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Midlands & Shropshire
ABOUT OUR WALKS
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About our walks |
Lots of things, in fact. - Wonderful views from places that only walkers can reach - A relaxed and friendly environment in which to meet old friends and make new ones - Good, healthy exercise in the fresh air - Enjoyment of the wildflowers, wildlife, sounds and scents of the countryside. So you can see that whilst it won't make you any actual dosh, walking does provide a good 'WAGE'! What kinds of walks do GOC West Midlands do? A very wide variety, from 'discovery' walks in which we learn something about Birmingham's canals, for example, or its Jewellery Quarter, to scenic walks in the Malvern Hills, the Cotswolds, the Wyre Forest and many other places. Distances covered range from 5 or 6 miles - well within the capability of any reasonably active person - up to 12, and occasionally 15, miles. You can always check out the distance in advance by consulting our programme, so you shouldn't get caught out with an unexpectedly long walk. What's more, being in the Midlands there are no very high hills and few really steep hills to climb, and as we always walk on public footpaths the worst you'll have to contend with underfoot is mud. So whilst the longer walks do call for a degree of stamina, they don't normally present any other difficulties. To give an idea of the things we see on our walks, all the photos on this site have been taken by members on group walks. Who comes along to the walks? All gay, lesbian and bisexual people of any age, and their friends, are welcome. The number of people taking part in our walks varies, but 30 to 50 is typical. Do I need to join the club before I can come on a walk?Not at all, you are welcome to just turn up at any of the walks - and don't be afraid to come on your own; most of us started out that way and you'll find you'll quickly get into conversation with people. If you do join you get the benefit of a monthly newsletter giving details of GOC events all over the country - and you'll find you're very welcome to join in the activities of other GOC groups. If you want to join, you can contact us to get an application form, or you can download a form. (This requires Acrobat Reader.) How can I get details of the walks?From this website, of course; from the GOC Newsletter (GOC members only); or by using the contact form. How can I get to the start of a walk?Whilst some of our walks are accessible by public transport, to get to others you will need your own transport. If you haven't got wheels, then contact us and we will try to arrange a lift for you. This will necessitate your getting to some pre-arranged meeting point (sorry, we can't collect you from home) and being there on time - the lift won't wait if you're late. How can I find the start of the walk?We always give directions in the walk details. In addition, an Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference is usually given, which provides firm confirmation of the starting point if you have the relevant OS map. Click here for details of how to use OS grid references. How long will the walk take?You can estimate this from the distance given in the walk details in the programme. A good rule of thumb is to allow 0.5 hours for each mile, to include lunch stop, etc. So expect a six-mile walk to take about 3 hours, and a 12-miler to take six. What should I wear?- Footwear. Blisters hurt like hell, so it's very important to get your footwear right. First and foremost, whatever you wear for a walk should be comfortable and have been moulded to your feet and your way of walking by having been worn many times before. In dry weather trainers are fine, though they may not keep your feet dry if it gets muddy. If you intend walking regularly it's worth investing in a good pair of walking boots, which will also keep your feet dry in all weathers. - Against the cold. Bear in mind it may be several degrees colder on a windy hilltop than it is in the city, and if it comes on to rain the temperature will drop several degrees more. Wear several layers, eg T-shirt plus sweatshirt plus warm sweater plus (essential!) a coat to keep out the wind. And wear a cap; it's important to keep your head warm. - Against the rain. If you don't mind your legs getting wet, a plastic mac with hood will keep your upper body dry, except on a very wet day. If you want to keep dry all over in all weathers, you'll need a good quality rainproof (as opposed to showerproof) coat with hood (or coat and hat), waterproof trousers and good walking boots, but all of that will set you back quite a bit, so it's probably not worth making the investment unless you intend to walk regularly. Two other tips: (1) if you take anything such as a camera that needs to be kept dry, wrap it inside a plastic bag before putting it in your bag or rucksack; (2) jeans are not a good idea, as once wet they take ages to dry out. - Against the sun. On a fine day you'll be out in the sun for hours and could get badly burnt if you don't cover up. Wear a long-sleeved shirt with a collar, plus a cap, and take your sunblock cream. - On your legs. No matter how lovely the weather and however tempted you may be to wear shorts, just reflect that long trousers do have the merit of protecting your gorgeous legs from those nasty nettles! What should I take with me on a walk? 1. Water. 2. Water. 3. Water. 4. Food. 5. Etc. Let's take water first. This is vital, because if you get dehydrated, at best you'll get a filthy headache and at worst you could become very ill indeed. One of the commonest mistakes people make when going walking is to underestimate the amount of liquid they'll need. If you're going to be out all day it's best to take at least 1 litre per person, and on a hot day you'll need much, much more - take at least 2 litres per person. Then there's food. We often - but not always! - make a stop at a pub, but we don't usually stop long enough for you to order and eat a meal. So, unless advised otherwise, take a packed lunch. Other things you may need include sunblock cream, and a small first aid kit is a wise precaution - take one and sod's law says you won't need it. And don't forget to take a map or road atlas in case you get lost on your way to the walk. What do I need to pay attention to while walking? It's quite simple, really. Our walks are group activities, so you need to be 'groupwise'. That involves three things. Firstly, you need to try to keep up with the group. (That shouldn't be too hard, provided you're reasonably fit, because we don't walk all that fast.) Secondly, you need to look out for yourself. So, if you need to drop back for a wee, let somebody know, so they can make sure you're not left behind. And if you find a gap opening in front of you that you can't close, call ahead to ask for a stop, to let you catch up. The third thing is, look out for others. If the walk turns off, look back before you turn and make sure those following you can see where the route goes. And if someone has dropped back, make sure they're not left behind. I'm planning to walk regularly. Where can I buy the gear, and what should I buy? There are three shops in the centre of Birmingham which sell stuff for walkers - Black's (Bull Street, corner of Temple Row), Cotswold Outdoor (Piccadilly Arcade, Upper New Street), and Millet's (in the arcade near WH Smith). Black's and Millet's are owned by the same group now, and sell pretty much the same stuff at the same prices. Before going into retail therapy, it's a good idea to decide on your priorities (price, comfort, durability, weatherproofness, etc). Remember when buying boots that comfort is particularly important and you need boots big enough to enable you to wear a thick pair of socks. When buying a coat remember to get one big enough to go over several layers of warm clothing. You will find that, to a large extent you get what you pay for; if something is very cheap the manufacturer may have cut corners to get the price down, whilst with expensive branded items you may pay quite a bit for the label. As to Ordnance Survey maps, Waterstones in New Street have a good stock.
USING OS GRID REFERENCES TIPS FOR WALK LEADERS
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