Walking GroupS
Mid-Week Walking
Our mid-week walking group generally organises 2 walks per month, usually on Wednesday mornings starting at 9.30. The walks are usually between 4 and 6 miles and can be undulating but do not have many steep hills. The walks are generally quite local, are designed to fit into a morning and always include a stop for coffee, usually at the end of the walk or occasionally in the middle. Detailed information about the walks is sent out with the sign-up email so members are able to decide if they are able to do the walk and we restrict numbers on the walk to around 12. WI members go on our organised walks at their own risk.
Saturday Walking
Hello, I’m Kim Skirrow and I lead the Saturday walking group which has been in existence for most of the time that Bramhope WI has been in existence.
The Saturday walking group has over 30 members and we do longer and harder walks than the mid-week and Park walking groups. Most walks tend to be in the 6.5-to-8.5-mile range and always start in the morning. Most are circular.
At the moment, I try to lead 2 walks a month. I class them as follows: easier, medium or harder. The harder walks tend to have more climbing in them and may be longer. I would say if you are reasonably fit and a regular walker, you will have no problem walking with this group. The walks usually require walking boots, or possibly walking shoes and poles can often be useful. If you have any questions about a particular walk, please feel free to contact me.
We walk in all weather unless I judge there to be too many risks on the drive to the start of the walk or the actual walk. In such cases I might switch a walk at very short notice
Please note that dogs are not allowed on any of these walks.
I try to publish the dates of the walks a few months in advance, but it isn’t always possible. Also, some months I can’t do 2 walks. I’m always happy to have a volunteer to lead a walk when that happens.
An email is sent out to all the group members just under 2 weeks before a walk. This describes the walk, includes a link to an OS map showing the route and asks for members to sign up for the walk, if they’d like to go on it. All the practical arrangements such as timings and where the refreshments stop will be, are included. I take a maximum of 12 (including me). The easier walks can get full, but the harder ones don’t usually. It is best to respond as soon as you receive the email if you’d like a place.
We usually have a refreshment stop at the end of a walk but in the summer might take our own picnics. The cafes/pubs we use generally require a pre-order for food.
About 5 days before a walk, I send out an email to those people who are going on it to tell them who else has a place. This enables members to arrange car sharing between them. We have a WhatsApp group which tends to be used for this.
We are a very welcoming group, and you would find that this is a great way to meet other WI members make new friends, as you have lots of time to chat whilst walking!
Examples of some walks we have done in 2025:
- Bramhope & East Carlton from the Mistal Barn tearoom 7 miles Medium
- Roebuck Circular 8 miles Harder
- Wetherby, Linton, Sicklinghall 9 miles Easy
You should email Bramhopewi@gmail.com if you are a member of our WI and would like to be added to this group. Note that your email address and mobile phone number may be shared with other group members.y to have a volunteer to lead a walk when that happens.
Park Walking
This is a walking group for those that like to have a short easy walk with a cafe stop for refreshments and chat. We usually meet on a Friday, once a month. The walks are planned around local parks in Leeds e.g. Golden Acre or Roundhay.
The total walk is usually between 2 and 3 miles, often split into 2 sections with coffee between the 2, so that if people want to do only section 1 they can.
