Guided Walk

Wednesday 7th July 2021

The Cotswolds wardens lead walks across the Cotswolds Guided Walks - Cotswolds National Landscape (cotswoldsaonb.org.uk). Lots of great walks going on and really easy to book - when you know where the link is! I went on one today to see how they worked and get a feel for what goes on.

We started in Chastleton Nation Trust car park - the walk was fairly easy and about 5 miles. There were about 15 people on the walk and I had a lovely time chatting to them and also enjoying the walk. The wardens can choose their own walks and typically they will have between 10 and 30 people (pre covid!) on a walk, with a leader and a back marker. I learnt quite a lot, the wardens would prefer to keep the booking system (put in for covid) and I can see why they would want that, people on the walk would like the booking system scrapped so that they can just turn up when they want - and I can see why they would want that! No dogs allowed on the walks - totally understand that but it does limit the audience.

As I had been at the strategy day yesterday I also thought about some of the topics that we covered. There were several stiles which some people find difficult to get over (and make accessibility difficult), the route was really poorly sign posted even though it was along public footpaths. Although the walk was not difficult it was muddy and through fields - you really needed walking boots for it. The people on the walk were my age or older, white, middle class - nothing wrong about that but not necessarily welcoming for people that might not fit that description. There were only 2 people that had not been on a guided walk before (and I was one of them) - most people are regulars. Lots of food for thought!