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
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
WED 11 FEB Wadsley, Worrall, Oughtibridge, Middlewood 6 FEB
SUN 22 FEB Elsecar station, Mill Lane, Harley, Thorpe Hesley, Thorpe Head, Wentworth 19 FEB
THU 26 FEB Hope station, Town Head, Bagshaw Bridge, Wooler Knoll, Aston 20 FEB
TUE 3 MAR Barncliffe Road, Porter Valley, Ringinglow, Limb Valley, Whirlow, Ecclesall Woods, Abbeydale Road. 28 FEB

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

- Wadsley, Worrall, Oughtibridge, Middlewood

  • Meet at: Cathedral Tram stop Church Street 9.30 to walk to Snigg Hill to catch the no 57a Stockbridge bus to the Sportsman pub in Wadsley which is just passed Wadsley Church arriving 10.15.
  • The Route: Linear walk. From Wadsley across open common land, Worrall, Oughtibridge along by the river Don to arrive at Middlewood tram stop.
  • Distance: 5.5 miles.
  • Terrain: Moderate, long gradual ascent through fields, tracks and some road walking. 3 stiles.
  • The Leaders: Marie Gelder or Ray Gelder (07999 752263) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 6th February.

Please let Martin know where you will meet the group to assist with guiding in town.

Note that there is an opportunity to break off in Oughtibridge for walkers who wish to do so.

- Elsecar station, Mill Lane, Harley, Thorpe Hesley, Thorpe Head, Wentworth

  • Meet at: Sheffield train station 9.10, Trains Sheffield to Elsecar 9.36 from platform 1B arriving at 9.54. Barnsley to Elsecar 9.58 from platform 1 arriving at 10.07. Free car parking at the station meeting group 10.10.
  • The Route: From the station head into Elsecar park to mill lane then down Barrow hill to the village of Harley. Up coach road then into Thorpe Hesley. From Barnsley road in Thorpe head back up towards Wentworth. From Wentworth head back towards Elsecar.
  • Distance: ~7 miles.
  • Terrain: Paths, roads, fields, woods uphill and downhill with several stiles.
  • The Leaders: Matt Gulty (07738 005412) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Thursday 19th February.

The only person to contact for this and any other walks is Martin who keeps a list of all members attending to ensure enough guides. Also please let him know where you will meet the group for any VI's coming from Sheffield train station.

- Hope station, Town Head, Bagshaw Bridge, Wooler Knoll, Aston

  • Meet at: Sheffield Rail station 8.40 to catch the 9.14 train to Hope station arrives 0938 where the walk will start at 0945.
  • The Route: Hope station - Killhill Bridge - Town Head - Oaker Farm - Bagshaw Bridge - Edale End - Wooler Knoll - Win Hill - Aston - Hope Station.
  • Distance: ~7 miles.
  • Terrain: Field paths which may be muddy, tarmac/stony lanes, wicket gates, various stiles, one long, steady climb to Wooler Knoll ridge from Edale End then gentler on to Win Hill, one steeper descent on a good path from below Win Hill towards Aston.
  • The Leaders: Steve Brown (07801 906126) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Friday 20th February.

Please let Martin know where you will meet the group to assist at Sheffield station.

If weather is inclement the party will descend to the valley from Wooler Knoll and return to Hope station.

- Barncliffe Road, Porter Valley, Ringinglow, Limb Valley, Whirlow, Ecclesall Woods, Abbeydale Road.

  • Meet at: Sheffield Interchange (main foyer) 9.30 to catch 9.47 no 120 bus on Flat Street to Lodge Moor terminus on Barncliffe Road arriving 10.17.
  • The Route: Linear Walk. Walk down to Porter Valley before we venture uphill to Ringinglow. Then it's downhill all the way through the Limb Valley to Whirlow (possible break-off point) and on down through Ecclesall Woods to Abbeydale Road.
  • Distance: Unknown.
  • Terrain: Unknown.
  • The Leaders: Judy Gathercole (07557 272559) for any walk enquiries.
  • Registration: Please contact Martin (07747 443812 or mrmartinwing@gmail.com) by Saturday 28th February.

For any further information about this walk contact Judy.

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

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.