Frequently asked questions

How do I join the club?

Joining us is easy! Just head over to our Join us page and follow the instructions. Any difficulties, contact us at suwc@sheffield.ac.uk.

Can non-members attend walks?

Yes they can. The first walk of every month, as well as any Give it a Go sessions, are free for non-members. 

Non-members are welcome to join any other walks held for £2, as well as any socials we hold. 

When are your walks?

Walks are traditionally every Saturday and Sunday, although sometimes we arrange walks at different times. Keep an eye out on the Walks and events page.

Can I bring a dog on a walk?

You are very welcome to bring a dog on our walks. 

Please bear in mind that dogs aren't always allowed on the public transport we use (although they are usually allowed in the pubs we visit at the end!).

Northern (the rail service we most commonly use) do allow dogs on their trains, with a few restrictions.

Be aware that we cannot be held responsible for your dog during the walk. It is solely your responsibility to keep safe and keep the dog safe around livestock.

What are the benefits of membership?

Membership of the club only costs £8 per year - this gets you free access to any of our walks that we run.

It does not cover any insurance, nor are you covered by any (the University's public liability insurance only covers you on their grounds). However, we always have a first-aider on our walks and our leaders will do their best to look after you.

Your membership fee goes directly into the running of the club, as we do subsidise various activities and training for our leaders.  It also goes towards keeping our kit up to date.

When are the weekly socials?

Our weekly socials are every Thursday. For any timings, check the Walks and events page as well as our Facebook, Instagram and mailing list.

Where can I buy walking kit in Sheffield?

There are several good places to buy kit. Decathlon, GO Outdoors and Blacks all provide high quality kit (that our leaders use) at good prices.

We have previously done a lock-in with Blacks in the past where we get discounted prices. Keep an eye on our events as this is something we would like to do again.

For detail on what kit you should buy, check out our Kit page.

How do I become a leader or join committee?

We love to get our members involved in the running of the club as much as we can. Have a look at our Join us page for more information.

How do I sign up to a walk?

A sign up link will be provided in the weekly newsletter which is sent out over email and via our social channels. If you are using Instagram to view our newsletter, the link to the walk can be found in the Linktree in our page bio. 

How do you determine a walks difficulty? 

We offer a variety of difficulty to accommodate everyone's walking needs! We use a 1-10 grading scale to determine the difficulty of walks, with a grade 1 walk being the most accessible walk we offer, while a grade 10 walk is the most challenging walk we offer. Distance, steepness, extended climbs, and weather are taken into account amongst other variables. Keep an eye on our newsletters which give detailed accounts of specific walks we offer.