Walk Leader advice cards

The contents of the laminated card produced by the Ramblers' Association is reproduced on the web page called Advice accessible from the Walk Leader Section. New or potential leaders should read through the information and advice it contains. Please do not be put off by the thoroughness of the advice -- leading a walk is not as daunting as it might at first appear and there is plenty of help and advice at hand from current Mendip leaders.

Some additional thoughts and reinforcement about walk leading are given below

Starting Places

It is most important that leaders choose a starting point that is safe, convenient and sufficiently spacious to accommodate at least a dozen cars. A list of good starting places has been compiled from previous Mendip Group walks and can be found on the web page called Start locations, again accessible from the Walk Leader Section

If you are choosing your own starting place avoid upsetting local residents by choosing areas where participants aren't likely to park in front of residents' drives or on their grass verges. Also remember that Sunday church-goers won't be impressed by ramblers' cars bunging up all the parking near a church! Free public car parks are the best option -- but please make sure your choice isn't in fact a private or village CP (unless permission has been sought and given well beforehand)

On walk day leaders should discreetly marshal parking and the walkers at the starting place. For example you should stop people parking inconsiderately and keep waiting groups from spilling out into roads or pavements where they could cause inconvenience or accidents.

The friendly, welcoming walk leader

Leaders should make themselves known to everyone as they arrive and pay particular attention to new or infrequent walkers. New walkers can feel apprehensive and "out of place" on their first few walks and will appreciate friendly, welcoming leaders -- and fellow walkers! It helps if you introduce new members to the group when you say a few words about the walk.

New walkers can also be given a copy of the current programme, the welcome sheet and an application form