Our Walks Programme seeks to provide a variety of walks ranging in length from four miles to fifteen miles. All are generally off road in rural areas in Leicestershire and the surrounding counties.
The Group encourages car sharing and we meet outside the Technology Centre, off Epinal Way, Loughborough. If you intend to meet the group at the starting point of the walk, and always in the event of severe bad weather, you are strongly advised to contact the leader beforehand as they may have decided to change or cancel the walk due to the conditions. Note that occasionally, the leader will meet you at the start, not at Loughborough. Times given in the programme are actual starting times so please arrive earlier.
The leader determines the pace with due consideration to the abilities of everyone on the walk and it is courteous not to go ahead of them. Please make sure that you are fit enough to undertake the walk you intend to join. If you're unsure of your fitness level, try a short and easy walk first. It is much better to find a walk a little too slow and easy than to make yourself miserable and exhausted.
Most Ramblers' walks are off road in rural areas. Please have suitable footwear and clothing for the walk you intend to join, usually walking boots, together with waterproof clothing. Leaders may refuse to accept participants who in their opinion are inadequately equipped or unfit. When in doubt, contact the walk leader in advance.
Bring food and drink to last you the length of the walk even if the walk includes a pub or cafe break. If it starts at 10.00am and is longer than six miles you should bring a packed lunch. If we stop at a pub, the leader will tell you if you can eat your own food on the premises. If you can, you are expected to buy a drink from them.
All our walks are free. However, when sharing a car drivers appreciate it when passengers make a realistic voluntary contribution that helps cover their costs. As a guide, 30p per mile shared between a car's occupants is considered reasonable.
We do allow well behaved dogs on most walks, as long as they are under close control and on a short lead where necessary, eg in fields of sheep or cattle, or by roads. It is always worth checking with the walk leader whether the walk is suitable for your dog as on some land dogs are not permitted.
No. You are welcome to come along with us for the first three occasions, then if you want to carry on walking with the group, we would expect you to join the Ramblers’ Association.
For your own and others' safety please abide by any advice and instructions from the walk leader. Though walking is inherently one of the safest outdoor activities, no activity is completely without risk and it is your responsibility to behave sensibly and to minimise the potential for accidents to occur. Leaders will always take a register at the beginning of each walk.