All ECR walks are posted on Walks Manager. To post a walk, click ‘List a Walk’ on the website home page. A pop-up box, with a few reminders about listing walk information, will appear. When you have read it click continue and the link will take you to Walks Manager. You may need to log in using your Ramblers username (your email) and your Ramblers password. If you have forgotten your password you can change it at this point. You will find Instructions on how to add a walk on Walks Manager in the Walk Leaders menu on the website.
The following information is a guide which you may find useful when you go through the ‘add a walk’ process on Walks Manager.
1. What to include
Title: Add the title in this format: e.g. Lyme Park Circular
Description: It is very important to give a good description.
- Describe the terrain, whether the ascents/descents are tricky, or whether it’s a generally flat walk, or whether it’s a mixture. Let walkers know what the ground conditions are likely to be; muddy, rough ground, loose stones or rocks, good paths or scrambles.
- If your walk is a mixture of walk grades, for example moderate/strenuous, add that information in your description.
- Add information about points of interest, views, or landscapes.
- It’s also a good idea to add extra information about useful equipment; walking poles, sunhats, extra water, sun cream etc.
Make sure there is enough information to let the walker know whether the walk will be right for them.
Pace: Pace is subjective but please try to add something which indicates the speed you may be walking at it can be useful for a walker who is deciding whether the walk is right for them. For example, ‘a brisk pace’ or a ‘gentle stroll’.
Route: Give a brief description or outline of the route, for example adding the names of places/farms/woods you may pass or at waypoints.
Cumulative Ascent: Cumulative Ascent: This is optional, but include it if you possibly can because it is very useful, it gives an idea of how strenuous the walk is likely to be. Add the source of ascent e.g. the name of a walking app, book or website, in parentheses after the figure e.g. 1500 ft (OS Maps App)
Waypoints: It is appreciated if sufficient named way points are given so the reader can follow the route on a map.
Start time: The walk start time is up to the leader but here is a guide to our usual times:
Stroller walks 10.30, Short and Medium walks 10.00. Long walks often start at 10.00 but 9.30 is also used, especially in winter when there is less daylight. Evening walks usually start at 19.00 or 18.30.
Finishing Time: This will always be an approximate figure, it largely depends on the size of the group, the weather, the pace of the walk and whether there are any incidents. On average, including stops, our walks work out at about two miles per hour.
Starting Point: Enter a grid reference or place name in ‘Starting Point’ box in Walks Manager. The programme will automatically add the Post Code, Lat/Lng Coordinates and What3Words. You can get details for starting points in Google Maps, GridPoint GB on iPhone, what3words, and googling the grid reference the internet. You can also find them on the ECR website in ‘Plot Your Own Walks’ in the Walks menu or in Walks of the Past.
Walk Length
Stroller: No longer than 4 miles (easy, mostly flat walks, usually no stiles but if present they should be easily climbed and should be mentioned, kissing gates are fine
Short: Up to 7 miles but rarely less than 5
Medium: More than 7 and up to 11 miles
Long: More than 11 miles but rarely more than 15
Degree of Difficulty - this is somewhat subjective and is a guide only.
Easy: This grade would be ECRs Stroller Walk. These walks are intended for members who prefer a short, easy, flat walk with minimum stiles and ascents. Walkers who are recovering from an injury or health issues, and may want to take gentle walks to build up their stamina, will find these walks suitable. The walks are generally taken at a very slow pace.
Leisurely: These walks are for people who have experience of walking in the countryside and have a good level of fitness. The walks are rarely more than six miles and may include unsurfaced rural paths and some ascent. They are taken at a reasonable pace.
Moderate: This covers the majority of walks; there might well be a steep hill or two but it will generally be on good paths in undulating terrain.
Strenuous: Expect a fair bit of uphill walking, maybe even some mild scrambling. Walkers might leave paths for open country but not invariably.
Technical: These walks are usually only suitable for experienced and very fit walkers with additional technical skills such as use of ice axes or crampons. However, we do sometimes offer ‘Scrambles’, which are classed as technical but may be suitable for walkers without special skills as long as they have a good level of fitness.
If a walk doesn’t fall neatly into these categories, Moderate/Strenuous or Easy/Moderate can be used. PLEASE INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION IN YOUR WALK DESCRIPTION.
Parking: If you start at a car park which charges a fee, state what the parking fee is and whether payment is cash only or accepts cards, and if there is a phone app option.
Car Sharing: indicate if car sharing is available
Public Transport: say if the start point is accessible by public transport
Refreshments: Include ‘bring food and drink for lunch and refreshment stops’
You may want to say if there are cafes, pubs etc. at the end of the walk.
Toilets: If there are toilets available indicate where and when walkers can access them.
Contact number: If possible add a contact number so that walkers can contact you if required. You can modify in Walks Manager what contact information is shown on your published walks.
Dogs: The leader must stipulate “No dogs” if on the walk there are restrictions on Open Access land, ground nesting birds or fields with livestock. Otherwise it is up to the leader whether to accept dogs or not. In practice few people want to bring dogs.
Accessibility: Say if the walk is particularly accessible e.g. if it is wheelchair/pushchair friendly or has no stiles.
GPX file: If you can it’s a good idea for you, or a nominated walker, to record your route on an electronic device. When you get home please send it to
Photographs: You can add photos to your published walk on Walks Manager or you can send them to
3. How to change your walk details on Walks Manager
To change the walk, i.e. start point, distance, ascent etc go to your PUBLISHED walk on Walks Manager. Click on the title of your walk and then click the black ‘Manage’ box which appears above your walk. Click ‘edit’ and choose the section you wish to change. Make sure you SAVE any changes and click PUBLISH CHANGES when you’ve finished.
***When you change your walk details add three asterisks before the title of your walk and add a sentence at the beginning of your walk description to explain the change/s.
4. How to cancel a walk
To cancel the walk, go to your PUBLISHED walk on Walks Manager. Click on the title of your walk and then click the black ‘Manage’ box which appears above your walk. Click ‘cancel’ and give a reason for your cancellation. Your walk will appear as cancelled on the website.
Other documents to read in conjunction with this document are; How to List a Walk in Walks Manager, Notes for Walk Leaders, and Leading a Walk - Frequently Asked Questions. You can find these under the Walk Leaders tab on the ECR website.
