Leader training and planning sessions

We held leader training and planning sessions in early 2024 - here are links to the slides presented during these sessions. Both are rather big (the first one is nearly 50MB) so we recommend only viewing over WiFi.
Intro To Walk Leading
Walk Planning Session

What's involved

Choosing a route

SYW walks are generally between 5 and 15 miles long, so you'll have plenty of choice of what type of walk you'd like to lead. If you need inspiration, there are lots of guide books giving routes all over Surrey, including AA's 50 walks in Surrey, 100 walks in Surrey, and Pub walks in the Surrey Hills. Or you can find routes online at sites such as:
www.go4awalk.com
www.fancyfreewalks.org
www.gps-routes.co.uk
www.walkinginsurrey.co.uk

Assessing a route

It's recommended to walk out the route in advance ('recce') to make sure there are no problems. Remember the pace of a group will be slower due to regrouping stops, water stops, etc. Generally plan for a pace of 2.5 miles per hour on flat/easy terrain, or 2 miles per hour on hilly terrain. Plan a suitable lunch and/or refreshment stop.

You'll get higher attendance if the start/end point is a train station. Plan your start time to coincide with trains from popular hubs such as Guildford and Clapham Junction. If you can find out the parking charges for drivers then it's also useful.

Putting your walk on the programme

Look at the walks already submitted and decide on a date that you'd like to submit your walk for. We welcome more than one walk on the same day if they are in different areas or grades, so don't be put off if there's already a walk on your ideal day.

When you're ready to put your walk on the programme simply log in to our website and complete the walk submission form. The form requires the same details as you see when looking at the programme. The webmaster will check your submission and either approve it, or ask you for clarification of any details.

If your walk hasn't appeared on the programme within a day or two, it probably won't be due to a problem with the walk (in which case you'll be contacted to resolve whatever the issue is). It may be that the webmaster needs a quick reminder/badger.

Risk Assessment

This is a quick online form, and for a typical walk (and once you've done it a few times) it will take you literally seconds.

Leading your walk

Check the weather forecast and adjust the route if necessary.
Your list of walkers is available on your walk page using the 'Walker list' button. We recommend screengrabbing this on your phone if you may not have reception at the starting point.
Welcome anyone who is new to SYW.
Check that everyone is suitably equipped and able to complete the walk, and advise dog owners of any points on the walk where their dog will need to be on a lead.

Make sure you can hear your phone in case anyone phones/messages to say they will be late. You should wait up to 10 minutes if you are aware of latecomers.
Introduce yourself as the leader and give a brief introduction to the walk.
For smaller groups do a headcount.
For a large group appoint a back-marker and make them known to the group.

During the walk

There are lots of things to remember, so we recommend focusing on the following. Many of these are from the Ramblers walk leader training.

Whenever you come to a point where there are multiple turnings or paths (essentially, anywhere with any ambiguity at all about where to go), pause and regroup, unless the group is clearly in one manageable bunch.
For smaller groups take regular headcounts; for larger groups make sure you can see the back-marker.
Remember to take time for drink stops and watch for any walkers having difficulties. The entire group is no faster than your slowest walker.
Don't be afraid to shorten or adjust the route if weather conditions, group progress or some other unforeseen thing happens. It is far more important for the group to get safely and comfortably to the end (and ultimately back home) than to try to keep to the advertised route if something happens that could affect the group's safety. In fact, if you have walked with SYW for any reasonable time, it would be near certain you've done a walk where the leader modified the route in response to something, and no one even knew!
If anyone is injured or becomes seriously unwell, stop the walk and work with the group to determine the best course of action. If you need to abort the walk to get the person either home or to medical attention, do so.
If any walker displays indications that they are not able to keep up with the group, have a quiet chat privately to ask how they are, and recommend potential shortcuts back to the start.

At the end of the walk

There's not much to do at the end of the walk - just make sure everyone is still accounted for and if there were any accidents or problems during the walk, make a note of them.

Walk Leading