www.berkshirewalkers.com and www.berkshirewalkers.org.uk
General Information
Preparation
If you haven't been rambling before, you may not be sure of what equipment you will need. Here is some guidance:
- Walking boots (Proper walking boots are essential. Trainers are only suitable for short walks in good weather)
- Waterproof Jacket (May be required at any time of year! Waterproof over-trousers are also useful in winter)
- Water bottle (You will need at least 2 litres during high summer. Dehydration in summer is a common mistake)
- Packed lunch (We usually have a picnic lunch even when there is a pub-stop on the walk)
- Rucksack (Big enough for your water bottle, lunch box and to store layers of clothing when not in use)
- Sun protection, such as a brimmed hat and good quality sun cream, is necessary in the spring and summer.
- If you suffer from hay-fever, don't forget to bring your medication!
Yes, hay-fever sufferers can enjoy the great outdoors all year round provided that suitable precautions are taken. An interesting website that provides information about hay-fever can be found at www.hayfeverexpert.co.uk, which is a non-profit making public interest website. (Please note that we are not responsible for the content of this site and would always recommend getting a second opinion on any medical advice found on the Internet.)
See our Transport Page for advice on getting to our walks.
Grade Guide
All of the walks in our programme are graded to give you an idea of what you are letting yourself in for! The grades are described as follows:
Easy: Gentle pace on fairly level terrain. Anyone can enjoy these walks and they are an ideal way for newcomers to try out our group.
Moderate: More variable terrain that may involve gentle hills or a few steep slopes.
Challenging: Long distances at a good pace, often involving hills and rough ground. A reasonable level of fitness and stamina will enable you to get the most from these walks.
Some walks are also rated by pace, either because of timing issues such as hours of daylight, catching a particular train, or simply because the leader prefers it.
If you are in doubt about whether a particular walk is suitable for you, please contact the walk leader for advice.
Walk Leaders
All of our walks leaders are volunteers from within the group. Although it is not expected that every member will lead a walk, those that do are greatly respected for their vital contribution to the walks programme, without which there would be no group.
If you would like to volunteer to lead a walk in the next programme, please contact the walks co-ordinator. You can design the walk yourself or get it from a book. It is advisable to pre-walk a new walk shortly before you lead it to familiarise yourself and to check that no part of the route is unsuitable. You do not need to pre-walk it before submitting details for the programme unless you wish to, as you do not need to specify the exact route in the walk description. However, it is important to check parking arrangements and public transport times (if applicable) before submitting the walk description.
The main details required in a walk description are the start location and time, the approximate mileage and grade of the walk, a summary of the area covered by the walk, and a contact phone number (preferably mobile). If you have never led a walk before, why not have a go? It isn’t as difficult as you might think and most people that do lead one for the first time go on to lead many more. Talk to someone who has already led a few walks and they can give you advice and moral support.
Insurance cover for walks with the Berkshire Walkers:
"Walks organised by Ramblers Areas and Groups automatically receive third-party insurance cover, provided the leaders are Ramblers members, through the Association’s national policy. This is designed to protect leaders against claims for damage to property and for injury or death which might have been occasioned on the walk." -- Ramblers Association's Leading group walks page.
How to Join
You can join our group by asking our membership secretary for an application form, or you can join on-line by going to the joining page of the Ramblers Association website and following their instructions.
Whatever method you use, remember to put Berkshire Walkers in the box labelled Group.
Current annual membership prices are £29.50 for single membership and £39.50 for joint membership.