MEMBERS' PAGE

. . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

We follow the Countryside Code. You are encouraged to read it.

The most relevant points for us are:

Don't drop litter – anything!

Leave gates as you find them.

Guidance for all walkers

Wear suitable clothing, including a hat and gloves in Winter and protection from the sun in Summer. Carry extra layers and be prepared for changes of weather and for lower temperatures/wind-chill at exposed locations.

Waterproofs and/or an umbrella are nearly always required throughout the year.

Walking boots are usually a must for good grip and to prevent the feet becoming too tired. Do not wear new boots on long walks until you know they are comfortable.

Bring enough food and drink – don't underestimate how much liquid is required in hot weather (2 or 3 litres may be needed for a 10 mile walk).

Car sharing is encouraged where possible. This is environmentally sound, eases car parking pressure and assists as our numbers increase.

Don’t leave anything on display in parked cars.

Keep in step with your leader – they plan the walks carefully, including suitable stops for coffee, lunch, and tea.

If you find yourself in front of the leader, be sure to look back frequently!

We usually have a back-marker – make sure you know who that is, they could be useful.

When road walking, listen for cars.

If a vehicle approaches on a single-track road, then we should walk on one side, following the leader.

On a bend in a road walk on the outside if possible – you will see what is coming and they will see you! 

Make sure the person behind you sees the direction you take, especially in woodland and whenever there's a choice of paths.

Be aware of others, e.g. the leader or back marker might get lonely. If you have any concerns for anyone's safety, please tell the walk leader or contact us later if that's more appropriate.

Single file is necessary beside a road and in a field with crops.

Don’t trample a farmer’s crops to avoid mud on the path – it's their livelihood and we don’t want to upset anyone.

Guidance for walk leaders

A) Planning a walk

Choose a route:

• Repeat or modify a previous group walk. Many of these are recorded on our set of Ordnance Survey maps, and some walk leaders have digital copies – let us know if you want access to these resources.

• See the links page for online sources of routes and maps.

• County Council websites show public rights of way, and indicate paths that are temporarily closed; some also show the location of stiles, gates, steps, bridges, etc. 

Think about possible shortcuts for use by anyone in difficulty or if the walk is going slower than expected.

Check the intended location for events or activities that could prevent parking or cause inconvenience for others, e.g. Saturday sports, village festivals, or weddings – village or church websites may provide information.

Check to see if Parish Churches or Village Halls may be able to provide parking or other facilities. If a cash donation is appropriate consider asking each walker for a contribution to be paid on the day. Alternatively, speak to our club Treasurer about sending a donation from our funds.

Have a co-leader/back-marker whenever possible.

Pre-walk: check parking, toilet facilities, hazards, timings and possible shortcuts. Remember that one or two people will nearly always cover a route more quickly than a group.

Plan a mid-morning refreshment stop – preferably near cover for “comfort-breaks”. Other shorter drinks-stops may be needed.

Assess whether livestock is likely to be encountered should anyone turn up with a dog. (We do not encourage people to bring dogs but if they do it is entirely their responsibility to see that they do not cause any problems).

If a footpath crossing a field with crops is not clearly defined, it is usually better to walk around the edge of the field.

If you encounter badly damaged stiles or other footpath problems, it’s a good to report them to the relevant local authority using our links.

We do not normally encourage pub lunches as they tend to prolong the lunch stop. If your stopping point happens to have a nearby pub or café, walkers may want to use it. Make clear what your departure time is. 

If you do plan to offer a pub/café lunch stop as part of the day, this must be made clear in the notes with an indication of cost. You should also:

• think about timings and what other walkers will do if not eating in the pub.

• discuss your plans with the staff or publican.

• consider whether to ask walkers for advance booking. Alternatively, you could collect and phone orders through on the morning of the walk, if you have the menu.

If planning a post-walk tea shop option, discuss your plans with the staff and check the time of last orders.

Don’t forget to complete and return our walk details template at least two weeks before the walk date.

B) On the day of the walk

It’s a good idea to carry a small First Aid kit, including a selection of blister plasters.

On a winter walk, carry a torch. If there is any possibility of walking on a road in darkness, both leader and back-marker should have lights/high visibility clothing.

If someone turns up with a dog, you should consider asking them to keep it on a lead at all times. If you expect to encounter cattle, it might be better to ask them not to walk with the group – either for the whole, or part of the route. They must manage the dog at all times so as not to inconvenience or endanger the group.

Call everyone together before the start time. If you want to tell the group about any points of interest do so before the start time.

Appoint a back-marker (unless the group is small). If possible, have a copy of your route for them.

Having regard to the weather and the nature of the walk, it may be necessary to check that everyone:

• has suitable footwear and clothing.

• is carrying adequate food and drink – most importantly, that they have enough liquid in hot weather.

Those inadequately equipped may need to drop out or walk a shorter distance.

When relevant, remind walkers:

• to avoid leaving anything on display in parked cars.

• about safe road walking.

• to keep in single file when crossing fields with crops.

• to check that those walking behind them observe any change of direction.

Give advice relating to any specific hazards.

Count the group before setting off.

Pray before setting off.

If the starting place has no toilet facilities/bushes, a pause may be necessary at the first suitable opportunity – some walkers may have had a long journey.

Remember to look back frequently, and try to prevent the group getting too spread-out by:

• slowing down immediately after stiles or busy road crossings.

• adjusting the pace to the slowest in the group – ultimately, the slowest person determines how long the walk takes. Slowing the pace adds no more time than waiting for them to catch up at each change of direction and should stop them feeling under constant pressure to catch up. New walkers, in particular, may be put off returning if they’ve frequently seen the main group waiting for them, only to set off at pace as soon as they catch up. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

Steer the group well clear of cattle whenever possible – especially if calves are present. Any dog owner should be asked to wait until the main group is clear of the field, and to take the dog through on their own.  

Downloads

SECWC Flyer – An image suitable for your church noticeboard or magazine.

SECWC Business Card – Can be used to print business style cards for giving to friends and other contacts (print on A4 260g matt white card and cut out).