Cambridge Ramblers – Advice for walkers

Introduction

This note provides some useful advice for anyone taking part in a walk organised by Cambridge Ramblers.

1.0 New members – and those ‘trying the group out’

Before coming on a walk for the first time it is important to text/phone the leader in advance to introduce yourself and discover if there is anything you need to know about the walk. For example, you can check out arrangements for parking as well as breaks and lunch. Advice on walking speed may also be useful as well as information on the terrain being covered. You should be aware that most walks involve using paths around and occasionally across fields; they can be uneven and muddy. In spring and summer you may have to cope with vegetation on and next to paths.
After coming out on a couple of walks as a visitor you will be expected to join the Ramblers if you wish to continue walking with the group. This is essential for you to be covered by our public liability insurance.

2.0 All walkers

Visitors to the group are welcome to come on our walks – but local residents are expected to join after coming on a couple of rambles.

Meeting/leaving

Generally speaking, the time given on the website is the time a walk leaves, so please arrive in time to get ready, such as changing into boots or ordering lunch. Anyone arriving after this time is likely to find that the walk has started. Anyone who wants to join the walk after it has started or who decides to leave it before it has finished should make sure the leader knows.

Parking

The Club encourages car sharing to get to walks – partly to cut down our carbon footprint and partly to ensure we can all park! Anyone who has spaces for passengers can let the leader or relevant Programme Secretary know in advance. Similarly, anyone wanting a lift should contact the leader or Secretary. We expect passengers to contribute towards the petrol/running and parking costs.
When parking on a street please check that you are not blocking a private driveway or causing a problem for through traffic.

Clothing/footwear

Anyone coming on a Club walk must be suitably clothed and wear appropriate footwear. A leader has the authority to refuse to allow anyone on a walk who is inappropriately clothed/shod. Members should be aware that some local outdoor clothing retailers offer group members a discount.

Food & drink and pubs/cafes

if anyone wants to consume their own packed lunch on any walks this is fine – but invariably they will have to eat away from the pub/café. Usually the group takes a packed lunch which is eaten as a picnic, although there may be an opportunity afterwards to have a drink in a hostelry. Occasionally a pub will allow the group members to eat their own food in a pub garden. However, any such arrangements will be made in advance by the walk’s leader. On no account should any group member drink from their own flask or eat their own food on a pub’s premises without permission.
Anyone wanting to make use of a pub or café’s facilities is expected to buy a drink. Club members should always check that their footwear is clean before entering a pub or café.
We cherish our village pubs and cafes and want to support them!

Churches

Group walks often make use of church porches and churchyards for mid-morning and lunch breaks. Many churches have covered seats in porches as well as benches outside. We often take the opportunity to explore the great heritage of the churches themselves. Please make sure that you don’t traipse mud into churches – and also help with the running costs by making a financial contribution. Some churches have loos – please help donate to look after any you use.

Dogs on walks

Anyone wanting to bring a dog on a walk must always check in advance with the walk’s leader that this is acceptable. A leader can refuse permission; they need not give a reason and their decision is final. ‘Assistance dogs’ are the exception and are always permitted. In any event, all dogs on group walks must be well-behaved and kept on a short lead throughout. When walking through livestock anyone with a dog should stay at the back of the group.

Accidents/incidents

All accidents and incidents occurring on a group walk should be reported to the groups chair by the walk’s leader; The group does not have ‘first aiders’, although some members do have qualifications and can assist in an emergency. You are responsible for your own health and safety on a walk. If you require regular medication, please make sure you carry it with you, along with any essential information concerning factors such as allergic reactions. All members are requested to carry details of a ‘In case of Emergence’ ICE card. Contact the chair if you require one.

On the walk

It is important that we all play a part in keeping walkers in touch on a ramble! If you need to go into the bushes, please tell someone so that they can relay a message to the leader and backmarker. Leaders will usually try and ensure that mid-morning, lunch and afternoon breaks provide some cover for a call of nature.

It is also important that all group members shoulder responsibility for keeping in touch with the group. Taking the occasional photo is fine – but we are not a camera club and you may get left behind. So please let someone know if you are stopping – for whatever reason! Please be aware of the walkers following behind you at path junctions, and ensure that they have seen you turn onto a sometimes hidden path between bushes.

Particular care should be taken when walking along a road without a pavement. You are advised to walk single file and follow the instructions of the leader with respect to the side of the road; generally we walk on the right, i.e. facing oncoming traffic, but may well cross over before a blind bend. Please also take care when crossing a road. Discipline can often be a problem on quiet, narrow lanes, when people tend to spread out across the road. Please keep well to one side (generally the right-hand side).

On level crossings, please take particular care. If on a path with automatic barriers, please be aware that the barriers close just 8 seconds after the first alarm bells/lights show. Do not tarry!

When using gates please make sure that any gate is left as found – and not left open when it should be closed. When walking across a field and through crops please keep as close as you can to any obvious route – such paths should be ‘reinstated’ and clear to follow, but sometimes the leader has to rely on a map to guide the way! Please walk in single file where the pathway is narrow. And please keep close together and walk fairly briskly when using public footpaths which go through private gardens close to houses.
A farmer/land manager may have posted notices with instructions for walkers; please make sure you keep a look out for these.

The group walks provide a great opportunity to meet with a wide range of people with many different backgrounds and interests. We encourage debate – but please be aware that many folk come out to escape politics and do not want to be lectured to or harangued!