Newsletter / Walks info

GROUP OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chairman – Paul Jackson

Secretary – David Reed

Treasurer – Christine Hazlett

Footpath Secretary, Darlington Area – Allen Hazlett

Sunday  & Wednesday Evening Walks Programme Co-ordinator - Martyn Reed

Countryside Officer – David Reed

Minutes Secretary – Jenni Cook

Webmaster – Paul Jackson ( Still in training )

Social Secretary – Jane Parsons / Margaret Dent/ Christine Hazlett

Membership Secretary – Bob King

WALK LEADER’S CHECKLIST

Would you be interested in leading a group walk? If so, an excellent introduction to what it involves is the Walk Leader’s checklist prepared by Ramblers central office.  You can download a copy from www.ramblers.org.uk. You will find it in the Walk Leader Toolkit in the Volunteer Zone. The brief and straightforward notes set out things to do or think about before the walk, the day before, on the day, on the walk, and after the walk. Also included is first aid advice provide by the British Red Cross. I have a few printed copies of the checklist if you would prefer to have a hard copy.

EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS

Contact- Bob King for an “In Case of Emergency” slip which it is good for every walker to fill in and carry on walks. Please ask me for a copy if you do not already have one.

MAP LIBRARY

The Darlington group has a small library of local OS maps which are available for group members to borrow. If you need a map, to prepare for leading a walk or just for your own purposes, please get in touch- Alternatively Ordnance Survey web site has 7 day free access where it is possible to plan/map out routes.

Darlington Ramblers Group has recently joined The Walking Partnership. This partnership, supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, provides a direct financial contribution to the group if a member takes a holiday with them

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays operate group walking holidays in the UK and all around the world. Take a look at their website on www.ramblersholidays.co.uk or give them a call on 01707 331133 for more details or to order a brochure.

Remember when you book to quote the name of our group, and we will then receive a contribution of £10 per person on UK holidays, £20 per person on short haul holidays, and £30 per person on long haul holidays. This extra funding could really make a difference to us!

Email addresses

If you have received paper copies of the walks programme and newsletter through the post, and have an email account, would you please let me have your email address. Postage is a major expenditure for the Darlington group, so being able to send programmes electronically makes a significant saving.

April onward   Sunday Walking and Wednesday evening programs are  now in place  - details are published on this site and are also available ( full details / info) on Ramblers main site - search for Darlington Group walks for full  information.

For walkers’ guidance the walks in this programme are rated as easy, moderate or strenuous, and range in length from 4.5 to 10 miles. Easy walks are suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness; they might include unsurfaced country paths and undulating ground, so walking boots are recommended. Moderate walks will include some more challenging conditions such as significant uphill and downhill slopes, and possibly more difficult ground conditions.

Most  Sunday walks in this programme the group will meet outside the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on Vane Terrace Darlington  and depart from there at 09:30  prompt and then share cars to the start of the walk.  - However there are some that depart at  09:00  so please double check.

If you wish to go straight to the start of any walk please contact the walk leader beforehand  to check that arrangements have not been changed or the walk cancelled.

Non-members are welcome to come on up to three walks before joining Ramblers. The national charity’s goal is to protect the ability of people to enjoy the sense of freedom and benefits of walking.

For more information go to: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/about-us/ or phone the Ramblers central office in London on 020 7339 8500. You can access our group’s website through the national site or by searching for Darlington Ramblers group.

Walks program  coordinator Martyn Reed  -Tel. 07907-358355