Help for walk leaders

Ask the organiser for the following if you were not given them:

• Leader instructions

• Safety checklist

• Map of the area

• Details of route. What is available will depend on the source of the walk. You may be able to get:

  • marked up map showing the route

  • GPX file of the route - this might be plotted from a map or recorded on a previous walk

  • book or leaflet describing the walk

Note: any details we are able to give you for a walk will have been taken from books, leaflets, websites, past club walks or members' favourites. The information may be out of date (in the case of books it could be decades old). As a walk leader, you should check before you recce that the route looks feasible.

Checking the route before your recce

Maps are only updated infrequently. You may wish to check that there haven't been changes to the rights of way before you do the recce - this might avoid you having to work out detours while you are walking. You can check the latest published information on the relevant County Council's website:

• Devon - Devon County Council rights of way map You may get a message warning that you are being redirected - this is normal and you can follow the link.

  • Report a problem: Devon County Council map to report problems. (this map shows you problems that have already been reported - but our experience is that not all old reports are kept on the map even if they have not been resolved, for example the closure of the right of way on the east bank of the River Otter).

• Somerset - https://roam.somerset.gov.uk/roam/map (this map show reported problem and lets you report new ones).

• Dorset - https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/-/rights-of-way-map-where-to-walk-ride-or-cycle

  • Report a problem: https://gi.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/rightsofway/reportproblem/SelectProblemROW?usemap=True 

The Councils warn that these maps may lag slightly behind approvals of changes to right of way, so always look out for the footpath/bridleway signs and diversions.

If you come across an obstruction during your recce, make a note of where it is (noting the What 3 Words is the easiest way) and take a photo. Report it when you get home (you can use What 3 Words to show you where you were so that you can navigate to the same position on the County Council's map).

On the recce

The Leader Instructions explain what we expect you to learn from the recce. Please allow enough time to explore diversions, and be prepared to abandon a recce and explore an alternative route if the original is proving to be too difficult.

Unless you have to spend a lot of time finding ways round obstacles or working out what the route should be, you will walk the recce faster than is possible with a large group. Stiles can add long delays, as can deep or sticky mud. We aim to walk at between 2 and 2.5 miles an hour on club walks (averaged over the whole walk, so this includes the time spent on stops). If there is a reason for expecting a slower average (for example very steep hills, exploring a point of interest) state this in the summary that we send to members so that people know what to expect.

Ask the organiser for "the bag"

Ask for "the bag" before leading your walk. This contains the yellow tabards, first aid kits (which also contain the incident reporting form), compasses and map cases. You can also ask for the navigation device (GPS) for both your recce and walk - but bear in mind that other leaders might need to use it between the two.