What makes a walk 'long distance'?
What sort of people are members? Are you all fanatics?
I'm new to walking. How do I get started?
Can I just come along to a walk or do I have to join first
What is an LDWA Group Social Walk?
I want to walk a National Trail or long distance path. What is there for me?
How did the LDWA start and develop?
How do I get a membership number?
How do I change my membership details?
I've lost my membership card, how do I get a new one?
How do I find out about events?
Do I need to enter in advance?
Can I use the standard entry form for every event?
Can I advertise my event in your Events Diary?
I'd like help to organise my own event
Who insures (provides cover for) the LDWA?
What risks does the Policy cover
Does the Policy cover use of my car for LDWA purposes? Does the Policy provide personal accident cover? Are non-members covered by our Policy? Are non-LDWA events covered by the policy? What is the position concerning dogs on walks? What protection is given to walk leaders by the Policy? Is a risk assessment required for challenge walks? What form should a risk assessment take? Do group social walks and non-walking events require risk assessment? What are the requirements for reporting accidents or incidents which may result in a claim? Have we answered your question? A. The LDWA is an Association of people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, mountainous or moorland areas. We are also the governing body for long distance walking recognised by Sport England. Q. What makes a walk ‘long distance’? A. We think that any walk over 20 miles counts as a long distance walk but many Challenge Events and our Group social walks offer shorter alternatives if you are just getting started. Q. What sort of people are members? Are you all fanatics? A. Anyone can join who has an interest in long distance walking. We have lots of experienced walkers and plenty of newcomers as well. You don’t have to be a fanatic to enjoy our walks. We do have some members who zoom round walks at lightning speed but there are plenty of others who like to take their time. Our Challenge Events usually have generous time limits to allow even a slower-paced walker to finish. Q. I'm new to walking. How do I get started? A. Come along on a Group social walk or try a shorter Challenge Event. There will be plenty of people on hand to give you good advice. Find our events here. Q. Can I just come along to a walk or do I have to join first A. You don’t have to be an LDWA member to take part in a Challenge Event, although it usually saves you some money so it’s worth joining if you plan to do several events. You may want to try a few Social Walks before you join. It’s usually worth contacting the walk leader in advance to let them know you are coming. You will be welcome and there is no fee. They are listed online here. A. A Challenge Walk is an organised walking event with a set route and checkpoints on the way round. These are usually at least 25 miles but some offer shorter versions too. Most Challenge Walks have route descriptions to help you find your way. You will find regular checkpoints normally every 5 miles or so where you will be given refreshments and a chance to rest if you need it. Events differ so check what is on offer. LDWA Groups organise events and so do other organisations like scouts and charities. We list both. LDWA Challenge Walks are open to non-members but usually cost more than for members. If you plan to do several Challenge Walks then why not join us – you will soon save your subscription? Q. I’m a bit new to walking and I don’t know if I could keep up with everyone else. Can I do a challenge walk? A. The “challenge” is a personal one; it is not a race. You walk at your own pace and can stop for rests at checkpoints. If you think you can manage the distance then why not give it a go? Q. What is an LDWA Group Social Walk? A. An LDWA Group social walk is a day walk led by a member of one of our local groups. Everyone walks together and follows the leader so there is no need to navigate. These are usually about 20 miles and walked at a fairly moderate pace, though you will find it brisker than you may be used to while your stamina improves. You may need to take a packed lunch or at least some snacks and plenty of water with you. The leader will decide where to stop on the day, usually at elevenses, lunch and mid-afternoon. Some local groups also offer shorter evening walks in the summer. Why not contact them and find out. Some groups organise overnight walks and longer walks, useful for training for night and endurance events. A. Wear what you would normally wear for a day’s walk. Some Challenge Events have kit lists, in which case you should make certain you have everything on that list with you on the day. Q. I want to walk a National Trail or long distance path. What is there for me? A. Have a look at our very extensive Long Distance Paths section. This contains information on all sorts of paths, including National Trails, as well as details of books and maps to help you on your route. It’s a one stop shop for trailwalkers. There are more FAQs about LDPs in this section. Q. How did the LDWA start and develop? A. Since its formation in 1972 (founders Chris Steer and Alan Blatchford) the LDWA has grown steadily from 355 members to 6,500 (approx.) at present. That growth, recognition in 1985 as the Governing Body for Long Distance Walking and becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee in 1999 have not prevented the LDWA retaining the feeling of a family of diverse individuals united by a common interest in long distance walking. The Newsletter, containing details of challenge walks throughout the country, was also started in 1972, became “Strider” in 1977 and is now a 100-page journal, published in April, August and December each year, with a print run of 7,000. Local Groups are the life-blood of the Association, running led walks and other social events, organising Challenge Walks and running checkpoints on the Annual ‘Hundred’. The first Group was formed in 1973, also the first year of the ‘100’, and there are now 41 spread across the UK - although rather thinly in Scotland and there is no group so far in Northern Ireland. Each Spring Bank Holiday Weekend sees our ‘flagship’ event, which entails walking 100 miles in 48 hours, being held in a different area (2003 West Yorkshire, 2004 Exmoor, 2005 The Chilterns, 2006 Northumberland, 2007 Mid-Wales, 2008 West Yorkshire) with the Local Group playing a leading role as organisers and other Groups ‘mucking-in’. The first edition of the Long Distance Walkers’ Handbook was produced by Barbara Blatchford and published in 1980. The seventh edition was published in 2002 and this comprehensive Directory had details of over 600 Long Distance Paths. The task of preparing that edition for publication was undertaken by five volunteers. A new directory in planned for 2009. Similarly the Local Group Committees are comprised of volunteers as is the National Committee of 12 members elected at the Annual General Meeting, held in a different part of the country over a weekend in March and including a choice of social walks. A. You can join online. Details of membership fees and types of membership are available here. Q. Can my children/family join? A. Yes. ‘Family membership’ includes any two adults and their children (under 18) living at the same address. A. You’ll get: Q. How do I get a membership number? A. If you join, you will automatically be assigned a membership number. This will be sent to you either by email or by post. A. If you have not been assigned a password but are a member, go to the My Membership Details page and we will issue one. Q. How do I change my membership details? A. Access your membership details here. Q. I've lost my membership card, how do I get a new one? A. Contact the membership secretary here. Q. How do I join a local group? A. Look up your nearest local group here and contact the Secretary for more information. If you are already an LDWA member you will have been assigned a local group (nearest to your home) but that does not mean you have to walk with them. You may choose to join any local group no matter where you live. Q. What events do you organise? A. LDWA-organised events are usually at least 20 miles in length but some offer shorter distances too. The flagship LDWA Hundred is held every year on the second bank holiday in May. (Yes, that’s right; people do walk 100 miles in one go, without sleep. You may end up being one of them!) Q. How can I help on an event? A. Contact the walk organiser, whose name and contact details are listed in Strider and on our challenge event and group walk pages. Q. How do I find out about events? A. Our challenge event and group walk pages list all events that have been notified to us and meet our criteria. If you need more information about a particular event, have a look at the event website or contact the event organiser. A. Where an event states ‘SEF acceptable’ you may use a Standard Entry Form, available to download here. Some events have their own entry form which will either be available from the event website or from the event organiser. Q. Do I need to enter in advance? A. Please enter in advance if you can! Some events do not allow ‘on the day’ entries. If an event states a deadline for entering then this is strictly adhered to and no late entries will be allowed. This is normally the case in longer distance events, such as the Hundred, which cannot cater for last-minute entries. If an event does allow ‘on the day’ entries, expect to pay more than early entrants. You also run the risk of the event being full so it’s worth entering in advance if you can. Conversely, you also run the risk of the event not happening at all if you don’t enter in advance, as organisers need a minimum number of entrants for their events to go ahead. Q. Can I use the standard entry form for every event? A. Not if you can’t see ‘SEF acceptable’ in the detail about the event. Some events have their own entry forms for good reasons, eg, because they have particular kit you need to carry or because you need to give team information. Please stick to what the organiser has asked for! Q. Can I advertise my event in your Events Diary? A. Yes, if your event meets our requirements for a long distance walking event. Contact the Events Secretary. It’s a free service. Q. I’d like help to organise my own event A. Great. Have a look at our event organisers’ bible, our ‘Guidelines for Organising a Long Distance Walking Event’. Q. Who insures (provides cover for) the LDWA? A. Cover is provided 50% by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Plc and 50% by Insuresport Mutual Ltd. Our insurance brokers are Perkins Slade Ltd. The limit of indemnity cover is £5m. Copies of the certificates may be found in the Library Q. What risks does the Policy cover? A. The Civil Liability Policy is designed to protect Members against claims of negligence resulting in harm to others. This is provided under the following headings: Public Liability, Products Liability, Professional Indemnity, Libel and Slander, and Directors and Officers cover. Cover is only provided in respect of activities recognised and authorised by the LDWA. Q. Does the Policy cover use of my car for LDWA purposes? A. No, the Policy carries a very specific exclusion relating to motorised vehicles. Such cover is provided by the owner's personal motor policy and any claim should be referred to the appropriate motor insurers. Q. Does the Policy provide personal accident cover? A. There is no Personal Accident cover at present. Q. Are non-members covered by our Policy? A. Non members can attend walks and take part in challenge events and they are covered under the Civil Liability policy. Q. Are non-LDWA events covered by the policy? A. No, only events organised by recognised LDWA local groups are covered under the Policy. Q. What is the position concerning dogs on walks? A. The Policy does not extend to include any form of liability arising from the actions of a pet that a Member may take on a walk. Q. What protection is given to walk leaders by the Policy? A. If you are a recognised walk leader then protection is offered under the Policy in the event that a claim for negligence is brought, for example in the event of an unsuitable walk being planned leading to an injury. Q. Is a risk assessment required for challenge walks? A. Yes. Organisers should take reasonable steps to identify and address foreseeable risks associated with the event. Being able to demonstrate that this process has been carried out will be of considerable benefit should a claim be made against the LDWA. Q. What form should a risk assessment take? A. It is important to remember that performing a risk assessment does not mean that an event has to sanitized of all risk. It is about identifying hazards, assessing the potential consequences and the likelihood of them happening, and taking reasonable steps to avoid them happening, e.g. Highlighting busy road crossings in the route description, or not serving egg mayo sandwiches at an outdoor checkpoint in the middle of summer when there are no refrigeration facilities available. The Risk Assessment does not necessarily have to be a long and detailed document and can be produced in matrix format. See the Guidelines for Event Organisers for an example. Q. Do group social walks and non-walking events require risk assessment? A. There is less requirement for a documented risk assessment, but if a social walk is unusually hazardous compared to normal (e.g. If the Group is on a weekend away to walk in more mountainous terrain than home ground) then the walk leader should make the group aware of any particular hazards, e.g. Exposed paths, need for scrambling, and be prepared to accommodate the needs of all members of the party by appointing experienced back-markers, or having a suitable escape route planned. Special consideration needs to be given to new walkers with a group as they may not be familiar with the level of risk accepted by the rest of the group. It is not expected that a social gathering of members would need to be risk assessed. Q. What are the requirements for reporting accidents or incidents which may result in a claim? A. In the event of a possible claim the LDWA Treasurer should be contacted without delay (failing the Treasurer, contact the Local Groups Secretary, the Chairman or the General Secretary; see the current Strider for addresses) When confronted by a possible claim, organisers and helpers must not admit any liability, nor reassure any allegedly injured party that they will be covered by the LDWA's insurance. It is important to record the details of any incident, using the LDWA's Incident Report Form, regardless of whether it appears a claim may arise. This should be sent to the LDWA Treasurer, with a copy retained for the Group's records. Q. Have we answered your question? A. If not, contact the relevant member of the National Committee.Have we answered your question?
New to the LDWA?
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In order to join the LDWA and take advantage of all the benefits click the button below.
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The LDWA organises many challenge and local group walks, as well as listing many more organised by other organisations. Challenge events are normally between 20 and 100 miles and must generally be completed within a defined time limit. Group walks are normally led walks of up to 20 miles. Click below to see what's available.
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The LDWA maintains a database of over 1000 long distance paths, with brief route summaries, lists of maps and publications, cross references to linked routes and much more.
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