To help you get maximum enjoyment from your Rail To Trail Walking Festival walks we have provided some useful information/FAQs. Please take a read:
- Is there a charge?
All festival walks are provided free by volunteer walk leaders.
- Who can join?
Anyone is welcome to join a festival walk. We have prepared an inclusive programme of walks so everyone should be able to find something. However, please be aware that walk leaders reserve the right to refuse participation (at the start or during the walk) to any walker if they feel is not suitably attired or in the leader’s opinion feel they would be unable to undertake the whole walk. Walkers under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
- How do I select the correct walk?
To help you select the most appropriate walk for your fitness and agility levels, each walk has been categorised by pace and terrain. For pace there are 3 broad categories: gentle, moderate, and brisk. While for terrain slightly more detail is provided. However, walks are generally either flat, undulating or hilly/challenging.
- How long will walks last?
Walk listing all provide an approximate walk duration. The duration of walks is approximate and will depend on group abilities and size.
- Will the walk start time fit around train times?
All walk start times have been set to suit travel by train.
- Can I still walk with a known health condition?
If you have any medical problems, please either alert the walk leader of your condition and advise them of any medication you are carrying, or ensure you have this information noted on a piece of paper on your person/in your backpack, so the leader can search for it in an emergency situation.
- Parking and train tickets
All walks start/end at train stations. Please make sure you have a valid and flexible train ticket or ensure that your parking ticket is sufficient should the walk run over time.
- What should I wear/bring?
Please wear sensible outdoor clothing and walking boots/stout shoes with good grips on countryside walks. Normal footwear is suitable on town walks. Please carry sufficient water, sun, and wet weather protection. Walk descriptions also state if you need to bring food.
- Can I bring my dog?
Each walk description states whether or not dogs are welcome. Where walk leaders are happy to have dogs, they must be kept on a lead, unless the walk leader agrees otherwise. However, we should state that dog permission does not guarantee a dog-friendly route, you may need to help your dog over stiles.
- Photos
Photos will be taken on walks to use in promotion of the walking festival. If you do not wish to be included in these photographs, please indicate this to the photographer.
- Will walks go ahead whatever the weather?
Walks will go ahead unless the weather forecast is exceptionally poor. You will be emailed in the event of a cancellation.
- Are walk leaders first aid trained?
Our walk leaders are not first aid trained. In the event of an emergency, their role will be to provide basic care, to call in professional help and get in touch with your emergency contact (provided when you sign up)
- Will there be toilets?
The countryside is not well-known for its modern toilet facilities. Some walks are short enough to hopefully not need toilet breaks, others pass pubs/cafes where you might be able to use their facilities if you buy something. If there is no mention of a stop in a walk description, please be prepared for ‘wild-wees’.
- Alterations to the programme
Rail To Trail Walking Festival reserves the right to alter the festival programme without prior notice. The details in this year’s programme are correct at the time of listing online.
- Walk Leaders
Please be aware that all our walk leaders are volunteers.
- Risk & Liability
Please not that all walkers walk at their own risk and neither Rail To Trail Walking Festival nor their walk guides can take responsibility for personal injury, loss of damage to any property.
