Join

If you are interested in joining Rossendale Ramblers, you are most welcome to come along on any of our walks to sample the friendly atmosphere and assess the standard of fitness required to walk with us.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Please note – this page is available for download here.

Current Walks

We walk around 10-11 miles every Wednesday and one Sunday in the month.  We also run 6-ish mile local walks on three Sundays of most months.  Finally, for those of you with less time or less energy, we have 2 hour local pub walks on one Saturday morning and one Thursday evening in the summer months, and on 1st & 3rd Saturday mornings in the rest of the year. . You can see all the details in our Walks Schedule.

Our walks are graded as:

Grade 1 – A leisurely walk – 4 miles or less. Approximately 2hours. Pub Walks.

Grade 2 – An easy walk – 7 miles or less (and have a total ascent not exceeding 750ft)

Grade 3 – A moderate walk – 7-13 miles (or have a total ascent between 750ft and 1500ft)

Grade 4 – A step up from moderate – 13-16 miles (or have a total ascent between 1500 ft and 2000ft)

Grade 5 – A strenuous walk – 16+ miles (0r have a total ascent exceeding 2000ft). Our annual challenge walk would fall into this category.

Our 10-ish mile walks are usually graded as Moderate, and are only suitable for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. They may include some steep paths and open country, and can be at a brisk pace.  Intermediate and Hard walks are correspondingly more difficult, and can be challenging.  Easy walks are shorter, with less ascent, and are usually over less rugged terrain, so they are suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness and health.

After 2 or 3 sample walks, if you enjoy them and feel it is for you, then you would be expected to join The Ramblers.  Details of how to join and the charges, etc., can be seen here.  If and when you do join The Ramblers, all we ask is that you specify Rossendale Ramblers as your local group.

Please note that if you do not join The Ramblers, and continue to walk with us, then you will not be covered by The Ramblers’ third party liability insurance.

Safety

  • Please make sure that you are fit enough to undertake the walk you intend to join.  If you’re unsure of your fitness level, try an easy walk first: it’s much better to find a walk a little too slow and easy than to make yourself miserable and exhausted.

  • For your own and others’ safety please read and abide by the advice and guidelines on this page, read the information about the walk published on our ‘Latest News’ page just before the walk takes place, and be sure to heed the instructions of the walk leader.  Though walking is inherently one of the safest outdoor activities, no activity is completely without risk, and it is your responsibility to behave sensibly and to minimise the potential for accidents.

  • Please note our safeguarding policy regarding children and vulnerable adults.

    Dogs are allowed on our 2 hour walks, but only if the leader agrees in advance.  This is for the safety & wellbeing of all concerned.

  • If you have any questions about a particular walk that you are thinking of joining, or would just like a chat about walking with us, then please call Graeme, our Walks Co-ordinator (07790 928088), and he will be glad to help.  If necessary, he can arrange for the walk leader to contact you.  The leader’s details are usually provided when the final details of the walk are posted on the web site under ‘Latest News’, generally 3-7 days before the walk takes place. 

Equipment

  • A pair of strong walking shoes or hiking boots are essential, as we usually have sections of the walk that are ‘off the beaten track’.

  • Clothing – jeans are not usually a good idea – if it rains, they hold water against the skin, take ages to dry out and any wind can make your legs feel extremely cold.

  • Waterproofs – yes, this is the UK and it rains – sometimes for hours.  A good waterproof jacket and trousers are a wise choice.  In winter, fleeces and other layers are a good idea.  With all this and some food & drink to carry, a rucksack comes in very handy.

  • The Ramblers site has some excellent advice on equipment, and there are many specialist shops to supply all your needs.  Ramblers’ members often get 10% discount on production of their membership card, while Cotswold Outdoor gives a discretionary 15% off.

Food & Drink

  • On our longer walks we normally stop for coffee and a snack around 11 am, so a flask and a banana are good choices to bring.  We stop again at lunch time, so again a flask and some food sustains us for the afternoon.  A ‘sit mat’ or small piece of foam is useful for something to sit on, especially if the grass is wet.

  • Dehydration – when walking, some people can lose a lot of fluids through perspiration.  It is said that if your body becomes only 10% dehydrated, your performance will suffer by as much as 30%.  At 10% dehydration you are unlikely to even feel thirsty – in fact by the time you feel thirsty it is too late.  So bring plenty of water or other fluids to drink.