The following points offer some guidance that you should be familiar with if you walk with the South Devon Ramblers:
- We welcome new members and invite individuals to walk with us three times before asking them to join the Ramblers. You can contact the walk leader in advance or just turn up at the start point.
- Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing. The national Ramblers website includes advice on suitable clothing and eqiuipment.
- Start points for the walks are given by named location, grid reference, what3words reference, and in many cases the postcode. Use postcodes with caution, especially if the meeting point is in a rural location, as a postcode can cover a relatively large area. We recommend that you use the maps found in the Walks programme to verify the start point.
If you use a sat nav instead of using the postcode, use the more accurate longitude and latitude co-ordinates to find start points. Co-ordinates are given in our Walks programme. - You will need a packed lunch, snack, and a drink (unless otherwise stated on the walks programme). Some walks end with an optional lunch or cream tea and this will be made clear in the programme.
- All walks start at 10.30 am unless otherwise stated in the walks programme. Please arrive early enough to give yourself whatever time you need so that you're ready to walk for 10:30 am.
- We recommend that you carry an "In Case of Emergency" (ICE) card whenever you walk with us. This is a plastic card the size of credit card that you can complete with details that would be useful if you were to need medical treatment while out on a walk, such as emergency contact details and any relevant medical conditions. If you would like an ICE card please ask the walk leader (or any committee member) about it on your next walk.
- Follow the instructions provided by the leader regarding the route and breaks, and be ready to move on when requested.
- Walk leaders have designed each route. Please do not walk ahead of the leader unless invited to do so.
- The walk leader will designate a back marker to ensure that the group stays together. If there are more than 20 walkers on a walk, the leader will also designate a middle marker.
- If you need to stop, advise the walk leader, middle marker or back marker.
- If you are walking with a dog, please ensure that the dog is on a short lead and under control at all times.
Occasionally a leader considers a walk to be unsuitable for dogs, for example if there is livestock in a field, or a bull. If this is the case it will be mentioned in the walks programme.
If you are a dog owner and uncertain about bringing your dog, please contact the walk leader and check. - Use a whistle to attract attention in an emergency or if you lose sight of the group in conditions of fog, distance, or turning.
- Very rarely a walk may be cancelled. We will always try to give as much notice as possible on the website and Facebook group. If possible, the walk leader, or a substitute, will be at the walk start to advise those who may not be aware of the cancellation.
- See the Ramblers Association privacy policy for information on how the Ramblers processes your personal data.