SHEFFIELD VISUALLY IMPAIRED WALKING GROUP

Lady running in a park

Walk coordinator: EILEEN INGHAM
07952 241775 or 0114 2814414

DOGS MUST BE ON LEADS AT ALL TIMES UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY THE WALK LEADER.
Please note there are to be no pet dogs on walks, only guide dogs.
For our full list of rules and guidance, please check out our documents page.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • From time to time we take photos to update our web site and also SRSB's web site.
    If anyone does not wish to appear on group photos please make it clear at the beginning of the walk.
  • Whilst every effort is taken by walk leaders, members attending do so at their own risk.
    All members are required to wear good walking boots and bring their own rucksack food and drink as well as waterproofs where appropriate.
  • Any members leaving walks early please let the leader or back marker know.
  • For questions regarding specific walks, please only contact the walk leader(s), whose details are given below.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Please see the notice about guide availability below

TUESDAY WALKERS NOTICE

Please note that the Tuesday walk in October will be published in the next newsletter as the first Tuesday walk falls the day before the Wednesday walk in October.
Annual Programme

UPCOMING SVIWG EVENTS

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WALKS MAY BE MUDDY IN PLACES DEPENDING ON THE RECENT WEATHER
Date Description Notify By
TUE 2 SEP GRAVES PARK MEADOWHEAD, ST JAMES CHURCH NORTON, ROSE GARDEN CAFE 29 AUG
WED 10 SEP LOW BRADFIELD, FIGURE OF 8 ROUND AGDEN RESERVOIR THEN DAM FLASK 5 SEP
MON 15 SEP
GROUP HOLIDAY - RIPON INN
N/A
THU 18 SEP WALK FROM FAIRHOLMES (ROUTE TO BE DECIDED ON THE DAY) 12 SEP
SUN 28 SEP PENISTONE, HIGH LEA FARM, SILKSTONE COMMON 24 SEP
TUE 11 NOV VI TRAINING DAY N/A

OTHER UPCOMING WALKS

Date Description Notify By
1st THU SHORT WALK WITH RSS AND SRSB EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH IN ROTHERHAM (see here)

SVIWG EVENT DETAILS

- GRAVES PARK MEADOWHEAD, ST JAMES CHURCH NORTON, ROSE GARDEN CAFE

  • Meet at: Poundland High Street 9.40am to catch the 10.03am number 25 bus to Graves Park Meadowhead where the walk will start and finish.
  • The Route: We will make our way to St James Church Norton where we will have a short memorial for those members who are no longer with us, as agreed last year, home made cakes and refreshments available for a donation.
    Afterwards go to the Rose Garden cafe for lunch. For those members who wish to bring their own, there are plenty of seats outside.
  • Distance: 4 miles.
  • Terrain: Easy walking on good paths with no steep ascents.
  • The Leaders: David Cadet (07554 143262 or davidcadet81@gmail.com for all walk enquiries).
Please contact Martin by Friday 29th August for him to make sure enough guides, letting him know where you will meet the group.
07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com

- LOW BRADFIELD, FIGURE OF 8 ROUND AGDEN RESERVOIR THEN DAM FLASK

  • Meet at: Poundland High Street at 9.20 to catch the 9.40 Tram to Hillsborough Interchange, then the 10.10 no 62 bus to Low Bradfield arrives 10.40 when the walk will start. This will be from the bus turning circle which is situated Arnett Lane / Fair House Lane junction. Plenty of parking nearby or Bradfield car park for the drivers.
  • The Route: The walk will be a figure of 8 round Agden Reservoir then Dam Flask.
  • Distance: Approx 6.1/2 miles.
  • Terrain: Slightly uneven mud tracks round parts of Agden then easy well walked paths round Dam Flask. Anyone wanting to finish after the first dam can easily do so. There are no stiles.
  • The Leaders: Angela Elliott (07708 980793 for any walk enquiries).
Contact Martin to put your name down by Friday 5th September so he knows he has enough guides to cover this walk also where you will meet group to ensure guides at Poundland for VI's.
07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com

- GROUP HOLIDAY - RIPON INN

We will stay at the Ripon Inn, Nr Yorkshire.

Here is a travel article about Ripon which sounds very interesting - take a look to whet your appetite!

- WALK FROM FAIRHOLMES (ROUTE TO BE DECIDED ON THE DAY)

  • Meet at: Queen's Head Pub 9.15 to leave for Fairholmes at 9.30 minibus. Walk starts 10am.
  • The Route: Always decided on the day due to weather conditions.
  • Distance: 8 to 9 miles.
  • Terrain: Some climbs, some good paths and uneven tracks. This walk is for good walkers and always recommend wearing walking boots for this walk not trainers.
  • The Leaders: Peak Park Rangers (07502 547221 for any walk enquiries).
Contact Martin to put your name down for this walk by Friday 12th September letting him know where you will meet the group to ensure enough guides at the Queen's Head to meet VI's.
07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com

- PENISTONE, HIGH LEA FARM, SILKSTONE COMMON

  • Meet at: Sheffield Railway Station 9.15 to catch the 9.37 train to Penistone, arriving at 10.22 for a linear walk to Silkstone Common.
  • The Route: Walk a short distance along the trail past the site of an old railway turntable and a WW2 tank ramp. From there, we climb up to High Lea Farm, taking our time, getting a lovely view of the Penistone Viaduct. We then walk cross country, through woodland and field paths ending at Silkstone Common.
  • Distance: 5 1/2 miles.
  • Terrain: Fields and woodland paths.
  • The Leaders: David Kayley (07840 133768 for any walk enquiries).
There are hourly trains back to Sheffield.
Please contact Martin by Wednesday 24th September to make sure enough guides for this walk.
07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com

- VI TRAINING DAY

To be held at SRSB Mappin Street 10am to 12 noon. This is for new guides and also for any guides who would like to have a re-fresher as some of our guides have already done so.

Alison Anthony, a senior Re-hab officer at Howden House will be conducting the training. Alison has had many, many years training how to guide and also teaching long cane training.

Please do not miss this opportunity as it is only undertaken once per year as we get more new guides.

Please contact Gail; email gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk.
For guides who have already let me know no need to email again.

OTHER WALKS

SHORT WALK WITH RSS AND SRSB

The first Thursday each month there is a walk supported by the Rotherham Ramblers, usually around 3 miles finishing at the lovely Winthrop Gardens Wickersley at their cafe for lunch.

A minibus leaves SRSB Mappin Street at 9.30, with Rotherham Sight and Sound taking members to the start of the walk from 10am, and the walk itself starting half an hour later at 10:30am.

Please contact SRSB on 0114 2722757 or send an email to activities@srsb.org.uk to book a place or for more information.
Additional details are available from the event page on SRSB's website.

CURRENT WALK NEWS

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Sometimes we have to turn down VI's if there are not enough guides for that particular walk. This is never personal - we are working hard to recruit new guides so our VI's are never turned down for a walk.

Judith has set up a Facebook page for our group to send her any photos, videos, etc, hopefully to recruit new guides. Contact details are judemorton56@gmail.com or mobile 07896 596413.
Also not forgetting our web site managed by James Percival.

Also it is most important to contact Martin by the date specified for that particular walk. This gives Martin time to try to find more guides to come along, sometimes forgetting to put their names down.

Ideally we would like to have 2 guides for each VI but this is not possible so we always have 2 to 3 spare guides to give other guides who find themselves guiding most of the day a rest.

Thank you for your cooperation.

- Gail

SPARE WALKING EQUIPMENT

If anyone has any items in good order - Rucksacks, Walking Poles, Waterproof Jackets and Trousers - that they no longer require, please inform Judith as we are compiling a list of items to circulate amongst any new members or anyone who requires these items. Thank You.
Cheers, Judith (Email: judemorton56@gmail.com / Mobile: 07896596413)

SIGHTED GUIDE TRAINING VIDEOS - HOW TO GUIDE A BLIND PERSON

Here is a video showing how to guide a V I person - it will help our new guides, also well practiced members and also VIP's. It is by Amar Latif who founded the company Traveleyes which specialises in holidays for VIP's. I think it is extremely good, so perhaps members would like to take a look.

We regularly organise training days for new members and anyone who has already had training but would like a refresher.

Please contact Gail if you are interested.