1. Our Agreement
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) form a legally binding contract between you, the participant (“You”, “Your”, “Participant”), and BaldHiker (“We”, “Us”, “Our”), operated by Paul Steele and Zoe Potter. This agreement governs your booking and participation in any guided walk, private guiding session, or other event (collectively, the “Services”) offered by Us.
By making a booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. A binding contract comes into existence when we issue a written booking confirmation to you via email.
If you are making a booking on behalf of a group, you are designated as the “Lead Booker”. As the Lead Booker, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age and have the authority to act on behalf of all members of your party. You are responsible for ensuring that every member of your party has read, understood, and agreed to these Terms. You are also responsible for making all payments due to Us on behalf of your party.
2. Booking and Payments
2.1 How to Make a Booking
All bookings for our scheduled guided walks must be made through the official BaldHiker.com website. For Private Guiding or bespoke events, bookings can be initiated through the contact forms or email addresses provided on our website.
2.2 Confirmation of Booking
Your booking is considered provisional until we have received full payment and you have received a booking confirmation email from us. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion. If we are unable to accept your booking, any payment received will be refunded in full.
2.3 Payment
For all standard guided day walks listed on our website, full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your place. Prices are as advertised on the website and are inclusive of guiding services only, unless otherwise specified in the walk description (e.g., “Hike and Dine” events).
3. Changes and Cancellations by You (The Participant)
3.1 Cancellation Policy
Should you need to cancel your booking, you must notify us in writing via email. The cancellation will be effective from the date we receive your written notification. To ensure fairness while protecting the viability of our walks, which depend on minimum numbers, the following cancellation charges apply. This tiered structure is a standard practice within the guided walking industry and reflects the decreasing likelihood of us being able to re-sell your place as the event date approaches.
| Notice of Cancellation Given | Cancellation Charge / Refund Due |
| More than 30 days before the walk date | Full Refund minus a £5 non-refundable administration fee per person to cover transaction and processing costs. |
| 15 – 30 days before the walk date | 50% of the total booking cost will be forfeited. |
| 14 days or less before the walk date | 100% of the total booking cost will be forfeited. No refund will be issued. |
We strongly recommend you take out appropriate cancellation insurance to cover any potential losses.
3.2 Transferring Your Booking to Another Person
You may transfer your place to another person (a transferee) at no extra cost, provided you notify us in writing at least 7 days before the walk date.
It is your responsibility to ensure the transferee meets all the requirements for the walk, including fitness levels and equipment, and that they have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.
3.3 Moving Your Booking to an Alternative Date
If you are unable to attend, you may request to move your booking to an alternative date for the same walk or to a different walk of equal value, subject to availability. This request must be made in writing at least 14 days before the original walk date. A change of date is permitted once per booking and is subject to our discretion. This policy is designed to offer flexibility while allowing us to manage group numbers effectively.
4. Changes and Cancellations by Us (BaldHiker)
4.1 Alterations to Itinerary
The safety and wellbeing of our participants is our highest priority. Our guides reserve the right to alter the walk itinerary at any time, including on the day of the walk, due to factors such as adverse weather conditions, hazardous ground conditions, or the overall fitness and ability of the group. A change of route for safety reasons does not entitle participants to a refund or compensation.
4.2 Cancellation due to Minimum Numbers Not Met
Our guided walks require a minimum number of participants to be commercially viable and to foster the social group dynamic we aim for. We reserve the right to cancel any walk that does not meet this minimum threshold. In such an event, we will notify you no later than 5 days before the scheduled walk date.
4.3 Cancellation for Other Reasons (Force Majeure)
We will not be liable for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations under this contract that is caused by a Force Majeure event. A Force Majeure event is any act or event beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme and hazardous weather warnings (e.g., Met Office Red or Amber warnings), natural disasters, fire, acts of terrorism, civil disturbance, government advice or restrictions (including those related to public health emergencies), or failure of public utilities.
4.4 Your Options Following a Cancellation by Us
If we cancel your walk (for reasons other than Force Majeure), you will be offered the following options:
- A full refund of all monies paid.
- A free transfer to an alternative date for the same walk or to another walk of equal value.
If we are forced to cancel due to a Force Majeure event, we will offer you a transfer to an alternative date or a credit voucher for the full value of your booking, valid for 12 months.
5. Your Responsibilities
5.1 Health, Fitness, and Medical Disclosure
Hiking and outdoor activities are physically demanding. By booking, you confirm that you (and all members of your party) have a suitable level of fitness to complete the walk as described on our website (e.g., in terms of distance, ascent, and duration).
It is your responsibility to inform us at the time of booking of any pre-existing medical condition, allergy, or disability that could affect your safe participation in the walk.
This includes conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, and severe allergies. All such information will be treated with the strictest confidence. Failure to disclose relevant medical information may result in your exclusion from the walk without a refund if the guide deems your participation to be a risk to yourself or others. You must carry any personal medication you may require (e.g., inhalers, EpiPens) with you at all times during the walk.
5.2 Appropriate Equipment and Clothing
You are responsible for ensuring you are equipped with appropriate clothing and footwear for the walk and prevailing weather conditions. This includes sturdy walking boots with ankle support, waterproof jacket and trousers, extra warm layers, a hat, and gloves. A recommended kit list is available on the walk page. Our guides reserve the right to refuse your participation on a walk if they deem your equipment or clothing to be inadequate or unsafe, and in such circumstances, no refund will be issued.
5.3 Conduct and Adherence to Safety Instructions
Your safety, and that of the group, is paramount. You agree to accept the professional judgement and decisions of your guide. You must comply with all safety instructions and advice provided by the guide before and during the walk. We reserve the right to exclude any person from a walk if, in our reasonable opinion, their behaviour is likely to cause danger, distress, or annoyance to themselves, other participants, or the guide. No refund will be given in this event.
6. Risk, Liability, and Insurance
6.1 Acknowledgement and Assumption of Inherent Risk
By booking and participating in a BaldHiker guided walk, you acknowledge and accept that walking, hiking, and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. These activities involve inherent risks and hazards, including but not limited to: slips, trips, and falls on uneven, wet, or steep terrain; effects of adverse weather conditions; risks from crossing rivers or streams; and risks associated with altitude. While we take all reasonable precautions to minimise these risks, they cannot be entirely eliminated without destroying the character of the activity. You voluntarily assume all such risks associated with your participation.
6.2 Our Liability to You
We accept our legal responsibility for death or personal injury caused by the proven negligence of BaldHiker or its employees. However, we will not be liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your personal property that is not caused by our negligence. By accepting these Terms, you agree to indemnify BaldHiker against any claims arising from any loss or damage to your own personal property during a walk.
6.3 Your Insurance Requirements
BaldHiker does not provide any personal accident, cancellation, or travel insurance. It is a condition of booking that you acknowledge this. We strongly recommend that you take out adequate personal insurance to cover yourself against personal injury, cancellation, and loss or damage to personal belongings for the duration of the activity.
7. Photography and Promotional Materials
We often take photographs and videos of our walks for use in our promotional materials, including our website, social media channels, and newsletters. By participating in a walk, you consent to such images being taken and used for these purposes. If you do not wish to be included in any photographs or videos, please notify your guide at the start of the walk. We will respect your right to privacy.
8. Data Protection
We are committed to protecting your personal data. The personal information you provide during the booking process, including any sensitive medical data, is collected for the lawful purpose of managing your booking and ensuring your health and safety on our walks. Your data will be processed and stored securely in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We will not share your information with any third parties except where necessary for the provision of our services or as required by law. For full details on how we handle your data, please refer to our comprehensive Privacy Policy available on our website.
9. General Legal Provisions
9.1 Complaints Procedure
In the unlikely event that you have a complaint about our Services, please bring it to the attention of your guide at the time so that we can attempt to resolve the issue immediately. If the matter cannot be resolved, please submit your complaint in writing to us via email within 14 days of the walk date. We will investigate and respond to your complaint in a timely manner.
9.2 Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. You irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with this agreement.