About the Group

We are a walking group aimed at people in their 20's to 30's and affiliated to the Ramblers. We are a friendly welcoming group that organises a wide variety of interesting walks across the beautiful and varied landscapes of Dorset, from the Purbecks, to Poole/Bournemouth and East Dorset areas, West Dorset (e.g. Abbotsbury, Lyme Regis) and in the north of our county. We organise social events and weekends away such as camping trips.

Usually walker leaders organise walks between 3 miles up to 10 or 12 miles. Most of our walks provide the opportunity to visit local tearooms or a pub along the way or at the end of each walk.

It is ok to join a few walks without being a Ramblers member. If you need any extra advice, you can email us, send us a message on Twitter or join our Facebook page. If you end up walking with us on a regular basis you will need to be a member of The Ramblers For more details on joining our group and becoming a regular member of the DYW please read the information pages.

What to expect when you turn up on a walk

There are usually a small group of us in walking gear waiting at the start of any walk. We are a friendly bunch so just come over and introduce yourselves and you will be made to feel welcome. The walk will come round and possible ask you to fill out your details if you wish to join the group, and they will go on to explain what the route of the walk will be and if there are any stops on the way. Most walks involve a lunch stop, numerous water breaks and very often a pub or tea room stop at the end of the event.

What NOT to do on a walk

Please do not rush ahead of the walk leader, or walk behind the back marker and please do follow the instructions the walk leader gives you. If you need to go to the loo, please let someone know (preferably the backmarker) so we don't leave anyone behind. If you feel unwell, are too hot or cold, have foot pain or are not comfortable with the walk pace or terrain, please make sure you let the walk leader or backmarker know as soon as possible.

What should I bring?

For most walks you should bring a packed lunch and a drink. Clothing and footwear should be appropriate for the conditions, and good quality walking socks to go with your boots will help prevent blisters. Be prepared in winter and harsh weather, and most people bring a small backpack (daypack). A mat or plastic bag to sit on at lunch is also a good idea. You'll find plenty of people willing to offer advice on equipment and if you become a member you can get discounts at several shops selling boots etc. We often stop at a pub or tea room at the end of a walk so money for this (or occansionally for parking) is a good idea.

Can I bring a dog or children on a DYW walk?

Please check with the walk leader first. In most cases there will be no objection if the dogs/children are well behaved

How can I find the meeting point?

Along with the Google Map and marker pin for each walk (which can be printed out), the grid references (e.g. "SY123456") given in the programme can be used to identify the meeting point on an Ordnance Survey map or using an online maps system. Please bring these print outs with you to all events so you can find us. The events also have approximate addresses and postcodes you can use with a satnav, however due to the nature of postcodes and the countryside these may not be accurate. Many satnavs also have a function to add a more accurate lat/long coordinate, which is also provided for each walk.

There are usually at least 10 people on walks so we're normally easy to spot when you get to the car park. We often wait about 10-15 minutes after the start time to allow everyone to put on their boots and wait for anyone who might be delayed. The walk leader usually carries the group mobile phone or private mobile if you wish to call ahead, the number can be found on the walk description. Please be aware however that in remote or valley areas mobile reception will not be reliable.

How to join the DYW

To join the Dorset Young Walkers, you need to join The Ramblers, stating you wish to be a member of the Dorset Young Walkers. This does need not mean you cannot walk with other RA groups, it just means you are insured to lead walks with our group and will be sent appropriate paperwork and newsletters.

To join via the web, here is the link to the joining page on the main Rambler's Assoication website. Please select 'Dorset Young Walkers' from the dropdown list. If you have any problems with this, please email us at dywra@hotmail.com, and we will be happy to advise on all aspects of group membership.