Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your questions about walking with Stag Walkers...
How do I book for a walk?
At Stag Walkers we ask everyone to book for our walks through our Meetup group. You first need to create a free account at Meetup, then you can request to join the Stag Walkers Meetup group - you just need to answer a few questions to verify you’re genuine.
When you've joined our Meetup group you can book for a walk by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the event page.
If the walk is fully booked please join the waitlist and check back regularly in case you get a place.
If you want to bring a guest, bear in mind that if you join the waitlist and submit a +1, you and your guest will get a place only if two places become available at once. It may be more likely that you both get a place if you each book individually.
Is there an upper age limit?
Stag Walkers is a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s & slightly older. However, we have members of all ages and everyone is welcome to try a few of our walks to see how they enjoy walking with us.
Ramblers members are free to attend all our walks and can also walk with any other Ramblers group in England, Scotland & Wales. We are one of nine Ramblers groups in Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area, including another age-specific group, Herts Weekend Walkers, which was set up for people aged mainly in their 40s & 50s.
What if the weather forecast is bad?
We walk in all weathers; if rain is forecast, please bring waterproofs (including walking boots).
Walks are cancelled only if the weather is hazardous e.g. extreme heatwave, storms, heavy rainfall leading to floods etc.
Am I going to get very muddy?
No, but with the British weather being what it is we can't always guarantee this. You should dress appropriately for the weather and time of year.
Do I need to be fit to go on the walks?
Not necessarily.
If you are worried about this, you should ease into the activity by joining one of the shorter or more leisurely walks first, before building up to the longer distances. Our walks typically range from 5 miles to 15 miles (or occasionally more).
The walks programme will indicate the length of the walk and the expected pace (grade).
How easy or how tough are the walks?
Our walks are graded as follows:
What should I wear?
Wear whatever makes you comfortable and is suitable for the conditions of the day.
Walking in trainers is possible but be advised, wet conditions will make them muddy and on uneven terrain boots really are best.
Do I need to bring anything?
Always bring water with you.
On long walks a packed lunch is advised as we cannot always guarantee that shops or pubs will be available on the routes.
Often there may be a pub stop mid-walk but this is for drinks and snacks only, not for cooked food. Some pubs prefer cash instead of card so it’s a good idea to bring some money just in case
What time will walks end?
This is always very difficult to predict and any end times given will always be estimates.
Most weekend walks should end in the afternoon around 3pm, however this isn't always the case and we may not be able to end the walk according to a timetable.
How can I get to the walks?
We aim to walks accessible by train or bus where possible. We also encourage car-sharing. Please read our Travel Advice section on the How to join a walk page.
Can I bring my dog?
If you wish to bring your dog on a walk for the first time, please let us know.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the walk leader’s discretion. They should be kept under close control at all times and MUST be on a lead through livestock areas, on roads and at anytime the walk leader requests.
Please note the length and grade of the walk to ensure your dog is capable of completing the route - and bring appropriate water/food if required.
Please be mindful of any members that are uncomfortable/have a fear of dogs.
The walk leader retains the right to refuse a dog on a walk if necessary.
Can I bring my child?
Children under the age of 18 are welcome to walk with us provided they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or person with equivalent responsibility for the entire walk.
However we currently do not run family-friendly walks and our walks are generally not suitable for children under 10 years old due to the pace (speed) and length of walk.
Please contact us in advance if you are considering bringing a young child to ensure the walk is suitable.
Adults who require specialist care or suport are also welcome to walk with us but must be accompanied by someone responsible for their direct care (who needn’t be a Ramblers member). If you have specialist requirements please contact us in advance to ensure we are able to accomodate you.
How do I become a walk leader?
All walk leaders must be paid-up members of the Ramblers and have registered with the Ramblers as a walk leader volunteer. This ensures that you are insured to lead a Ramblers walk.
All new walk leaders must do three things:
- Read the Walk Leader Handbook to Leading Group Walks PDF guidance document
- Complete the Walk Leadership Foundations e-learning (approx. 60 minutes)
- Complete the Preventing & Managing Incidents e-learning (approx. 60 minutes)
For details, visit the Ramblers walk leadership hub.
To lead a Stag Walkers walk you need to complete the details of your walk on the programme spreadsheet and complete a risk assessment checklist.
The information required includes start point, end point, start time, length (miles) and difficulty rating, plus any other relevant details.
If you are on our mailing list, details of how to access the spreadsheet will have been emailed to you.
If you have lost the link to the spreadsheet please contact our walk programme coordinators to ask for a reminder.
I join things like this with the hope of meeting someone single. Are there any single people who belong to this group?
All kinds of people walk with us, based on shared interests of spending time in the countryside, getting to know the local area, taking exercise etc., and through walking together over time friendships and relationships develop organically, however we are a walking group not a dating group - there are other events and websites for that.
What if I have a bad experience with the group?
Stag Walkers welcomes everyone and we want you to have fun and enjoy walking with the group. If you ever feel that you’ve had a bad experience, you are concerned about another member, or you’ve received unwanted contact or attention, you can safely report any issues in confidence to the Group Chair or any other committee member.
You can contact us individually via our Contact page (click on the name or photo of the relevant committee member) or have a quiet chat on or after a walk.
We ask that all Stag Walkers members abide by our Group Charter.
Can I promote a sponsored walk or event to Stag Walkers members?
Stag Walkers is part of the Ramblers, Great Britain’s walking charity, and as part of a charity ourselves we don’t tend to promote events in aid of other charities.
Also, we have a busy programme of walks and social events so in general we don’t advertise 3rd-party events that might clash with our own activities.
We sometimes collaborate with local organisations by hosting walks for nearby festivals - please contact us if you’d like to discuss this.
Got a question not covered here?
Please contact us and we will do our best to help.