and maps
Other considerations – personal equipment, toilet
stops, weather, recce etc…
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PLANNING YOUR WALK
What distance & terrain? - What are you comfortable leading?
Long or short distance? Steep ascents or descents?
Location? - Local? A favourite area? Somewhere new?
How will you choose it? - Devise from map (look for good path/access
network), use one you have done before, choose from a guidebook,
recommendation etc…
Duration/time? - Half day or full day, afternoon or evening?
Is there a suitable place to leave cars? Are there toilets at the start or
en route? Is there a pub or café for lunch or at the end for
refreshments?
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There are lots of guides available!
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RECCE
Once you have done all this in theory, recce
the route in order to (among others):
• Check your planned route is walkable with no obstructions, diverted paths
or problems
• Check alternatives if necessary or “escape routes”
• Identify potential hazards or tricky areas
• Check timings for the walk at suitable points on the route
• Especially good for new leaders as it helps build confidence
• Identify good viewpoints, points of interest and refreshment stops
• Familiarise yourself with the route so it looks effortless on the day!!
PLEASE REMEMBER A RECCE IS NOT COMPULSARY, BUT IT IS
CONSIDERED GOOD PRACTICE
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PUBLICISING YOUR WALK
Submit your walk to your Programme Co-ordinator/Walks
Secretary for publication in:
• The Group or Area printed programme, and/or
• Group or Area website, and/or
• Ramblers Walks Finder
• Consider local shops/libraries/bus shelters etc…
This is important in order for the walks to be
an approved Ramblers walk and thus
covered by insurance, that the walk is
advertised in advance. See insurance slide
for further information.
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LEADING YOUR WALK
THE DAY BEFORE
ON THE DAY
DURING THE WALK – INCLUDING WHAT IF’S?
AFTER THE WALK
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THE DAY BEFORE
• Check accurate weather forecasts (for example met office, mountain
weather information service) and revise route if necessary. Be
prepared to cancel if the weather is too bad.
• Re-check public transport and remind pub if you plan to stop there.
• Check personal gear and first aid kit. Some groups have a “pool” kit
that leaders share.
• Charge mobile phone
• Be prepared to answer queries from potential attendees who may
ring for information or advice
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ON THE DAY – AT THE START (1)
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Be early and welcoming, particularly to newcomers.
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Some Groups ask walkers to carry an emergency contact
number and/or medical details. Other Groups ask the Leader to
keep a record.
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Informally check the equipment of the party and identify anyone
with particular needs. Be prepared to turn inadequately equipped
walkers away.
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Remind adults accompanying children under 15 that they are
responsible for the children.
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Check unaccompanied 15-17 year olds have parental permission
to attend.
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ON THE DAY – AT THE START (2)
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At an appropriate time, hand out membership forms to any nonmembers. Explain the work of the Ramblers during the walk.
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Appoint a backmarker if you don’t already have one.
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Introduce yourself and the backmarker and give details of the walk – the
route, estimated finish time, refreshment stops, points of interest and
any hazards to be aware of. Highlight your expectations of walkers and
any points where particular care may be needed.
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Answer any questions
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Count the party and signal the start of the walk.
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ON THE DAY – THE WALK (1)
• Set a reasonable pace. Watch for stragglers, and reduce the
pace if necessary. Don’t allow walkers racing ahead to set a
pace above the grade and that required for the walk. If you are
not at the front, make sure those at the front always know when
they should stop and wait for others to catch up.
• Keep an eye on timings
• Always give clear instructions at critical points, e.g. where to go
for refreshment stops, where and when to re-assemble.
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ON THE DAY – THE WALK (2)
• Always wait at hill-tops for everyone to recover their
breath, and allow sufficient water stops, particularly in
the summer.
• Manage the party’s pace over stiles, through gates etc…
• Periodically count the number in the party
• Be alert to problems (individual, weather, road walking
etc.), involving others in the party as necessary. There
will be times when you need to decide as leader what to
do, and when leaving it to the group is inappropriate.
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AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!
ON THE WALK – WHAT IF?
These are just some examples of what if’s. In groups discuss what
you as a leader would do in the following circumstances.
1/ You get lost?
2/ Someone takes ill and can’t go on
3/ There is an accident/incident?
4/ What if it is a major accident?
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ON THE WALK – WHAT IF? - Answers
1/ You get lost - Less likely if you have recced the walk. Don’t panic. Admit it
to the group, try to pinpoint your position from the map, take a compass
bearing, retrace to the last identifiable point. If necessary ask other
experienced walk leaders for assistance.
2/ Someone takes ill and can’t go on - Two people should accompany them
back to the car/start point ensuring they know the way. If the leader takes
ill, then the backmarker should take over and lead the walk while the leader
is taken back to the car/start by two others. Otherwise, abandon the walk
and retrace back to the start or find the shortest, safest route back from
the map
3/ There is an accident/incident? - For minor accidents, ask if anyone is
capable of administering first aid. The leader doesn’t have to - anyone
who feels comfortable can do so. The checklist* has basic first aid advice.
4/ What if it is a major accident? - The checklist* has detailed advice on what
to do. Call for the emergency services or send two people to get help,
someone should stay with the casualty making sure they are all safe, but
do not move them, rest of the party continues with the backmarker or other
as leader or retraces route.
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AFTER THE WALK
• Thank everyone for coming and make sure
they can get home safely
• Encourage non members to join
• Report any incidents to Led Walks Officer and any
path problems to the relevant Area/Group officer
• Reflect on how the day went
• Start thinking about leading your next walk!
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WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? (1)
To be considered an official Ramblers walk, and therefore covered by the civil
liability insurance policy, all walks including coach rambles must:
• Be brought to the attention of the Programme Coordinator, who is
ideally confident in the Leaders ability to lead the walk.
• Be publicised, as a Ramblers activity, in advance in at least one of: Group
Walks Finder, a printed programme or the Group/Area website.
• Have a nominated Leader, and ideally a backmarker who are both
members and who ideally together, or separately have recced the walk.
Additionally for walks to be covered which involve an overnight stay, walks must
also have an overall organiser who ideally is confident in the ability of Walk
Leaders to lead each walk and who will vary the programme of walks if
circumstances (e.g. weather) demand.
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WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? (2)
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It is important to remember that the insurance cover exists to give
protection to individuals (members and non members) in the case of a
claim being made against them by a third party (such as a landowner,
a member of the public, or another Ramblers member). This is known
as civil liability insurance.
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For such a claim to be successful, the injured party has to be able to
demonstrate that they have suffered as a result of negligence. This
principle is particularly important to remember in the context of led
walks. Here, for a successful claim to be made against the Ramblers,
the injured party needs to show that the walk leader abdicated their
responsibility in a reckless or negligent manner.
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Civil liability covers activities both in GB and abroad, with the
exception of USA and Canada. Please note that medical cover is not
included and personal accident cover is only available to work parties.
See www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/AreaGroup/Basics/Insurance.htm
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FAQ AND OTHER ISSUES TO COVER IF APPROPRIATE
Some examples:
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Responsibilities of walkers themselves
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Themed walks
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Walks Finder
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Dogs on walks
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Walk grading
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Mentoring new leaders
There is a wealth of information on the walk leaders page of the
Ramblers website, including all the topics above.
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QUOTES FROM WALK LEADERS:
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You’ve got to have confidence in your own ability to make
decisions. It’s a question of striking the right balance and doing
what’s best for the whole group – Terry Howard, Sheffield
Ramblers
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I get so much pleasure from the Ramblers that I wanted to put
something back. I make a point of speaking to everyone so they
feel welcome and included – Olga Macfayden, Edinburgh
Ramblers
For the full quotes and walk leader article see Walk, Winter 2010
Thank you for your time and for being a Ramblers leader.