Testimonials

Read some of the stories from our walk leaders...

Sarah M

"Having been a member of Stag Walkers for two and a half years, I decided to take the plunge and lead my first walk this summer. In July I led my group of twenty around the countryside of Digswell and Tewin, a gentle four and a half mile route that I was already familiar with. We were treated to stunning views of the historic Digswell Viaduct, bathed in glorious evening sunlight. I gained valuable experience, learning to navigate routes independently, learning about local points of interest and working on leadership skills. I am already planning where I am going to go next!"

Matt F

"I've had such a wonderful experience with Stag Walkers since joining a couple of years ago, so it felt like a natural step to lead a walk myself! I felt supported throughout the lead-up to the walk, thanks to both the comprehensive online training and advice from our more experienced walk leaders. Leading a walk with Stags is such a fulfilling experience and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of trying!"

John S

"The training online was very easy to access and complete, and some of it was very thought-provoking: giving interesting scenarios to think through... I enjoyed the camaraderie of walking along with people who like to walk also."

JP

"Leading my first walk with Stag Walkers was a real challenge for me as an introvert and someone who is shy; it pushed me well outside my comfort zone. I'm grateful to the Stag Walkers community for allowing me to become a walk leader. I was nervous about my first walk, especially since we had to cancel and reschedule (due to an amber weather warning), but I'm glad it turned out this way- perfect weather and strong attendance… I want people to know what this meant for me. This is a great opportunity for self-improvement."

Sarah F

"It was enjoyable and rewarding to lead a group of 30 walkers... I felt supported by my fellow Stag Walkers and they gave me the tools and confidence to put myself forward as a walk leader. I'm looking forward to leading another walk soon. I would encourage all members to give walk leading or co-leading a go!"

Oli

"Leading my first walk for Stag Walkers was an amazing experience. What I enjoyed the most was seeing the smiles on people's faces and hearing positive feedback about the walk. I'm looking forward to leading more walks in the future!"

Gemma

“My first experience as a walk leader was brilliant, an experience I would recommend for all members who have not yet given it a go! While it may seem daunting at first, Gavin and Tanya were always available to assist with the process of planning which, in any case, was not difficult. You can simply pick a walk you already know well, and extend it if you need to then all you need to do is to fill in the very simple risk assessment and describe the walk.

They even arranged for a more experienced leader to be with me on the walk if I needed help.

During the walk I was concerned that people weren’t going to enjoy it or the start location was too far away but it soon became clear that walkers just wanted to be out and about and discover a new place. Nobody minded if I took a moment to orient myself using my phone or map and if we had got lost, I know that wouldn’t have been the end of the world either.

I really do think everyone should give it a go, as we all have beautiful places that we can share with one another!”