Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the group. Please note that most of the information is available on the website or in the downloadable programme.
- Q. HOW DO I JOIN CBMW?
- Just come along to one of our walks and join in the fun. Pick a walk from the programme, which is available on the website, that suits your ability and come to the start point. Make yourself known to the leader who will be trying to get people signed in and he/she will give you all the information that you need to have a great day out. Look at the COME WALKING section of the website for more information, In particular, you should familiarise yourself with our conventions. You walk at your own risk.
- Q HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN
- Everyone who walks with us is expected to make a 3 Euro contribution for the season which covers the cost of running the website and some other administrative items. You will be given a ‘Fob’ to hang on your rucksack to show that you have contributed for the season.
- Q. WHERE DO THE WALKS START?
- There are a variety of start points for the walks. These are all shown in the programme. You will be able to get a rough idea from the village/town name and the description of the start but there will be exact coordinates which you can put into your car satnav or if you put them into Google Earth, you will be able to view and print directions to the start point.
- Q. WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WALK I HAVE CHOSEN?
- If you are unsure of the start point or you have questions concerning the difficulty timing or route for a particular walk, please contact the walk leader directly. The Leaders number is shown in the programme.
- Q. WHAT TIME DO WALKS START AND HOW LONG ARE THEY?
- Most walks will start at 1000 hrs but check the programme. All walks are different and although you will find the distance and time expected, shown in the programme, the time taken to complete the walk will be very dependent on the walkers who turn up. You should plan your day accordingly.
- Q. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING ON A WALK.
- A full list of the suggested things to bring on a walk is shown on the website, ‘What to Bring’.The majority of walks will have a mid-morning ‘Banana stop’ and a picnic lunch stop so you need to pack food accordingly. Vital for all walks is water and sufficient and suitable clothing and footwear.
- Q. CAN ANYONE WALK WITH THE CBMW?
- As long as you are fit enough to complete the walk and you have adequate clothing/footwear/provisions, YES!
- Q. I DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORT HOW DO I GET TO THE START POINT?
- We do not organise transport to the start point, however, if you join our Facebook page you may be able to post a message asking for a lift.
- Q. CAN I WALK WITH A PRAM OR YOUNG CHILDREN?
- None of our walks are suitable for prams, however, some of our Easy walks may be suitable for children that have experience of walking distances. You should check with the leader before turning up at the start.
- Q. I AM COMING ON HOLIDAY CAN YOU RECOMMEND ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO HIRE A CAR?
- We do not hold this type of information or provide this type of service.We will not make recommendations.
- Q. DO I NEED MAPS OR GPS?
- No. The leader of the walk will take you around the walk. If you want to follow the route on a map or record it on a GPS then you are encouraged to do so. The majority of our walks are available to download as a pdf and GPS file from our website ‘Walks In Spain’.
- Q. DO I NEED WALKING BOOTS?
- We encourage walkers to wear strong footwear in the form of walking boots and walking shoes. The terrain that we walk on is very rough and is ankle twisting in parts. Any wet surfaces will be slippy. Some of the Easy walks may accept less than a mountain shoe but check with the leader before turning up.
- Q. DO I NEED INSURANCE?
- Insurance is not a requirement to walk with the CBMW as you walk at your own risk. We do however strongly encourage people to take out ‘Mountain Insurance’ as you could be charged for any accident recovery should you be found to be walking ‘inappropriately’. In other words in conditions when there is a weather warning, or with inappropriate footwear or clothing or badly prepared etc. We recommend you read our advice on insurance.
- Q. HOW DO I BECOME A LEADER?
- We are always needing more leaders so please volunteer. There are plenty of resources to help you get started. Please look at the section GET INVOLVED where you will find out what we expect from our leaders and there is also all the resources such as the walks lists for walks that you could lead. If in any doubt contact anyone from the secretariat or any leader and we will be delighted to help in any way we can.
- Q. ARE DOGS ALLOWED?
- Dogs are allowed on some of our walks but they must be on leads and must be controlled at the back of the group. We have experienced dogs running among walkers and tripping them up… Please remember this is a Mountain Walking Group and not a Dog Walking Group.Our advice to dog walkers is HERE.
- Q. ARE THERE ANY WALKS IN MY AREA THAT ARE OF THE DISTANCE AND DIFFICULTY THAT WILL SUIT ME?
- Probably. You need to go and look at our Walks In Spain website and navigate around the map or use the list of walks until you find what suits you.There are currently over 400 walks to choose from so something is likely to fit with what you want.
- Q. DO YOU CATER FOR WALKERS WITH PHYSICAL OR SENSORY SPECIAL NEEDS?
- We are unable to provide support, however, we welcome walkers who are accompanied by an appropriate companion subject to prior contact with the walk leader. We do not provide walks designed specifically for those with special needs.
- Q. DO YOU WALK IF IT IS RAINING?
- It will depend on both the forecast and the leader. If the forecast is uncertain the leader may turn up at the start to assess whether the walk should take place. If they have reached a decision to cancel early on the day then they will try and arrange for there to be a post on either or both of Stop Press on the CBMW website and our Facebook page. If you have any doubts it is always best to telephone the leader.