Whether you’re leading a wild-weather wander or an urban leg stretch, discovering new routes or exploring close to home, we want you and your walkers to be safe and have fun. We have lots of guidance, tools and resources to support you in your role as a walk leader and you’ll find it all right here.  

 

The Walk Leader Handbook  

 

The Walk Leader Handbook sets out 8 guiding principles that will help you lead walks with confidence. It takes you through what a walk leader needs to consider when planning and leading a group walk and draws on best practice from within Ramblers.  

This guidance is a helpful reminder for experienced walk leaders and the perfect place to start for new walk leaders. 

   

 

Walk Leader Checklist 

This Walk Leader Checklist is full of practical reminders of what to consider before, during and after the walk and is perfect for taking out with you on the day. 

 (A4 foldable version here)

 

Walk Leader Resource Pack  

We have a range of handy resources and templates to help you plan and lead great group walks. You can adapt the resources in a way that works

for you and your walk. The resources include:

Risk assessments: Refer to these documents as a starting point to consider the specific risks on your walk, and take proportionate steps to manage safety.

 

 Ramblers Skills Framework: use this to understand the skills and experience you’ll need to lead different types of walks. Remember, you can work together with other members of your group to cover the bases and build your experience. What’s important is that between you, you have everything you need to manage safety and enjoy yourselves.

 

Sign in sheet: walk leaders can use this to collect emergency contact information for walkers at the start of the walk. This does not replace any registration methods already in place e.g. Ramblers App

 

Route card template: this template is particularly useful for anyone leading remote, challenging walks. Remember to share your plan with someone at home.

 

Information for Walkers

Your walkers have their part to play in keeping a walk safe, enjoyable and welcoming. Some of the groups at the Ramblers have created their own walker charters, which they pop on their website or send it out to new walkers ahead of their first walk. This lets walkers know how to prepare for a walk and what to expect on the day. We’ve created a generic Information for Walkers that you can download, modify for your walks and share with your walkers.   

We spoke to Shropshire Young Ramblers about their walker charter and you can hear more about how it works in this short video.  

 

E-learning  

We also have two interactive e-learning modules: Walk Leadership Foundations and Preventing and Managing Incidents. These build on the information in The Ramblers’ Approach to Leading Group Walks and show walk leadership in practice, with examples and tips from walk leaders across England, Scotland and Wales. They are a great place to start for new walk leaders, and full of helpful tips for more experienced walk leaders.

 

Walk Leadership Foundations

Hear from experienced walk leaders about what makes a great walk, get tips on how to plan and map your route, learn how to handle some of the scenarios you might face on the day and get tips on how to keep your group safe and happy. It’s arranged into useful bite-sized modules, so you can complete the course at your own pace.  

 

Preventing and Managing Incidents

This course will help you plan and lead walks with confidence, knowing you have done everything you can to minimise the risks of an incident. You’ll hear from experienced walk leaders about what to take on your walk and give you tips for what to include in a first aid kit. It will also take you through some of the common incidents that can occur on a group walk.