Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Do I have to join before I can book a walk?

You're very welcome to join us for 1-2 walks before you join, but we do insist that after then you become a member. Membership is currently £10.00 per year. Coach walks incur a charge of £10.00 per walk.

How often do you have walks?

Our programme runs all year. To view our current programme click the Calendar Link

Where do the coaches pick up from for the Saturday and Sunday walks?

All details of pick up points for coaches and starting points for walks by public transport, or by car, are shown on the programme at Link
Coaches leave The Grindon Mill at 8.30am (occasionally 8.00am for some destinations further afield (such as the Lake District), where this applies it will be indicated in the relevant calendar entry for the walk, so this should be checked), St Gabriels, Southwick Green, The Grange at Fulwell, Wheatsheaf, Royal Courts, The Barnes Hotel roundabout and The Board Inn, Herrington. Additional pick up points are The Mallard at Seaham, Houghton roundabout (outbound we pick up at the bus stop on Houghton Cut) and The Ramside Hall entrance, subject to the direction of the destination and as indicated on the programme.

Coach departure time is depending on time of year, and location and length of walks. It is announced on the coach but is usually between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

What are the costs?

The current cost of becoming a member is £10 (juniors £2 and family memberships £20) which is renewable annually on 1st January. Members are encouraged to set up a standing order for payment.
Coach rambles currently cost £10.00 (juniors £5.00). Booking arrangements are as described on the programme at Link
Members are responsible for their own fares on public transport and share the fuel costs when using private cars.
The Committee reviews the charges from time to time, as required to cover the club's costs.

What do the Grading of walks mean?

We have several grades of walk (as set out below) to try and suit all levels of fitness and inclination. The distances/climbs may sound a lot but you don't have to be super fit or young to join us as we cover these distances in a whole day's walking, typically around five to six hours (excluding travelling time) with stops for a picnic lunch and afternoon snack:
Grade A+ over 16 miles
Grade A 14- 16 miles
Grade B 12-14 miles
Grade C 10-12 miles
Grade D 8-10 miles (This is the easiest grade offered on the coach walks)
Grade E under 8 miles (This is a local walks grade)

Our programme also indicates the feet of climb involved in any particular walk by a number:
1 less than 500 feet
2 500 – 1000 feet
3 1000-1500 feet
4 More than 1500 feet
So a walk letter and number together indicate mileage and feet of climb.
You'll find these grades shown against each individual walk on the programme which can be viewed on Link

How do I join?

Download an application and post it to us, alternatively contact our membership secretary via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

What clothing and footwear do I need for your walks?

All the items listed below can be obtained from any outdoor equipment shop
Essential items:

  • Suitable walking boots and socks
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Warm layers of clothing to suit weather conditions. Fleece jackets are a good choice.
  • Rucksack (to carry food and drink for the day and extra clothing).
  • Inflatable cushion or foldable insulating mat (for sitting on ground which can sometimes be wet.) These are inexpensive items.

Optional items:

  • Walking pole/s (helpful for assisting balance, testing firmness of ground etc.)
  • Waterproof gaiters
  • Maps (encouraged to assist enjoyment and to help acquiring leadership skills.)
  • Compass
  • Whistle and torch (encouraged for safety reasons).

What happens when I get on the bus?

Much of the information you need is as set out above. However, you should also be aware of the following:
Route sheets detailing the walks on offer are passed round the coach to help people select their preferred walk. Leaders may get off the coach at different points (announced in advance) but all routes end at the same point, usually a village where refreshments can be obtained.
Coach departure point and time is announced on the coach and is usually between 4.30pm and 5.30pm (earlier in winter).
Leaders of walks are volunteer members, without whom our club could not run. We both encourage and assist members to become leaders.
Please introduce yourself to the leader if you are new to the club.

Are there toilet facilities on the bus?

There are no toilets on the bus, but leaders will endeavour to find suitable toilet arrangements once you leave the bus either before the walk starts or shortly after the start. You should not go off to toilets until you have made this known to the relevant leader so they can include you in their head count.
Individuals should congregate with the relevant walk group on leaving the coach so that leaders can readily identify the number of walkers in their group (sometimes more than one walk group leaves the coach at the same time).
Walkers should stay behind the leader and try to keep up with the group.

What happens at lunchtime?

There will be stops for lunch and for an afternoon snack or drink and occasionally other stops, at the discretion of the leader.

What happens in bad weather?

In the event of bad weather leaders will seek cover if available but this will not always be possible.

Can I bring my dog along?

Dogs are not allowed on our walks for two reasons, we often walk through farmland where there are livestock and pets can disturb the livestock who in turn can cause concern to fellow ramblers. Secondly, our coach providers do not allow dogs on their coaches.

What about safety on the walks?

Happily our walks usually pass off without incident but safety on walks is everyone's concern. Leaders are volunteers and cannot be responsible for the safety of individuals. It is the responsibility of each member to be aware of the inherent risks in countryside walking and further information and advice is available at Link.
You are responsible for not wandering off ahead without telling the walk leader, obeying the walk leader's instructions at all times and for telling someone if you need to answer a call of nature. It's also essential to tell the walk leader if you have blisters or if you suddenly aren't feeling well.
Being properly clothed and equipped also selecting an appropriate grade of walk are all important factors as well as being aware of your own health limitations.
Carrying your own map and compass and being able to use these is helpful.
Mobile phones are carried by many members and contact numbers for the coach driver and other leaders are carried, which can be very useful in an emergency. However, there can often be areas without a mobile signal.
In the rare event of a serious problem, carrying first aid items including a whistle and torch can be very helpful and is therefore advised. Similarly, carrying emergency information including next of kin contact details and details of any medication requirements is strongly advised for all members.
At the end of the walk members will typically arrange a trip to a congenial pub or teashop; don't forget to bring some money for that post-walk refreshment.

How is the club organised?

We have a committee to organise the club's activities and all members are encouraged to fully participate, including acquiring the skills to become walk leaders. Committee information can be found at Link

Do you go away for weekends as a walking group?

We also organise weekends and occasionally longer breaks to locations a little further afield, for example, in the Lake District or Scotland and occasionally abroad. A programme of holidays can be found in our Calendar.
Many of our members enjoy a get together of other kinds and so we offer a range of such opportunities which have in the past included, for example, quiz nights, Christmas party, and informative visits to local establishments of interest. Our current social programme can be viewed in our Calendar

Should I bring a first aid kit?

All sporting and leisure activities have inherent hazards associated with them and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members always being of paramount concern, accidents will occasionally occur. It is important therefore, that when entering onto the activity, each member appreciates that he or she has a responsibility to identify hazards associated with the activity and take all reasonable precautions to eliminate or minimise the potential for an accident to arise.

Walkers Personal First Aid Kit

(Recommended by North First Aid)

  • Bandage: used to hold dressings in place or as a support
  • Blister plaster: relieves pain from new or developing blisters
  • Foil blanket: helps to keep a person warm after injury or shock
  • Gloves (pair): protects you from infection and should always be worn when treating cuts
  • Low adherent dressing: for larger wounds. Held in place with tape
  • Microporous tape (1 roll): holds low adherent dressing in place
  • Wash proof Plasters: for general cuts and grazes
  • Safety pins - holds loose end of sling or bandage in place
  • Triangular bandage (sling): supports an injured arm or shoulder
  • Alcohol free wipes: cleans and prepares the skin before applying dressing
  • Eyewash/wounds pod: cleans cuts and grazes and can also be used to remove dirt/sand etc. from eyes

We hope you found this information useful and that you will consider joining us.
Happy walking!

Our name

Our official current name is Sunderland Walking Club, although for many years we were known as Sunderland CHA & HF Rambling Club which goes back to the days when Rambling Clubs supported the former Countrywide Holidays Association and the Holiday Fellowship.