The Ramblers Association
Milton Keynes & District Group
Walk Leaders' Page
This section gives some hints and tips for walk leaders and will be of particular use to new or aspiring leaders. Without leaders there would be no walks and we are all very grateful to those who put in a lot of hard work planning, recceing and leading walks for the group. We are always looking for new people to come forward as leaders, so if you fancy having a go, talk to some of our more experienced leaders, any of whom would be happy to advise you. It's understandable that you may feel a bit nervous about leading your first walk, but if you'd like support, some of our existing leaders may offer to co-lead a walk with you, which will help to build up your confidence.
How to Become a Walk Leader
To become a walk leader, you will need to be added to the Ramblers' systems as a volunteer. You must first create an account on the National Ramblers' Website (you may have already created an account when you joined). Once you have an account, contact our Secretary, who will register you as a volunteer walk leader for the Milton Keynes and District Group. You will need to provide your name, postcode, email address, and Ramblers' membership number. It may take seven days for the national office to complete your registration. You will receive an email confirming you are set up as a volunteer and informing you how to access the online training.
The training is compulsory for new walk leaders, but it's not difficult. You need to read the Walk Leader Handbook (half an hour at most) and complete both the Walk Leadership Foundation module online (60-90 minutes) and the Preventing and Managing Incidents module online (60 minutes). Both courses are very informal and involve listening to the advice and experience of other walk leaders. Ask any of the committee members if you need help. When you have completed your training and informed national office, you will be able to access Walks Manager, our system for publishing walks.
Ramblers Association Guidance and Resources
The Ramblers Association provides lots of guidance and resources to get you started and build confidence to lead your first walk. Resources include the Walk Leader Handbook, a Walk Leader Checklist, and information on how to assess risks and manage safety. Walk Leadership guidance.
Planning Your Walk
You may already know a walk you would like to lead, but if not, you can get ideas from walk leaflets, books of walks, magazines such as Country Walking, websites, or by looking at a map and working out your route from scratch. Whichever you decide to do, some considerations to bear in mind are:
- Location of the walk - distance from Milton Keynes - is it feasible for everyone to get to the start of the walk independently, or would it be better to meet locally and share transport?
- Length of walk and how long it will take to walk it. This may depend on the time of year and hours of daylight available. You also need to bear in mind that everything will take longer with a group of people, as stiles and other obstacles will slow people down. As a general guideline, allow 2 - 2½ miles per hour, including breaks.
- Meeting time - again, dependent on how long you estimate it will take to complete the walk. Remember to allow
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