What is a Muddy Boots social walk?
A Muddy Boots social walk is a small group guided walk (max 10 people per group). Our social walks allow you to meet new people and explore areas you might not have otherwise visited. We hope they will encourage people to take the opportunity to see some new parts of the Dales or Lakes and enjoy the fresh air and scenery. Having a guide means that you don’t need to worry about planning a route, reading a map or getting lost! You will also have the chance to learn a bit more about the landscape, history and geology of the Dales, if it interests you to do so.
We hope that our social walks offer something for people who live locally, people travelling into the Dales for the day and those on holiday here.
We have routes of varying lengths and difficulties and at different times of year, so we hope there is something for everyone! We’re also planning to add more social walks to the calendar so if there is anything you’d particularly like to see on the list, just let us know.
Can I get a gift voucher for a social walk?
Yes! Just book the walk in the normal way through the website then send us an email letting us know that it is a gift and you would like a voucher. We will send you a PDF gift voucher at no extra charge.
How difficult are the walks?
We have walks of different lengths and difficulties. On each walk description, we give the length of each walk and the total ascent (i.e. how much you will be going uphill!) for each route. We’ve also given a short description of the type of terrain covered on the walk. If you have any questions about how difficult any of the walks are, just drop us a line and we’d be happy to provide more details.
Who is the walk leader?
All of our social walks are led by Matt, who is a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader and co-owner of Muddy Boots! You can read more about Matt on our ‘About Us’ page.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, light-weight clothes are best for walking. We’ll send full details of recommended clothing and footwear along with your booking confirmation (but nothing technical is required - if you don’t have much proper hiking gear, that isn’t a problem!).
Should I bring food?
Yes! We always recommend having plenty of food with you to keep energy up. How much you need will depend on the length and difficulty of the walk but we will provide full details along with your booking confirmation.
Is any experience needed to join a social walk?
No! We are very happy (in fact would be thrilled!) to welcome people new to countryside walking. Of course a certain level of physical fitness and mobility is required as all of our walks have some undulation, cover a variety of terrains and usually include several stiles to get through or climb over! If you have any questions about the level of fitness required for any particular walk, just get in touch.
What is the group size?
We have a maximum group size of ten people (not including Matt or any under 18s joining us).
What if the weather is bad?
Generally, we are happy to run our walks in all weathers – sometimes wet and windy walks can be just as fun as the sunny ones! That said, safety is always paramount so if the weather conditions mean that we do not think that it is safe to run a walk, we will cancel the walk and let you know as soon as possible. In those circumstances, you would receive a full refund.
Can children come on the walks?
Yes! We’ve decided not to charge for under 18s to join the walks as we’re keen to encourage families to join us and for children to start enjoying country walking at a young age, but all under 18s must be accompanies by an adult who will be responsible for them.
We do also ask that you let us know in advance how many children will be attending and their ages, so we can ensure maximum group numbers aren’t exceeded and so we can let you know if a certain walk might be too challenging for your children. If you have any questions about whether a walk will be suitable for your family, just let us know.
Can I bring my dog?
We’re afraid dogs are not able to join us on Muddy Boots social walks.
Will you be putting on more social walks?
Yes! We’re hoping to add more dates and routes to the diary for 2024 – some of which may include food and drink stops or visits to local business – so keep your eyes peeled! If there is anything you would like to see on the list, just let us know and we’ll see what we can do!
What if I need to cancel?
You can cancel your booking and receive a full refund up to 7 days in advance of the walk. After that, the cost is non-refundable but we would be very happy to put it towards a future social walk that you are able to attend!
How far in advance should I book my space?
We accept bookings for the social walks right up until 8pm on the evening before the walk. However, places are limited to a maximum of 10, so we recommend earlier booking to ensure you get your spot!