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 6 OCT Memorial Walk: Graves Park to St James Church 2 OCT
WED 14 OCT Bamford Edge, Bamford to Ladybower reservoir, return via old railway line 9 OCT
THU 22 OCT Bakewell Road, Pilsley, Hassop, South Bank Woods, Bubnell 16 OCT
SUN 25 OCT Woodthorpe Hall, Holmesfield Church, Gillfield Woods, Cricket Inn 20 OCT
TUE 3 NOV A walk around Dam Flask 30 OCT
TUE 3 NOV Training Day N/A

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

- Memorial Walk: Graves Park to St James Church

  • Meet at: Sheffield Interchange 9.30 to catch the no 43 bus on Flat Street leaving 10.04 to Charles Ashmore Road where the walk starts 10.30.
    It is important that all members meet at the starting point of bus interchange and not make their own way to Flat Street.
  • The Route: Walking through Graves Park to St James Church for a short memorial for those who are no longer with us, then on to the Rose Cafe for lunch. After lunch walking back to Charles Ashmore Road.
  • Distance: ~3 miles.
  • Terrain: Good paths and tracks.
  • The Leaders: Norman Pearson (07803 437931) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 2nd October.

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

- Bamford Edge, Bamford to Ladybower reservoir, return via old railway line

  • Meet at: Sheffield Interchange (main foyer) 9.30 to catch 9.45 272 Castleton bus to Bamford turnaround, arrives 10.29, car parking nearby.
  • The Route: Below Bamford Edge and through Bamford to Ladybower reservoir and return via old railway line.
  • Distance: 5 miles.
  • Terrain: Good paths, tracks through fields and wooded areas and some minor roads and pavements with a couple of stiles.
  • The Leaders: Mike Wilson (07538 001933) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 9th October.

Please let Martin know where you will meet to make sure there are enough guides at the Interchange in Sheffield.

Buses back from Bamford 272 at 14.45 and 16.24 and the 257 via Crosspool at 14.44 and 15.44.

- Bakewell Road, Pilsley, Hassop, South Bank Woods, Bubnell

  • Meet at: Sheffield Interchange (main foyer) 9.30 to catch the 9.40 218 bus to Baslow where the walk starts 10.30.
  • The Route: Crossing Bakewell Road, walking up steep hill to Pilsley, and on to Hassop for lunch, returning through South Bank Woods and Bubnell.
  • Distance: 7-8 miles.
  • Terrain: Woodland fields and paths with a couple of steep hills.
  • The Leaders: Joe Fagan (07791 634319) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 16th October.

Joe will meet the group at Baslow.
Please let Martin know where you will meet the group to cover VI's in town.

- Woodthorpe Hall, Holmesfield Church, Gillfield Woods, Cricket Inn

  • Meet at: Sheffield Interchange (main foyer) 9.50 to catch 10.10 218 Bakewell bus to the Hillfoot Road stop (opposite the Cross Scythes pub) at Totley, arrives 10.41.
  • The Route: Via Woodthorpe Hall to Holmesfield Church and back via Gillfield Woods and the Cricket Inn.
  • Distance: 5.5 miles.
  • Terrain: An undulating walk through farmers fields, woodland and some urban areas with a couple of stiles.
  • The Leaders: Mike Wilson (07538 001933) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin Wing (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Tuesday 20th October.

Please let Martin know where you will meet the group.

- 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.
  • Terrain: Unknown.
  • 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

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.

Coach Ramble Cancelled

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the Coach ramble due to Anne Batty's recent heart surgery. Ann instigated this walk for us and was very keen to take our group on this walk. Hopefully we can do it next year as we did not think it was fair to do this walk without her. Mike Wilson has kindly volunteered to do a Wednesday walk for us at short notice so thank you Mike!

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.