SHEFFIELD VISUALLY IMPAIRED WALKING GROUP

Lady running in a park

Walk coordinator: MARYLINE TERGELLA
maryline.tergella@gmail.com or 07979 786171

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
Annual Programme

UPCOMING SVIWG EVENTS

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WALKS MAY BE MUDDY IN PLACES DEPENDING ON THE RECENT WEATHER
Date Description Register
TUE 3 NOV A walk around Dam Flask 30 OCT
TUE 3 NOV Training Day N/A
WED 11 NOV Hathersage, Coppice Wood, Upper Padley, Oxhay Wood, Greenwood Farm, Scraperlow 6 NOV
THU 19 NOV Rangers walk from Fairholmes 13 NOV
SUN 22 NOV Shirtcliff Brook / Wood, Shire Brook Valley Reserve, Linley Bank Meadows Reserve, Shire Brook Reserve 18 NOV
TUE 1 DEC Christmas walk and lunch 13 NOV

OTHER UPCOMING WALKS

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

SVIWG EVENT DETAILS

- A walk around Dam Flask

  • Meet at: Cathedral Tram stop 9am Church Street to catch either the yellow or blue route tram to Hillsborough. They alternate every 5 minutes, alighting at Hillsborough. Cross over the road to Hillsborough bus terminus and catch the 9.45 no 61 bus to Low Bradfield. Arrives bus turning circle at Annett Lane / Fair House Lane Junction at 10.13. Plenty of car parking nearby or in Bradfield car park.
  • The Route: An easy flat route around Dam Flask.
  • Distance: 3 miles.
  • The Leaders: Angela Elliott (07798 980793) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 30th October.

Please remember to let Martin know you'll be attending so that he can make sure there are enough guides at the start of the walk and to ensure that we have all group members travelling by tram together.

- Training Day

Our sighted guide training day will be Tuesday 3rd November 10 until 12pm at SRSB Mappin Street. We have spaces for others to join so if you have already had training some time ago and would like a refresher, please contact gail.fagan106@gmail.com. Thank you.

- Gail

- Hathersage, Coppice Wood, Upper Padley, Oxhay Wood, Greenwood Farm, Scraperlow

  • Meet at: Sheffield Station 9.30 to catch the 09.45 272 bus to Hathersage village centre/George Hotel a. 1025 where the walk will start at 1030.
  • The Route: Hathersage – Leadmill Bridge – Coppice Wood – Upper Padley – Oxhay Wood – Greenwood Farm – Scraperlow – Hathersage.
  • Distance: ~5 miles.
  • Terrain: Good paths and tracks throughout though some may be muddy at times. Mainly wicket gates with the odd stile. Gradual uphills, one slightly steeper downhill through the woods into Hathersage.
  • The Leaders: Steve Brown (07801 906126) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 6th November.

Steve will meet the group at Hathersage.

Walk can be shortened by catching 272 bus at the Millstone Inn at about 4 miles. Toilets at Hathersage at walk start/finish. Buses back to Sheffield at 1451/1630. Alternative rail services available from Sheffield to Hathersage and return.

Please let Martin know where you will meet the group to ensure enough guides at the start of the walk to meet VI's.

- Rangers walk from Fairholmes

  • Meet at: Queen's Head Pub Pond Hill 9.15 leaving by minibus 9.30 travelling to Fairholmes where walk starts at 10am.
  • The Route: To be decided on the day due to weather conditions.
  • Distance: ~8 miles.
  • Terrain: Moderate walking with some climbs, rocky paths, also some good ground.
  • The Leaders: Peak Park Rangers (07502 547221) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 13th November.

Please let Martin know where you will meet the group to ensure enough guides at the start.

- Shirtcliff Brook / Wood, Shire Brook Valley Reserve, Linley Bank Meadows Reserve, Shire Brook Reserve

  • Meet at: Poundland High Street 9.25 to catch the 9.45 no 24 bus Arundel Gate stop AG3 to Woodhouse Co-Op Chapel Street where the walk starts 10.12.
  • The Route: Shirtcliff Brook, Shirtcliff Wood, Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve, Linley Bank Meadows Nature Reserve, Shire Brook Nature Reserve, back to Woodhouse Coop to catch the number 24 or 25 bus to town.
  • Distance: 6 miles.
  • Terrain: Muddy woodland paths, good country park paths, grassy tracks. One short steep descent otherwise relatively flat.
  • The Leaders: Keiran (07840 527010) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Wednesday 18th November.

- Christmas walk and lunch

  • Meet at: Sheffield Cathedral, Church St. at 9.30 to catch the 120 FULWOOD bus on High Street at 9.47 am. Getting off at Moorcroft Road where Hilary and Olwen will meet you.
  • The Route: Walk will be 3 miles down the Mayfield valley. Then walking along Oakbrook Road and turning left up a short distance to Fulwood Rd, arriving at the Bulls Head for our Christmas Lunch – booked for 12.30 pm.
  • Terrain: Quiet lanes and good paths.

The 120-bus stops are just outside the Bulls Head pub.
If you have any problems on the day, please phone Hilary – 07443899564.

Please see this menu and let Hilary have your menu choices by Friday 13th November.
0114 230 6604 / hilarymyers16@gmail.com / +44 7443 899564.
A £5 deposit is required at time of booking. If possible please transfer your £5 deposit to the group’s bank account at HSBC:

Account name: Sheffield visually impaired walking group/SVIWG
Sort code: 40 41 07
Account number: 71852566

If you are unable to do a bank transfer please let Hilary know.

Thank you.

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. Note that there is a small charge for transport.

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

Possibility of holiday 2027

Over the last few months we have had various questions and comments about a group holiday. Last year we asked members to let us know about a group holiday. We did not receive enough response and did not think it was worth taking it any further.

We are asking again with a view to next year 2027, at this stage we are not asking for a firm commitment just an expression of interest to help us to decide whether to pursue the subject.

It would be very helpful if members would respond either way so we know they have read this. A decision will be make at the beginning of December so please respond ASAP. Thank you.

- Sue Hill

Walk Leaders 2027

Maryline our walk coordinator is compiling a list for the Wednesday and Sunday walks for 2027. Please give her a call if you can lead a walk for us (details on the contact page).

Thank you.

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.