The Taff Ely (Llantrisant) Group of the Ramblers' Association

General Information for Leaders

The Ramblers Walk Leader Handbook

A guide to leading walks has been produced by Ramblers and provides helpful information on leading walks.

Submitting a walk

Please send your proposed walks to our walk's organiser for the following months by either entering the details on the Ramblers' Walks Manager or by filling in a copy of this form to attach to your email. This form will be saved and will also be used for the risk assessment.
In either case inform the walk's organiser by email. (Please replace _x_ with x in the email address)

We suggest the following when using Walk Manager

So that our walks are shown in a consistent manner on both the RA led walks and our web-sites we suggest that you consider following this advice regarding certain fields.

Basic Information Page
Date of Walk (Start Time)
For Sunday walks set to 9:00 plus travel time from Leisure Centre.
Walk Leader
If none of your contact preferences are highlighted please ask for advice.
Description Page
Description
Use this section to describe the walk and its highlights.
Additional details
Use this section to highlight any risks/issues, e.g. mud, steep climbs, use of walking poles, broken stiles.
Transport
For Sunday Walks include Car sharing available.
Accessibility
If you wish to use our local grade of Moderate+ then add the phrase Local Grade is Moderate+
somewhere in the information given in this section.
Unless the walk is not suitable for dogs the groups policy is to include Dog friendly.
Location Page
What are the location details
For Sunday Walks that start from the Leisure Centre use the following:-
The copy buttons put the text into the clip-board.
My walk has a separate meeting point
Tick this box
Meeting time
Enter 9:00 and select the Meeting point tab.
Enter a meeting point
Enter ST 04699 83113
Location Details
Enter Lantrisant Leisure Centre Car Park
For the starting point tab
Enter a starting point
Location Details
The group has built up a database of start points in the area that have been used by leaders in the past. New points are added when necessary as walks are arranged.
For each start point a 10 digit grid reference is provided along with the location details; these may be copied to the clip-board. There may also be an estimate of the time to travel to the start from Llantrisant Leisure Centre and travel instructions (for inclusion in the email sent to members prior to the walk).
Click Here to inspect the database.

Otherwise just provide a location and description of where to park.
Do not include details of directions from the leisure centre. These can be added to the email sent to members prior to the walk.
Grading Page
Walk difficulty
If you wish to grade your walk as Moderate+ then select the Moderate option.
See Accessibility above for phase to add to ensure that this grade is shown on our web-site.
Recce your walk

We strongly recommend recceing the route as close to the date of the walk as possible, to make a note of hazards and plan any adjustments. Remember to think about:
• Where you will stop for breaks and lunch, to enable physical distancing.
• Alternative routes you could take to avoid stiles or narrow footpaths.
• Escape routes if you need to cut the walk short.

Complete a risk assessment for each walk if you have used Walks Manager

Use the Ramblers' risk assessment checklist to help plan any steps needed to take to stay safe. This covers hazards found on a typical group walk.
You must complete a risk assessment for every walk you lead. A copy should be sent to our walk's organiser who will keep it for 3 years.

Download the template RA Group Walk Risk Assessment (.docx)

Early in the week prior to the walk

You can make life easier if you fill and send the walk organiser a completed copy of this form along with your risk assessment. If you or the walk organiser have entered the walk onto Walk Manager then, apart from the directions to the start, all of the information can be cut and pasted from the information on the walk's entry on Walk Manager.

If your start point has been taken from the groups list of start points then travel instructions may be available in our starts database.