The vast majority of walks go ahead as planned. However, occasionally the weather is so bad that we have to think about whether to cancel a walk to ensure everyone’s safety. These notes have been written to help you in that event.
If you need to cancel the walk for a personal reason…
This may be for any reason, illness of yourself or someone close to you or you haven’t been able to do the walkover in time or the walk you planned is no longer possible for some reason, then call or text John, Andy or Duncan, see numbers below. Please contact them before 10 a.m. on SATURDAY MORNING so one of us can either make alternative arrangements, i.e. cancel the walk or organise leading a different walk from the same start point.
If severe weather threatens a walk you are leading...
Please keep an eye on the forecast on the days leading up to your walk. The met office (usually!) warns of very severe conditions a few days in advance www.metoffice.gov.uk
Severe weathers that may threaten your walk include things like torrential rain that causes widespread flooding, heavy snow, particularly if it leads to dangerous driving conditions, gale force winds that bring down trees or large branches etc or extreme heat where the temperature is forecast to be above 30C.
Conditions such as normal rain and muddy footpaths may perhaps lead you to change the route or length of the walk but usually should not lead to a cancellation.
The most important thing is safety, both yours and that of the group. If you would like help with your decision, then please call John, Andy or Duncan (contact details below).
If you have to cancel...
Please make your decision and call or text John, Andy or Duncan before 10 a.m. on SATURDAY MORNING so one of us can change the GWG website, organise an update on Meetup, and where possible contact individuals intending to join the walk. Please make sure you get a response from one of us, don’t just send an email or leave a voicemail as we may be away and not receive it in time!
Last minute cancellation…
If for any reason you’re unable to make it on the day itself, again call John, Andy or Duncan and we will try to find someone to go to the start point to let people booked on the walk know what’s happening.
Here are our mobile numbers, if you can’t get hold of the first person you try then please contact the others until you speak to one of us.
John 07891 321904
Andy 07949 729032
Duncan 07764 948196
The walk leader can add ‘WALK CANCELLED’ in the comments on Meetup. However, this does not formally cancel the walk, which is done through one of the Meetup Organisers.
The the GWG WhatsApp Groups (main group and 20s-30s) can also be used to inform members that a walk is cancelled, but the WhatsApp membership may only include a few of the people booked onto the walk, or wish to join the walk without having booked.
Despite formally cancelling the there may still be people who saw the walk on the GWG website or Meetup before the walk was cancelled and who will turn up. Therefore, if it’s safe to do so the walk leader or a deputy, needs to go to the meeting point for the walk at the time it was due to start to let anyone who still turns up know that it is cancelled. Obviously if there is heavy snow or the start point is flooded then you wouldn’t be able to do this, but if possible please go to the start point.
Hopefully you won’t need this information. But if you do, we hope it’s helpful! If you have any questions, please ask one of us.