KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL

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We have a Grading System for all the Guided Walks, which is designed to ensure you select walks which are suitable for your level of fitness and experience.

Please do not choose a grade of walk which you think might be very challenging for you to complete – aim to do walks where you will be confident of completing the whole walk whilst maintaining a decent pace.

The Grading System is as follows:

Short, Medium, Long and Very Long Distance with information added such as stiles, steps or gates, muddy or uneven ground.

• Short - Suitable for anyone in good health, these walks should last between 1 and 4 hours and be on well-marked paths.

• Medium - Suitable for fit people who walk reasonable distances on a regular basis. The walks may last for up to 4-7 hours, and the paths will generally be in a fair to good condition.

• Long - Suitable for people with a good level of fitness, who are experienced day walkers over quite long distances. These walks may last up more than 8 hours, sometimes in remote locations, with paths over uneven terrain.

Some walks are classed Very Long distance these can be broken up into separate sections if required with overnight stays.

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Walks in this programme are in the open and some are in the countryside and along the coast, mostly using unmade footpaths and bridleways. The paths can be muddy after rain, and many of the routes are exposed to the elements (wind, sun and rain).  We therefore require all participants on our Guided Walks to wear or carry the following items:

• Walking Boots and comfortable socks (trainers are not recommended, but stout walking shoes with a good grip are acceptable).

• Warm clothing (bring layers, such as a fleece, so you can remove them if you get warm).

• Waterproof jacket (and waterproof trousers if you have them).

• A rucksack to carry spare clothing, your food and drink and personal items.

• Cash or a debit/credit card (for any purchases, including transportation, if required).

• Food and drink appropriate for the length of the walk. (Stops at a pub/café etc. are not included, unless otherwise stated.)

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The Start Time given is that at which the walk will start. You should be changed and ready to go at the Start Time - it is unfair on the rest of the group to wait for you, if you are late.

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Photographs - There will be photographs taken during the walks, some of which will be used to promote the festival afterwards.  Please let your walk leader know if you do not want your photograph taken.

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Dogs are not allowed on guided walks. Participants arriving with dogs, will be asked not to partake in the scheduled walk. This is for the safety of all walkers and the public.

 

Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

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Most of our walks are on unmade paths and therefore maybe unsuitable for wheelchair users. Where we believe a walk to be wheelchair-friendly we will state it in the description.

Please inform the event team in advance if you have any pre-existing medical condition/s and for which you may be carrying medication (e.g. diabetes) or that could impact your walk. We will treat this with the utmost of sensitivity and confidentiality – we will only use this information to make sure our risk assessments take account of any additional elements to consider. Please email info@saltmarshcoastwalkingfestival.co.uk

You must stay with the group. If you wish to leave the group at any point in the walk, please inform the Walk Leader who will make it clear that you are responsible for your own safety from that point.

Walk Leaders have the right to reject any person they believe to be inadequately prepared for the walk.

Walk Leaders are responsible for the safety of the group and their instructions must always be followed. The Walk Leader has the right to ask a participant to leave the event, if it is felt that they have behaved in an inappropriate manner, such as putting themselves or others at risk, knowingly littered, or accessed private land.

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Booking Management:

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To help maximise availability for everyone wishing to take part in these walks, a £3 refundable booking fee per walk ticket applies. This fee is only retained for very late cancellations (within 24 hours of the walk start) or no-shows; otherwise, it will be refunded. Please note there is a non-refundable transaction processing fee of £0.75p per booking.

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Cancellations and refunds:

You can manage your booking online up to 24 hours before the event start. Alternatively contact bookings@saltmarshcoastwalkingfestival.co.uk.

Should a walk be cancelled:

We recognise that hazardous conditions (such as icy roads or severe storms) may make travel unsafe; in these circumstances, even if a walk goes ahead, organisers may use their discretion to offer ticket refunds, excluding the booking fee.   The £0.75 booking fee is non-refundable.

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Once booked an eticket with all your walk details will be emailed to you. The eticket can be shown on a phone, there is no need to print it for when you arrive for your walk. The Walks Leader will tick you off as arrived. You will also be sent your Know Before You Go information prior to your walk start.

Sometimes sadly things do go wrong… if you have a complaint about a bookable paid for element such as a meal, please do try to resolve it with the establishment in the first instance.

We reserve the right to cancel a walk or evening entertainment if it is felt to be unsafe weather or something else beyond our control. However, we will do our best to avoid cancellations and refunds will be offered. 

Please do not attend walks or an evening event if you have not prebooked.

Thank you.

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