The Ramblers Association

Working for Walkers

Rotherham Metro Group

Walks

General Information

This programme of walks generated by the Rotherham Metro District Group of the Ramblers Association is primarily intended for Ramblers Association members. Non - members are however welcome to join them as guests on two or three walks, but if walking with RA groups regularly they will be expected to join the RA. All our walk Leaders are members of the RA.

Most walks in this programme are off road in rural areas and people only used to walking on surfaced paths in towns may find them more demanding than they expect. If unsure of fitness level be sure to try a short easy walk first - it's much better to find a walk a little too slow and easy than to be miserable and exhausted.

On all walks it is advisable to wear comfortable supportive footwear and to have rain and windproof clothing with you. A packed lunch and plenty to drink are necessities on most walks, even when a Pub stop is planned. Leaders may refuse to accept any participant who in their opinion is inadequately equipped or unfit. When in doubt contact the walk leader or group in advance.

Unless otherwise indicated all the walks in this programme are circular. Most start near available car parking and many are accessible by Public Transport. Transport arrangements are however solely up to the individual to organise.

The routes indicated may be varied at the leader's discretion, but should not generally be longer or more difficult than shown. It is important to recognise however, that adverse weather conditions can significantly increase the difficulty of any walk. Meeting points, dates and start times shown will not be changed unless unavoidable.

WALK GRADES
The RA has consulted widely on a standardised system, for grading walks according to difficulty. While this was for particular use in the "Group Walks Finder" facility on the Rambler's website (www.ramblers.org.uk/) the Committee have decided that it should be adopted for use in this programme. The following are descriptions of the walk grades used by walk leaders. They are meant as a general guide only, to be used in conjunction with distance indicated and the weather forecasted on the day.
If participants are in any doubt about their fitness or suitability for a particular walk they should contact the leader or a committee member for advice in advance of the walk. It must be recognised that variations in terrain, weather and walking pace, as well as the overall distance can make walks significantly more difficult than expected.

GENERAL GUIDANCE ON WALK GRADES

EA = Easy Access Walks intended for everyone, including people with conventional wheelchairs and push chairs. Comfortable, shoes or trainers can be worn. Good wide paths with relatively smooth and hard surfaces and minimum obstructions such as steps. All gates and barriers are wheelchair accessible (no stiles), minimal gradients except over extremely short distances. Assistance may however be needed to push wheelchairs on some sections. Pace suitable for wheelchairs.
Meeting point has suitable car parking for people with wheelchairs, and/or has accessible public transport and accessible toilets.
No more than 2 miles without an opportunity to leave walk early.
Max. 5 miles. Slow pace.
There are no Easy Access walks available in this programme.

E = Easy Walks are suitable for anyone who does not have a mobility difficulty or a specific health problem or is seriously unfit. Generally suitable for push chairs if they can be lifted over occasional obstructions. Comfortable shoes or trainers can usually be worn.
Mostly along easy paths with good surfaces, some gentle climbs but no sustained or lengthy ascents. Minimum stiles or long or difficult flights of steps. No more than 2 miles without opportunity to leave walk early.
Max 5 miles overall. Slow pace.

L = Leisurely Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. May include unsurfaced country paths which can be narrow, uneven, muddy or overgrown and obstructions such as stiles, narrow bridges, steps & stepping stones.
Can be hilly with a few ascents & descents. Includes walks which may otherwise be graded Easy but are longer than 5 miles.
Max. 10 miles overall. Slow to Moderate pace.

M = Moderate Walks for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. May include some steep paths and open country. Will include unsurfaced country paths which can be narrow, uneven, muddy or overgrown and common obstructions such as stiles, narrow bridges, steps & stepping stones. Terrain likely to be hilly with some sustained climbs and possibly some open moorland and hillsides in warmer months. Generally a moderate pace. Includes 'Leisurely' walks longer than 10 miles or those taken at a moderate to brisk pace. Max. 15 miles overall.

S = Strenuous Walks for experienced country walkers with an above average fitness level. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. People in doubt about their fitness are strongly advised to contact the organiser or leader in advance.
Includes hills, mountains and rough country, some long or many short ascents & descents. Rough paths and open country crossings. Moderate to brisk pace. Can include otherwise moderate graded walks of over 15 miles taken at a brisk pace.

T = Technical Walks for experienced rough country and very fit walkers with additional technical skills in use of specialist equipment. May require use of ropes, ice axes and crampons. Walkers must contact the organiser or leader in advance for further details. Usually in rough country and mountains.
There are no Technical walks available in this programme.

Important. Leaders may refuse to accept participants who in their opinion are inadequately equipped or unfit.

While every care is taken in planning the walks, we can accept no liability and participation in these walks is always entirely at your own risk.

SYNED Area Home Page

Group Home Page

The Ramblers Association Working for Walkers	Rotherham Metro Group			Walks

SYNED Area Home Page			Group Home Page

General Information
This programme of walks generated by the Rotherham Metro District Group of the Ramblers Association is primarily intended for Ramblers Association members. Non - members are however welcome to join them as guests on two or three walks, but if walking with RA groups regularly they will be expected to join the RA. All our walk Leaders are members of the RA. Most walks in this programme are off road in rural areas and people only used to walking on surfaced paths in towns may find them more demanding than they expect. If unsure of fitness level be sure to try a short easy walk first - it's much better to find a walk a little too slow and easy than to be miserable and exhausted. On all walks it is advisable to wear comfortable supportive footwear and to have rain and windproof clothing with you. A packed lunch and plenty to drink are necessities on most walks, even when a Pub stop is planned. Leaders may refuse to accept any participant who in their opinion is inadequately equipped or unfit. When in doubt contact the walk leader or group in advance. Unless otherwise indicated all the walks in this programme are circular. Most start near available car parking and many are accessible by Public Transport. Transport arrangements are however solely up to the individual to organise. The routes indicated may be varied at the leader's discretion, but should not generally be longer or more difficult than shown. It is important to recognise however, that adverse weather conditions can significantly increase the difficulty of any walk. Meeting points, dates and start times shown will not be changed unless unavoidable.		WALK GRADES The RA has consulted widely on a standardised system, for grading walks according to difficulty. While this was for particular use in the "Group Walks Finder" facility on the Rambler's website (www.ramblers.org.uk/) the Committee have decided that it should be adopted for use in this programme. The following are descriptions of the walk grades used by walk leaders. They are meant as a general guide only, to be used in conjunction with distance indicated and the weather forecasted on the day. If participants are in any doubt about their fitness or suitability for a particular walk they should contact the leader or a committee member for advice in advance of the walk. It must be recognised that variations in terrain, weather and walking pace, as well as the overall distance can make walks significantly more difficult than expected. GENERAL GUIDANCE ON WALK GRADES EA = Easy Access Walks intended for everyone, including people with conventional wheelchairs and push chairs. Comfortable, shoes or trainers can be worn. Good wide paths with relatively smooth and hard surfaces and minimum obstructions such as steps. All gates and barriers are wheelchair accessible (no stiles), minimal gradients except over extremely short distances. Assistance may however be needed to push wheelchairs on some sections. Pace suitable for wheelchairs. Meeting point has suitable car parking for people with wheelchairs, and/or has accessible public transport and accessible toilets. No more than 2 miles without an opportunity to leave walk early. Max. 5 miles. Slow pace. There are no Easy Access walks available in this programme. E = Easy Walks are suitable for anyone who does not have a mobility difficulty or a specific health problem or is seriously unfit. Generally suitable for push chairs if they can be lifted over occasional obstructions. Comfortable shoes or trainers can usually be worn. Mostly along easy paths with good surfaces, some gentle climbs but no sustained or lengthy ascents. Minimum stiles or long or difficult flights of steps. No more than 2 miles without opportunity to leave walk early. Max 5 miles overall. Slow pace.	L = Leisurely Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. May include unsurfaced country paths which can be narrow, uneven, muddy or overgrown and obstructions such as stiles, narrow bridges, steps & stepping stones. Can be hilly with a few ascents & descents. Includes walks which may otherwise be graded Easy but are longer than 5 miles. Max. 10 miles overall. Slow to Moderate pace. M = Moderate Walks for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. May include some steep paths and open country. Will include unsurfaced country paths which can be narrow, uneven, muddy or overgrown and common obstructions such as stiles, narrow bridges, steps & stepping stones. Terrain likely to be hilly with some sustained climbs and possibly some open moorland and hillsides in warmer months. Generally a moderate pace. Includes 'Leisurely' walks longer than 10 miles or those taken at a moderate to brisk pace. Max. 15 miles overall. S = Strenuous Walks for experienced country walkers with an above average fitness level. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. People in doubt about their fitness are strongly advised to contact the organiser or leader in advance. Includes hills, mountains and rough country, some long or many short ascents & descents. Rough paths and open country crossings. Moderate to brisk pace. Can include otherwise moderate graded walks of over 15 miles taken at a brisk pace. T = Technical Walks for experienced rough country and very fit walkers with additional technical skills in use of specialist equipment. May require use of ropes, ice axes and crampons. Walkers must contact the organiser or leader in advance for further details. Usually in rough country and mountains. There are no Technical walks available in this programme. Important. Leaders may refuse to accept participants who in their opinion are inadequately equipped or unfit. While every care is taken in planning the walks, we can accept no liability and participation in these walks is always entirely at your own risk.
SYNED Area Home Page			Group Home Page