Frequently Asked Questions
If you are still unsure of something after reading our FAQs please get in touch with us by email or Instagram message.
Memberships and Tickets
Q: How do I join the club?
A: If you’re a current University of Leeds student, it’s really easy, just head to our LUU Engage memberships page and purchase a student membership, making sure to answer all the questions.
If you’re not a current University of Leeds student, the process is unfortunately a bit longer and slower, but you can still join us. Request a LUU Engage participant account using this form and then wait for it to be approved. These are only processed near the beginning of each month so it unfortunately may take time for it to be approved but this is outside of our control. Once you have an account, you can sign up using the same link as current students.
Note for 2023/24: This year, our club is affiliating with the BMC (British Mountaineering Council). This means every member becomes a BMC student member with comprehensive insurance. Membership prices increased due to us no longer being provided insurance through Leeds University Union, and insurance through the BMC, being more comprehensive, comes at a higher price. We’ve tried our best to keep membership costs as low as possible, and will be aiming to maximize BMC benefits for our club and members. More info on our BMC page.
If you are a Plus Programme student, there is University funding available to cover society costs, please see our webpage on this for more info.
Q: How can I join a hiking trip?
A: Firstly, you need membership for all our trips. Once you’re got that, you can purchase tickets on the LUU Engage Hiking page under the events tab. At first tickets will be hidden but when they are released, the ticket will show, along with the price. Then you can select a quantity (1) and be able to add it to your basket, then pay for it. There will also be an additional ticket called ‘Leader tickets’, please do not buy these, as they are set to one side for the leaders of the trip. For weekend trips there will be two tickets for each event, one for 2 day and one for 3 day. Please make sure you buy the correct one.
Q: When will tickets be available?
A: Usually Sunday hike tickets are available the Monday before the hike at 8pm. Usually weekend trip tickets are available 2 Monday’s before, at 9pm. These can vary so make sure to check the Facebook group or Instagram earlier in the day, or the weekly email if you’re a member.
Q: What if the tickets all sell out?
A: Our trips are very popular so we suggest trying to get a ticket soon after it is released. If you fail to get a ticket, email luuhc.secretary@gmail.com to join the waiting list which will likely give you a good chance of getting on the trip.
It is not possible to trade a ticket with a friend, come on a hike without a ticket, or increase the capacity of the trip. The trip capacity is already as high as we can safely and practically make it.
Q: What if I can no longer come on the trip?
A: Please contact luuhc.secretary@gmail.com as soon as possible. If we can find someone to replace you from the waiting list, you’ll get a full refund, otherwise the below refund policies apply. Sorry, you can’t swap tickets.
Sunday hikes - Full refund prior to 9pm on the Thursday before the trip
Weekend trips - Full refund prior to 9pm on the Sunday before the trip
Longer UK trips - When the latest you can get a full refund is will depend on the trip and it will be specified on the event page. It will be at least 2 weeks before the trip.
International trip - The deposit and final payment are non-refundable unless we can find someone to replace you
Socials - Full refund prior to 48hrs before the event start as standard, longer for some.
Q: What is the difference between LUUHC and Get Out, Get Active?
A: GOGA (Get Out, Get Active) is a programme run by the university, giving students the opportunity to try out a range of fun and sociable activities, both on campus and in the local countryside. They have walks running every weekend to nearby areas such as the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District. These walks are similar to our Sunday hikes, however GOGA will typically cover less distance, at a more relaxed pace. At LUUHC, our shortest Sunday hikes will be around 8-10km, and we require members to have good quality walking boots and waterproofs. This is because we may cover uneven terrain, and could encounter bad weather while out. We also offer a range of more adventurous activities such as our weekend and winter trips too. If you are unsure, feel free to contact us, or GOGA, for advice.
Getting Outside
Q: What kit do I need?
A: We’ve got a number of pages on this website dedicated to gear and what you might need for each trip:
We also explain how to buy gear and at a sensible price.
If you have any more questions about gear, you can always ask our gear secretary at luuhc.gear@gmail.com
Q: What food should I bring?
A: For both Sunday Hikes and Weekend Trips, you'll need to bring some lunch and snacks. Breakfast and evening meals are provided on Weekend Trips.
Importantly, you must not bring any nuts, as we have a number of people with severe nut allergies in the club. Please do not bring any nuts.
A key thing to consider is how easy your food will be to eat on the hill. Conditions may be wet or windy and we may not want to stop for long and if you have gloves on, it may make fiddly packets near impossible to open. Please prepare any food in advance, as you’re very unlikely to be able to prepare food on the hike. Do also be aware, that there are unlikely to be any bins so make sure that any packaging can be taken home with you.
Especially on weekend trips, we suggest carrying more food than you think you need, as that’s better than being way up a hill really hungry, or if you’re out longer than expected.
Here's just a few ideas from committee:
- Pasties
- Cold pizza
- Sandwiches
- Sausage rolls and pork pies
- Sweets like haribos
- Flapjacks
- Dried fruit, such as choco covered raisins
- Protein balls
- Hot choc/
coffee/ tea/ soup in a flask - Biscuits
- Soreen
- Breakfast/
granola bars - Rice cakes
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Beef/
veg jerky - Cakes
- Falafel
Q: I don’t have hiking experience, what can I do?
A: Our trips are open to a wide variety of experience, so we’re sure we have something suitable for you!
Each day on our trips, our leaders will offer a variety of route lengths and elevations, for a Sunday hike this is often 7-18km with 300-700m ascent, and for weekend trips is often 10-20km with 500-1600m ascent.
Come speak to any member of committee at our regular pub socials (Thursdays 7:30pm at the Eldon) or contact us online if you’re not sure.
Q: Are our trips guided?
A: Our leaders take groups up to 15 people on planned routes. These leaders are experienced club members with a good understanding of navigation and group safety, but are NOT trained guides and responsibility for your personal safety is ultimately your own.
Q: What’s the weather going to be like?
A: British weather can be very unpredictable, so we always recommend bringing suitable clothing for wind, rain, cold, and more, as it can always change. Our kit lists account for this.
If you want to look at a weather forecast, we recommend looking a day or two in advance at MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) or Met Office Mountain Weather.
Q: I have a welfare concern or issue, what should I do?
A: Check our welfare & equality page which includes guidance and our confidential harassment reporting form.
Sunday Hikes
Q: What does an average Sunday Hike look like?
A: While all our trips are different, here’s what an average Sunday Hike looks like:
Leave university on a coach shortly after 8am
Arrive at destination 9-10am
Listen to 4-6 leaders pitch routes, and choose your favourite. Routes are often between 7-18km with 300-700m ascent. The exact options on offer will vary substantially depending on location and conditions.
Hike for 3-6 hours
Stop at a pub or cafe for a while
Be back on the coach for 4pm
Arrive back at university 5-6pm
Q: Do Sunday hikes run every weekend?
A: Most of them during term time! Some weekends we run weekend trip instead but we are always up to something exciting. See our calendar for up to date event dates.
Q: What gear do I need?
A: It’s important to be prepared with the correct equipment, please read the Sunday hike gear page.
Weekend Trips
Q: What does an average Weekend Trip look like?
A: While all our trips are different, here’s what an average Weekend Trip looks like:
Leave university at 5pm
Get to accommodation later evening, having got food for that evening on the way
Set up for the night and have social time
Leaders pitch routes in the evening and you choose your route for the following day. They are often between 10-20km with 500-1600m ascent and there may be options including scrambling. The exact options on offer will depend on location and conditions.
Most routes start early, so you may have to be awake 6-8am the following day
Hike for up to 10 hours, although most routes will be much less
If you’re on a shorter route, you may have some more time in local towns, pubs, etc
All pitch in to make a meal for everyone, enjoy eating it, socialising, and help with clearing up
The other days work the same
On the final day you’ll likely finish around 3-5pm to head back to Leeds. When you’ll get back depends on location
Q: What does the ticket cost include?
A: The cost of the ticket covers:
Transport to and from Leeds
Any transport required each day
Accommodation
Evening meal (1 night for 2-day, 2 nights for 3-day)
Breakfasts
Q: What are the sleeping arrangements like?
A: We stay in village halls, hostels and similar. For a hall, we will be sleeping in sleeping bags, on top of sleeping mats, for others, either a sleeping bag or mat may or may not be required. We will let you know when you buy tickets for a trip and ask if you’d like to borrow them free of charge for the trip. If you ask to borrow them, you will receive them when you get to where we are staying. We don’t do camping on weekend trips, so no tent is required.
Q: What gear do I need?
A: It’s important to be prepared with the correct equipment, please read the weekend trip gear page.