You’ll know that hill walking is generally a very safe activity, but it is useful to remind ourselves that on some days and on some walks there are hazards that we need to be aware of and prepare for. With so many walks and lots of new members and leaders, we thought this was a good opportunity to remind everyone of some considerations for attending and leading group walks.
Walk level
One of the most important and simplest things you can do is to read the walk description carefully in order to ensure you are joining a walk that you’re prepared for. Each walk will have a grade and a description. Just get in contact with the leader before the walk if you have any questions about the level of difficulty of the planned route.
Equipment
Please check the walk description and the kit guide for details of any specific kit requirements for your walk. A bare minimum is usually decent walking boots, waterproofs, warm clothes, water, food and no jeans. Please don’t put walk leaders in difficult situations by turning up without adequate kit. The leader may not let you come on the walk if they feel you don’t have adequate kit to complete the walk safely.
Staying together
In poor visibility it can be easy to become separated from the group. The leader will try to keep everyone together, but please help them out by making an effort to stay close and make it known to the leader if you need to stop or are struggling to keep up. It is often useful for an experienced hiker to help keep people together by being a ‘back marker’.
Navigation
Although the walk leader will be doing the navigating, there are often opportunities when you can get involved with this too – so bring along a map and compass and practice your own navigation skills! There are many experienced navigators in our group (including 14 doing mountain training qualifications) who will be happy to share their skills. You never know when these skills might come in useful.
Winter walks
Winter walking in Scotland can be much more serious than in summer and therefore it requires more specialist equipment and the skills to use them safely. It will be made clear in the walk description if these skills/equipment are required.
Medical conditions
Please let the walk leader know of any relevant medical conditions. You can email before the walk or have a quiet word at the start of the day.
Emergency contact details
It is good practice for walk leaders to complete a route card and collect some contact details for members of their group. In order to facilitate this we have developed a form you can use.
Personal Safety
It is important to remember when arranging lifts with people you have not met for the first time, that there is a risk associated with this. There is equally (as in life) a small risk with people in the group who you might know quite well. Try to avoid being in a situation where you are alone with one other member of the group (for example individual drop offs and pick ups if you are a driver) and always arrange collection and drop off points in public places/busy areas.
Likewise there might be a risk to your passengers – are you dropping them off somewhere dark and isolated at the end of a long trip? You can consider these things in the risk assessment to help you make a plan.
As a group member, consider what you can do as an individual to help people feel safe. Photos are not compulsory, but can help people feel reassured. You could send a message to introduce yourself first, or just be aware that someone might be a bit nervous – make it easy for them by suggesting suitable places and options to meet.
If anything does occur which makes you feel uncomfortable at any event, walk or weekend organised by the group, please do know that we are here to help. You can contact any member of the Committee and we will handle it through our concerns and complaints procedure.
Ramblers membership
Finally, we encourage all of our members (leaders and non-leaders) to join the Ramblers after joining us for 2 trial walks. There are many good reasons to do this, but it is important for safety and insurance purposes. In particular, it is policy that all walk leaders must be paid up members of the Ramblers.
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of this.
Happy hillwalking!
EYW Committee