Walk Leaders Information

Walk leaders play a vital role in Leighton Buzzard Ramblers. Put simply, without leaders, there would be no walking group. We very much appreciate the time and effort that our walk leaders put into planning, recceing, and leading walks.

We always welcome new leaders, whether they are old hands or new to leading walks. For those who are unsure but would like to try leading a walk, why not use your favourite walk? You could extend it if necessary.

Our experienced walk leaders would be happy to help with planning, by co-leading, or just be there on the day in case they are needed.

Guidance

Once confidence is gained, you could try picking out a route on a map and marking it up. For those that want to expand their knowledge, The Ramblers Association offers map and compass reading courses. Their website is full of information, very useful for planning walks or just to spark ideas.

Planning the Walk

Points to consider:

• Location of walk – time spent travelling to the start point of the walk.
• Terrain and length of walk. Is it dry or muddy underfoot?
• Are there many stiles on the walk? The bigger the group, the longer it will take.

A general guideline would be to allow 2-2.5 miles per hour, including breaks.

• Recce the walk, preferably with another person. Should it be a tricky route, then a second recce may be necessary.
• Suitable place for a brief stop for coffee/tea.

Submit your walk details to the programme coordinator, which should include:

• Your name and contact number
• Date of the walk
• Meeting time & place (see below)
• Car parking facilities
• Distance of walk

A Walk Leader’s checklist is available, which covers all aspects of leading a walk. Copies of which are obtainable from a member of the committee.

Dogs are only allowed on a walk at the leader’s discretion, and an assessment should be made regarding farm and wildlife en route. If a request is made to bring a dog, then the owner must be made aware that it is their responsibility to keep the dog under control at all times.

Help with finding the location using a grid reference/postcode/What3Words: use Grid Reference Finder. Use the map to point at the start place and then right-click to display the information. You will need to note the 6-figure grid reference, the postcode, and the What3Words.

Leading a walk is a commitment, but in return, you get great camaraderie, so why not give it a try?