How to Organise a Group Walk: Route, Pace, Backmarker and Meeting Point

Plan the walk

• Pick the route for the least experienced walker. A 6-mile walk on clear paths is a better first group walk than a 12-mile hill day.
• Walk it yourself first if you can, or check a recent route description.
• Estimate time honestly. Groups move more slowly than individuals. Allow for breaks, gates and photos.
• Check the weather and daylight, and choose a turn-back time.
• Know the access rules. In Scotland, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies. In England and Wales, stick to public rights of way and open access land.

Tell people what to expect

Put this in the invitation so people can decide whether the walk suits them:

• Distance, height gain and terrain (paths, fields, hills)
• Expected pace and finish time
• Meeting point, time and parking or public transport
• What to bring: water, food, waterproofs, suitable footwear
• Whether dogs are welcome

Choose a good start point

Pick a place with parking or a bus stop, a clear spot to gather, and ideally toilets. See how to choose a meeting point for a group for a full checklist.

Leader and backmarker

Two roles keep a group walk together:

• Walk leader: at the front, sets the pace, navigates, and stops the group at junctions.
• Backmarker: always last. The backmarker walks with the slowest person and makes sure nobody is left behind. The leader does not move on from a regroup point until the backmarker arrives.

Walking clubs such as the Ramblers use these roles on their led walks, and they work just as well for walks with friends.

Keep the group together

• Regroup at stiles, gates, junctions and before any road crossing.
• Count heads at the start and at each regroup point.
• Walk at the speed of the slowest person. If the group splits naturally, agree where the faster walkers will wait.
• Agree what to do if someone gets separated: stay where you are and call, or head to the next named point.

On a long or spread-out walk, a shared live map helps. A RevSignal convoy lets the leader see where the backmarker is without shouting down the hill. Everyone joins from one link with a nickname.

After the walk

• Count everyone back in.
• Share photos and say when the next walk is. Regular, predictable walks build a group faster than one-off events.
• Ask for feedback on distance and pace, and adjust.

Posting your walk on RevSignal

Create a meetup with the title, date, time, start point (search by address or postcode) and a description of the route and pace. Choose public to let new people join, or private to invite only people you know. People who join can mark themselves as coming, on the way or arrived.