Coronavirus (COVID19)
From now on all club updates will be posted on this page. I will not be updating any other areas of the site until the club starts to move back towards normal.
The most recent posts will always be at the top of the page.
Please phone any members you know that don't use the internet and keep them updated.
Winter Social Events Cancelled
We recently received the booking information for the Senior Citizens Hall. Due to the current situation there are many restrictions on how the hall can be used. The MDRC committee has decided that it would be impossible for us to run our planned programme and keep within the requirements. We have therefore, sadly decided to cancel the planned programme for this winter.
25th July 2020
Ramblers advice following the latest Government updates
I hope all are members are keeping well and managing to keep some walking going.
The Ramblers posted an update on their website yesterday. I've copied a few extracts below.
In England – small group walks can resume from Wednesday 1 July, subject to following the latest government guidelines. Group size must be limited to a maximum of 6 people. This means the walk leader, plus 5 other walkers.
Remember, if your group doesn’t want to restart walks at this time, there is no obligation to do so. We will support you to make the right decision for your group.
When you do restart group walks, there are a number of steps that you must take in order to plan and lead walks safely. This includes: introducing a booking system to limit the number of people on your walks, leading different types of walks, assessing the risks, and reminding walkers about hygiene and physical distancing.
The view of the committee is that at this time all official club walks remain suspended. If individual members wish to arrange private walks with up to 5 other people, as I know some are already doing, this is fine as long as the current social distancing, safety and hygiene measures are followed.
We will continue to review this as guidance changes and will investigate possible booking systems in case we get to a point where larger group numbers are allowed (ie if for example groups of 12 or 15 were ok, which would be less than the number of members that normally walk with some groups).
Like all of you, we look forward to getting together as a club again and enjoying the social side of walking once more.
25th June 2020
June edition of Footprint
All members should have received a copy of the latest newsletter, either by email or post. A copy is also available on the members landing page on this site. There is also a bonus article that wouldn't fit into the slimmed down Footprint. It's about an incident that happened on a Sunday A's walk in March. There is useful information in there about the use of the What3Words navigation app and the importance of having a knowledge of basic First Aid. If you are a member registered to the site you can see footprint and the bonus article by clicking here .
01/06/2020
Ramblers Advice Update
The Ramblers have updated their Guidance for walkers based on the latest government advice. I have copied the most important part below:
"The easing of lockdown measures allows more freedom for walkers. However, the advice remains to limit your contact with others.
At this stage, all Ramblers group walks and activities remain suspended. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will reintroduce these activities only when we feel confident it is safe to do so."
They have also updated there general advice to walkers. To see the complete advice click here to be transferred to their site.
At this time therefore all MDRC activities continue to be cancelled.
We all look forward to the time when we can start to meet up together in our groups, but now is not the time.
01/06/2020
Lockdown changes
The Government, yesterday made some minor changes to meeting up (outdoors) with people not in your household. While these are very welcome and present opportunities for individuals to make their own arrangements to meet up with a small number of people, the official Ramblers guidlines remain that clubs should continue to cancel all activities. On the Ramblers website they say they are obtaining official guidance and will publish the details on Monday, June 1st. I can't see that this is going to make any significant change to their advice, but we look forward to seeing the guidance as we move slowly back to a more normal state.
29/05/2020
Don't forget you can keep up to date with other members on the club Facebook Group. Just send a reply to my recent email to join.
25 members are currently exchanging information, tips and photographs and paintings.
3/04/2020
Ramblers / BMC Guidance
I have put links to the current guidance about walking from The Ramblers and the Britsh Mountaineering Council below.
28/03/2020
Covid Symptom Tracker
One of our members brought the following website to our attention. From what I can see this is a genuine site set up by King's College London to help research into the virus.
I must stress this is not a MDRC related site or a request for you to get involved. We thought some of you however might want to get involved.
25/03/2020
Membership Renewals
As all Club activities have been suspended, the committee has decided that membership renewals should also be suspended, so that the current subscription year which should end on March 31st will be extended until we are able to restart activities. Then a new membership year will run for 12 months from whenever we start up again. We will hold onto the fees from anyone who has already paid subscriptions for the next year until the new membership year restarts, or repay them if those members so wish.
24/03/2020
Updated Committee Guidance
After further consideration, the Committee has now decided that all Club activities, including the walks programme, will cease immediately until further notice.
Further updates will be posted here regularly.
Click here for Public Health England advice on social distancing.
19/3/2020
Welcome
Marple District Ramblers (Marple Ramblers) was formed in 1967 by a small group of keen walkers in the Marple area. One of their earliest objectives was to protect local footpaths and keep them open for posterity. Originally walks were only on Sundays, but over the years as membership grew, Thursday walks were introduced.
We now have a thriving club with over 350 members. From the small beginnings we now have up to 5 graded walks each Thursday and 4 different groups each Sunday.
We are a very friendly club and welcome new members of all ages.
We are most fortunate to have willing leaders for every walk in our published programme, with a Committee who plan social events, organise holidays and publish a newsletter, "Footprint", 3 times a year.
This website is a new venture for us. We hope current members and visitors find it helpful. We welcome comments about the site and encourage suggestions to how we can develop it further. Click the box below to get a comments form.
New Members Always Welcome
Spring is coming and while we are currently not operating our walking and social programmes we will keep you posted on this page when restrictions are reduced enough to allow us to operate.
Once we start again you can come and try us out for a couple of walks before deciding if you want to join. Just use the online form to get information.
You can choose from 5 levels of walks on Thursdays and 4 levels on Sundays. There is no commitment to to walk every week, just when you can.
With social activities each month and 3 holidays arranged for 2020 (2 in the UK and one in Slovenia), there's something for everyone.
Click here to be taken to our online form to request further information.
Hopefully, with everyones complience to the health recommendations, we will get back to our walking programme and meet on the hills again.
Until then try to keep healthy and look after yourselves.
Don't Miss Out on Members Only Information
If you are already a club member you can register here to access the members only area. Just click on the Join Now (should read register, but we can't change it!) text below.
If you have already registered use the Login option instead.
What We Do
Walking
We publish a walks programme every 4 months containing up to 5 walks each Thursday and 4 walks each Sunday.
Click here for more information.
Social
Most social activities take place on Tuesday evenings. During the summer we have a monthly evening stroll ending up at a pub or restaurant for a meal. In the winter months we have a variety of activities including visiting speakers, a quiz, music, films, barn dance etc.
Click here for more information
Holidays
Each year we organise at least two group holidays in the UK and overseas. Recent destinations have included Alnmouth, Skipton, Isle of Wight, Nerja and Mayerhofen.
Click here for more information