Planning Your Route

What to think about when planning a route

• Make sure the route is appropriate for your audience – distance, gradients, etc.
• Think about the start point – toilets, refreshments, parking, bus route.
• Avoid crossing busy roads, if possible.
• Think about your target audience – start time.
• Pre-walk the route and risk assess.

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Walk planning

Walking routes should be:

• Safe.
• Simple.
• Able to cater for all abilities.
• Well maintained.

Wider footpaths allow people to overtake if they want to increase their pace.

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Route Planning

Norfolk Trails

On the Norfolk Trails website you’ll find circular walks, long and short linear routes.

You can also find information on our access tested routes.

http://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/trails/

NCC Public Rights of Way map

If you like the idea of creating your own route from scratch, find a map of all the Public Rights of Way Norfolk has to offer on the norfolk.gov website.

http://maps.norfolk.gov.uk/highways/

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Creating a map

You can also create routes and calculate distance by using the following websites:

• Ordnance Survey – 7 day free trial, £20/year
• Map My Run – free, but not as detailed as OS maps
• Route planner
• Paper Map, Highlighter, Scanner!

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Go on a recce

Scouting your location prior to your event is a great way to assess its suitability, local facilities and accessibility.

Familiarising yourself with your route is also important as a part of your risk assessment!

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Accessibility considerations

• Location – not isolated, sensory, familiar – parks, proms – not main roads or traffic.
• Accessibility – parking, and flat, hard surfaces.
• Facilities – toilets and shelter from weather.
• Refreshment venue.
• Seating at regular intervals.
• Walks need to be easily shortened or lengthened.
• Location – not isolated, sensory, familiar (parks, proms), not on main roads or traffic.
• Paths with similar smooth surface. Sudden changes, especially dark areas, could seem like holes or areas that people need to step over due to a reduction in space awareness and depth perception.
• Entrances and access needs to be wide enough for wheelchairs.
• Walks with high walls/hedges will mean that people in wheelchairs will have a reduced view – for example if walking by a river/sea/landscape.
• Walks will be a social experience and so be prepared to stop and take in the fresh air and scenery.
• Volunteers need to be friendly, patient, flexible and caring – for “Memory Walks” becoming a Dementia Friend would be an advantage.