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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do
I get involved?
The
best way to get
involved is to turn
up on one of our
walks, or at the
monthly pub meets
throughout the
winter, and see how
you like it!
There
is no need to
formally join the
Ramblers Association
before this and you
can come along on up
to three "trial"
walks before you
need to join.
Who
are you?
We
are the Northants
20s to 40s Ramblers
- As the
name suggests,
essentially we are a
group based in
Northamptonshire, in
our 20s 30s and 40s,
who go walking - but
that would be too
simple!
Do
I have to live in
Northamptonshire
to join?
No -
Although we are
based in Northamptonshire
we have members from
many of the
surrounding counties
as well. Basically,
if you can get to
the walks then you
can join us!
Do
I have to be in my
20s, 30s or 40s?
We
have just expanded
from a "20s - 30s"
group to better
represent those
members in their
40s, and 20s to 40s
is the age group we
are aimed at.
That
said, we don't ask
for your birth
certificate!! As
long as you are
"young at heart"
then you should fit
in well! (And if you
are 29 but act like
a 65 year old then
you probably
won't!!)
At
the lower end of the
scale, you have to
be at least 18 (for
legal reasons).
Most
of our members are
somewhere in the
middle, so if you
are in your 20s, 30s
or 40s you will find
plenty of people
around your age.
Does
being "Ramblers"
mean you only do
very short
unambitious walks?
No -
Although we are
called Ramblers this
is because we are
part of the Ramblers
Association.
However, we are far
removed from the
image this may
conjure in your mind
of groups of
pensioners in bobble
hats drinking
tea!
Usually
walks are around
8-10 miles, and some
of the local walks
may be a "figure of
8" - split into two
roughly equal
halves. On some of
the more distant
daywalks and most
weekends away we
tend to do some
ambitious walks, in
areas such as the
Lake District, the
Peak District and
North Wales, which
can involve some
steep hillclimbing
and long distances.
But we try to cater
for everyone and low
level and shorter
walks can be made
available on
weekends, if there
is demand for these.
To
get an idea of the
sort of thing we
have done in the
past, see the Photo
page.
How
often do you go
walking?
We
now walk most
weekends,
alternating between
local walks and
those a bit further
afield - up to two
hours drive away.
What
day and time are
the walks?
Walks
are usually on a
Sunday and usually
start at 10.30. For
the more distant
walks a central
Northampton meet for
car sharing will be
organised, which
will be one or two
hours before the
10.30 start,
depending on the
distance to the
start of the walk.
Local
walks may sometimes
be "figure of 8"
walks, which give
the option of just
doing the morning or
afternoon half of
the walk, with the
second half starting
at 1 or 2pm.
The
"Programme of Walks"
lists the details of
all daywalks and
weekends away, with
full details
available at least a
month in advance.
What
about weekends
away?
About
once every two
months we also
organise a weekend
away. These are
generally to areas
which are too far
away for a daywalk,
and which are worth
spending more time
in. Often this means
the Lake District,
Peak District, North
Wales and other
popular and not so
popular (therefore
quieter and more
interesting) walking
areas.
See
the Weekends Page for
details of all
weekends currently
planned.
Do
you do any longer
trips?
We
try to run a Summer
trip of at least one
week's length every
year, usually
abroad, as well as
extended weekends of
up to four days.
Details
of the next one will
appear well in
advance on the Walks and
Weekends
pages and if you
become a member you
will get e-mails
about these and all
other plans.
Do
I have to spend a
fortune on
clothing and
equipment?
No -
Boots, adequate
sensible clothing
(including
waterproofs but
excluding denim) a
packed lunch and a
rucksack to put it
in normally suffice,
particularly for
local walks in the
Summer. See the Equipment Page for
more details.
Can
I bring my dog on
the walks?
Yes
- we have nothing
against anyone
bringing dogs,
although in practice
they are rarely seen
on our walks. Most
walks are on public
footpaths and
therefore dogs are
allowed. Obviously
your dog will have
to be on a lead if
there is any
livestock around,
and you (not the
walk leader) will be
responsible for
keeping your dog
under control.
It
is also likely that
you will have to
carry your dog over
styles and on some
walks these could be
numerous and/or high
and/or difficult to
get over even
without a dog. Some
walks may also not
be exclusively on
public footpaths and
therefore dogs may
not be allowed (e.g.
if we go through a
nature reserve).
Given the rarity of
dogs on our walks
issues such as these
are not usually
taken into account
when walks are
planned and it is
therefore advisable
to contact the walk
leader before
bringing your dog.
For
weekends away, dogs
may not be allowed
in the hostel and
you should check
with the weekend
organiser before
booking . (Contact
details for walk
leaders and weekend
organisers are on
the walks page, or contact
us.
Can
I bring my child /
children on the
walks?
Yes
- As long as they
are old enough to be
able to keep up with
the pace of the walk
(i.e. a reasonable
walking pace), or
small enough for you
to carry, and are
well behaved (so
they don't disturb
the rest of the
group - who in the
main are frankly not
used to having
children around!)
Your
children (under 18)
can only come on
walks when you are
coming as well as
you will be
responsible for
supervising them -
we are not legally
able to act "in loco
parentis".
Do
I have to tell you
before I turn up
on a walk?
No -
You can just turn up
on daywalks without
letting anyone know
in advance, and this
is what established
members generally
do. But it is always
nice to know if new
people are coming,
and it does mean we
can wait for you if
you get lost on the
way to the start!
For weekends away
you do need to
contact the
organiser in
advance, and you
should do this as
soon as possible.
Once
I start, do I have
to come on every
walk?
No -
although many people
will do most of the
walks, you can turn
up as often or as
infrequently as you
like.
Do
I have to join
before coming on a
walk?
No -
You are welcome to
come along and "try
us out" on a couple
of daywalks or even
a weekend, but if
you want to keep
coming after this
you will need to
join the Ramblers
Association.
How
do I join?
You
can join the
Ramblers Association
via their website -
visit This Page and
select "Northants
20s 40s Ramblers"
as your group from
the drop down list
(it is essential
that you do this or
you will be
allocated to the
"all age" group for
your area, who will
get your fees!).
If
you are already a
member of the
Ramblers Association
it doesn't matter if
you have already
specified a
different group, or
didn't specify one
at all, and you
don't need to do
anything more to
join us. But if you
do end up mainly
walking with us,
rather than your old
group, we would be
grateful if you
would "change your
allegiances" to us!
What
is the Ramblers
Association?
The
Ramblers
Association, which
we are a part of, is
a charity that
protects Britain's
unique network of
public paths,
provides information
to help you plan
your walk and enjoy
it in safety and
comfort, increases
access for walkers
and has established
statutory rights of
access to our
countryside,
safeguards the
countryside from
unsightly and
polluting
developments so that
walkers can enjoy
its tranquillity and
beauty, and educates
the public about
their rights and
responsibilities and
the health and
environmental
benefits of walking,
so that everyone can
enjoy our wonderful
heritage.
To
find out more visit
www.ramblers.org.uk
When
can I meet you?
We
meet up on the first
Wednesday of each
month at a pub in
the area, which is
an opportunity to
find out more about
the group and
forthcoming
activities (and is
easy to escape from
if you decide its
not for you!). In
the summer the venue
and time varies as
we also include a
short (optional)
evening walk. See
the Programme
of Walks for
details of the next
meeting and come
along to find out
more.
Do
you do anything
besides walking?
We
also try to arrange
regular activities
& social
activities, like
bowling, ice
skating, meals out
and trips to places
such as Alton
Towers. These are
organised by the
Social Secretary and
are listed on the Activities
& Socials
page.
I
live a really long
way from
Northamptonshire -
is there a similar
group near me?
There
are 20s 30s groups
covering large parts
of the country,
hopefully there is
one near you - see
the Ramblers Association List of Other 20s 30s Groups
Please
note that many of
these do not
accept over 40s
(However some of
them are 40s +
groups)
If
you still have any
questions then contact
us
and you will
usually get a
reply within 24
hours.
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