South Bank Group
You are welcome to try one or two free walks with us before taking up membership. Once you have joined the South Bank Group you will be sent a full list of walks for the current programme including all the necessary walk details such as dates, train times, travel information, and leaders’ contact details. This information is also available on our website.
Booking a walk
Generally there is no need to pre-book a walk, unless it specifically says to do so in the walk description. Just turn up at the designated meeting point (usually a railway station). A group of Ramblers is easy to spot. Barring such circumstances as extreme weather conditions or insurmountable disruption to the transport network, walks will always go ahead as programmed. Any member of the Ramblers' Association is welcome on our walks.
Who organises the walk?
All walks are organised by leaders. Leaders are volunteers. They will not treat you as a school party, and there is much you can do to help make their roles trouble-free. Keep the leader or the main party in sight, and if a problem arises let the leader know.
Timings and travel arrangements
Leaders do their best to gauge distance and difficulty but these estimates may not be exact. The timing of a walk can vary. It will depend on conditions and the pace of the slowest walker. So bear this in mind if it is imperative you return to London at a particular time.
All of our walks are accessible by public transport, however, engineering or other travel disruptions may cause travel delays. In these cases the walk's start time may also be delayed.
Before going on any walk, always check our website where any last minute changes to walks will be clearly displayed. If in further doubt, check with the leader or access the National Rail Website
Clothing and equipment
The best advice is to come prepared. We advise stout, waterproof shoes or boots that are suitable for paths which can be slippery or muddy even in the height of summer. Depending on the time of year, you may also need gloves, hat, scarf, sunscreen, sunglasses and waterproofs.
You should always carry water and emergency rations in case they are not available en route. A map and a mobile phone are useful should you get separated from the rest of the party. You may also wish to carry basic first aid items as the leader may not always carry a first aid kit.
What about food?
Always check the walk description to see what the lunch arrangements are. It may be a pub, cafe, picnic or a combination. It is always advisable to bring along a snack in case the pub or cafe is unexpectedly closed.
Bringing a dog
If you would like to bring a dog, always check with the leader in advance. Bear in mind that there will be circumstances where you will need to keep your dog on a lead, for example when passing livestock. Your dog is always your responsibility.
upd 14/12/2024 DH