Policies and Procedures

CORONAVIRUS CONTROLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Walkers must not attend any NOG event if they have any symptoms of covid or have been in recent close proximity to anyone with the infection.

Please take a Lateral Flow Test during the 24 hours before arrival at a Youth Hostel or other trip away, staying in accommodation. Do not go on that trip if the test result is positive.

DOGS

Dogs on NOG Walks

Dogs are generally welcome on Nogs walks. They can add a great deal of additional pleasure to the walking experience for both their owners and other walkers provided some basic guidelines are observed. However we also need to remember that not all walkers are dog lovers, and we need to respect the rights of other people and animals we come into contact with as well as other people’s property. The following guidance applies in particular to countryside walks. Dogs are allowed on urban walks but should be kept on a lead at all times. Dogs where allowed on countryside walks should also be kept on a lead at all times (including the crossing of stiles and gates)

There have been a number of incidents and potential incidents involving dogs on walks in the past and we need to prevent unpleasant and dangerous situations arising which could be avoided…

1) The dog is the responsibility of its owner or minder at all times but the walk leader is the person with the overall responsibility for the walk. It is thefore essential that the dog owner and walk leader work together to ensure the smooth running of the walk and that health and safety protocols are followed. The walk leader needs to address these during the walk briefing if there are dogs present and also ensure that these are adhered to during the walk.

2) Dogs are generally allowed on Nogs walks. The default position is that the dogs should be kept on a lead at all times during the walk. The walk leader may ask the dog to be kept on a short lead for certain walks or sections of walks. (Short generally meaning 3 feet or less). Longer leads can occasionally be a trip hazard where the walk has steep drops, livestock present or slippery conditions.

3) If cows or bulls are present in a field then the dog with its owner should consult with the walk leader whether to walk with the group or separately around the outside of the field. Dogs should always be on a lead in open access land whether there is livestock present or not.

4) A walk leader has the right to disallow dogs on a walk if they feel that the walk has a large number of difficult stiles, a lot of livestock (especially in the lambing and calving seasons) or that the presence of dogs might cause endangerment to the human walkers. These walks should be labelled on the programme NDP (No dogs please)

5) If, despite these safeguards, damage or injury is caused to other people, their property, livestock or other animals then the responsibility lies with the dog owner to settle the matter including any financial compensation where relevant.

6) Dog owners do need to bring bags and a scoop to remove any dog excrement created by their pets on paths or urban throughways and dispose of this in appropriate receptacles (Taking it home with them if nothing is available on the walk). The countryside code must be adhered to at all times. For example gates should always be closed if they were closed before we passed through them.