The role of Footpath Secretary is a new one for Take A Hike.  Steve will be our group point of contact for any footpath problems you find, from dangerous stiles to obstructed footpaths. Steve is also looking to organise some volunteer events, so please get in touch with Steve if you are interested in volunteering some time.  You can read more on our new footpath problems page here.

For more information on the committee roles, and if you would like to contact the group you can find full committee details on our Take A Hike committee page.

You don’t have to have lots of experience, you don’t need to be a mountain-trained emergency first-aider – you just need to be a Ramblers member so the walk is covered by our group insurance.

So where do you start?  First you have to come up with an idea for a walk.  The easiest way to do this is to buy a book of local walks, or find some routes online.  Start with somewhere you know or have walked before and scout out a start point that has plenty of places for people to park and if possible links to public transport.  Next, get a friend and go try the walk out together!  If you are struggling to find someone put a message on the messageboard asking for someone to come with you.  If you are struggling we also operate a “buddy” system where we will try to match you with an experienced walk leader to lead the walk with you – contact the Walks Secretary for more information.

Once you have gone out and recced the walk you then need to email the Walks Secretary with your Ramblers membership number, who will send you a link to our online walks submission form for you to fill out.  For help with how to grade your walk (and for lots of other useful information!), download our Walk Leader Checklist from our Walk Leader page. The Walks Secretary will review your walk, and once OKed publish it to the walks diary.

A lot of new walk leaders are concerned about getting too many people on their first walk – you don’t need to be!  Just think about your walk beforehand: if you put a walk on starting mid-morning from the centre of Leeds there is a good chance you will get a very large turn-out, so make sure you have a buddy who can act as a back-marker.  Also, winter walks always have lower numbers of people than summer ones, so this time of year is a great time to lead your first walk.

Finally, have fun.  Leading a walk is a great way to put on a walk that you want to do.  Pick somewhere interesting or seasonal – a walk that takes in some sculpture or art trail, a hill that you’ve always wanted to climb or even a walk that just ends at your favourite pub!  Once you’ve led your first walk, you will get such a buzz you will start planning your second straight away!

Photos by Rob Dearden

One of the opening phrases: “There’s a group gathering around a man with clipboard. They’re all wearing waterproof trousers, a few are already making inroads into their packed lunch and flasks of tea” will sound familiar to any Take A Hiker, and it’s fascinating reading the view of someone looking into the group.

The article features soundbites from TAH members Tim Rollett, Nic Oliver, Martin Earp and Phil Hadfield.

The full article can be read on the Yorkshire Post’s website here.

Get your tickets and see full details here.

Only the Web Secretary (Dave Pannell) is offering to stand again for the committee, so we’re looking for people to come forward to take the General Secretary , Membership Secretary, Walks Secretary and Social Secretary roles.  You can see an overview of these roles on our committee page here.  Nominations for the committee need to be submitted to our current General Secretary Vicky by the 15th November.  We will only be accepting nominations at the AGM is no-one has stepped forward for a role.

As this is an AGM, only members of the Ramblers Association can attend and you need to bring your membership card along for us to check on the door.  Following this, only members who have their affiliated Ramblers Group as The Leeds and Bradford Area 20s and 30s Group will be able to vote at the AGM.  If you are not sure of your group affiliation please contact our Membership Secretary.

Finally, we are also looking to add the role of Footpath Officer to the committee.  This is a role that all other Ramblers groups have and is a liaison with the wider Ramblers Association, responsible for reporting any problems we find as a group with footpaths in our area.  If you would like more information on this role and think you would like to get involved, please contact Vicky (all committee contacts on the committee page).

The Hilton Hotel provided a delicious meal as always of chicken with steamed vegetables. The DJ played the expected anthems and there were the usual crimes against the performing arts. The committee would like to whole-heartedly thank Zoe Carroll for single-handedly organising the entire event.

Got some photos from the night?  Make sure you share them on our Facebook page.

So if you are currently sat on the fence, or are intending to come but are so unorganised you’ve not got around to booking your ticket then we need you do so now!!  If you want to bring some friends down to the ball people who are not members of Take A Hike are also more than welcome.

You can get full details of the event here, tickets are only £28 including a sit-down meal.  So drop an email to Zoe now to book your ticket to ensure we can keep this popular fixture in the calendar again next year!

There are two linear walks each starting from close to the centre of Leeds and Bradford, and eighteen circular walks ranging from Penistone to Fountains Abbey.

“Above all”, comments Keith, “there are some real hidden gems waiting to be explored: Lothersdale, Newsholme Dean, the Washburn Valley, Churn Milk Joan, Stainburn church, Jumble Hole, the Wessenden Valley, Ramsden Clough and many more”.  Click here to see the full list of walks from the book.

The book is priced at £7.50 but Take A Hike members can buy the book by post for a discounted price of £5.  Send payment to John Lieberg, 11 Woodroyd Avenue, Honley, Holmfirth HD9 6LG.  You need to include your membership number and the title of the book; cheques to “Ramblers Association West Riding Area”.  All profits from West Riding Area books go the Area’s funds.

You can find our page here – just click the “Like” button.

Elsewhere on Facebook you can also join the main Ramblers page.  If you “like” the page at the moment you can get a discount code to buy Collins Ramblers Short Walk books for half price at Waterstones.com – find the main Ramblers Facebook page here.

Vicky looked absolutely stunning in her off-the-shoulder floral dress while Alex and his best men were splendid in their kilts, in respect to his Scottish roots. When asked what he was wearing under his kilt, Alex would only answer “I’ve gone traditional” … read into that what you will, but we’re glad that it wasn’t a windy day.

Alex and Vicky met through the group and a number of fellow Take A Hike members were also present at the wedding and reception. The group wishes them all the best for the future and hope they have a wonderful honeymoon.

Instead of the traditional wedding gifts, Vicky and Alex are asking for donations to the mountain rescue.  You can give online through their Just Giving page here:  www.justgiving.com/mountain-rescue