We have a wonderful mix of dedicated and experienced walk leaders who give up their time to lead us every week. The focus is always on well being and ensuring that everyone who walks with us gets something out of the day.
All our walk leaders are trained in Outdoor First Aid and Navigation Skills and have many hours of leading groups of walkers.
If you would like to become a Walk Leader or simply lead a walk under our supervision, please contact us via WhatsApp for more information.
Please read our Guidance & Rules for more information.
Adrian Horton
Adrian set up Sowerby Walkers and Ramblers in December 2022 to explore the countryside in Calderdale, to improve fitness and to meet and walk with other enthusiastic walkers.
Adrian has led many walks for us and has climbed hills and mountains all over the UK and loves the thrill of getting to the top of a mountain.
Being fitter as we get older is really important and after trying the gym, running and cycling, walking is now his way of relaxing and getting the exercise he needs.
Adrian works in the automotive industry working for a vehicle leasing company. He is also Chair of environmental charity Slow The Flow as well as being a local Flood Warden.
Karen
Karen’s dad & step mum introduced her to walking in the Lake District from the young age of 5.
She has been walking the local area for nearly 20 years & knows most of the paths from Mytholmroyd.
Karen has lead plenty of walks for us and has a passion for nature, especially birds. She loves the outdoor life and enjoys weekends away in the Yorkshire Dales & Lake District.
After joining Sowerby Walkers in January 2022 she decided to set up a neighbouring walking group “Royd Walking Friends” a faster evening walk which is mainly for fitness.
Karen works at an outdoor clothing shop in Hebden Bridge.
Amelie – Walk leader for Amelie’s Ambles
Amelie has enjoyed walking for decades but the discovery of walking apps gave her confidence to explore new paths and routes through the beautiful local countryside.
The next step was to start sharing these walks with others. She’s heading towards retirement and life naturally takes a slower pace. It’s time to smell the roses and admire the views.
Her walks are slower and shorter than the faster group and usually include woods, fields and open land. They include some degree of challenge, be it steepness, scrambling or uneven paths so they’re not always easy.
It’s the challenge that makes them interesting though. She believes we all need a little bit of ’stretch out of our comfort zone’ to keep us feeling lively and youthful.
Laughter helps too and during her walks that is seen as one of the best outcomes.
Steve
Steve has been walking in Yorkshire for over 50 years, since he first came on a walking holiday in Yorkshire with his school in London.
Now a long-distance walker, Steve leads our longer, more challenging walks which have proved to be ever so successful in encouraging walkers to stretch and push themselves.
Steve believes that there is no better feeling than seeing the look on people’s faces when they have met a challenge.
Evette
Evette or commonly referred to by the walking group as “the goat”, due to her love of a pacey hill climb or scramble! A keen runner in her “youth” that evolved into a love of all things outdoors and a natural progression into walking as a mechanism for healing the mind, body and soul after experiencing injury and bereavement.
A working career based within mental health and dementia care which has lead her to advocate strongly for these areas and promote the life motto of “walk to heal”. Evette’s walks are normally based outside of the immediate local area and she aims to bring a sense of fun and adventure to the walks, while ensuring we don’t lose anyone.
Jane
Jane has lived in Calderdale her whole life and has walked most of it.
Her Grandad introduced Jane to walking at a very young age as she loved being outdoors.
Jane has done the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge several times, the last time in 8 hours 40 minutes. She has also done the National 3 peaks challenge in 24 hrs, the Ullswater challenge of 26miles in 10hrs and Hadrians Wall of 96 miles in 4 days. She really is an accomplished walker.
Jane loves being involved with our walking group and looks forward to leading and walking many, many more walks with us.
Sowerby Walkers and Ramblers 