DENS Castle Walk – Sunday 14th June 2026
By registering and ticking the box on the registration form, you agree to abide by the terms and conditions as stated below, including any further instructions or regulations displayed or given on the day of the event by staff or officials.
GENERAL
- DENS Castle Walk is a non-competitive charity walk along self-guided routes with the aim to raise funds to support local people facing crisis.
- Participants can choose to walk either the 5 mile or 10 mile self-guided routes.
- Participants must be 18 and over to take part without an adult.
- The routes will be signed at regular intervals, and marshals will be positioned at key points.
- On both routes, water will be available around the half-way point, however participants must bring their own water and are responsible for their own hydration and anyone they are responsible for.
- DENS Castle Walk is a charity event and the course distances advertised may not always be exact. We will endeavour to ensure the routes are as close to the distances advertised as possible.
- The event is not a race, nor is it chip timed. For your safety, please do not overtake the nominated lead walker.
- Participants acknowledge the event may be physically challenging and involves risks such as discomfort, illness, injury or even death, and that they are responsible for ensuring they are physically fit to participate without undue risk to their health or life.
- DENS cannot be held liable for cancellation of the event or for any changes made to the event for safety reasons or due to circumstances beyond their control. This includes (but is not limited to) force majeure events and any indirect, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential losses connected with any aspect of this event.
- If the event is cancelled, postponed, or materially changed, participants will not be entitled to a refund of their entry fee. In such circumstances, the entry fee — along with any sponsorship already raised — will be gratefully received by DENS as a donation to support their charitable work.
ACCESS
- Due to the terrain and potential hazards along the trails, the event is not suitable for baby wearing, wheelchairs, prams, buggies or mobility scooters.
- Weather dependent, dogs are welcome to take part on either route, on a short lead alongside an adult participant. Please refer to our Dog Policy below.
- Individuals and/or the lead participant must be able to independently read instructions, follow the self-guided route map and follow the direction signs. If the participant is unable to do this, they may appoint a carer, who agrees to sign up free of charge, to be responsible for them at the event. To do this, please contact fundraising@dens.org.uk or 01442 800268.
- Roller skates/blades, skateboards and/or scooters or any other item that we deem unsuitable, or which could potentially inhibit or affect the safety of other participants are not permitted.
TERRAIN
- The lead participant must read and acknowledge the potential hazards along the route and is responsible for sharing the information with others they are registering.
- The terrain of both the 5 and 10 mile routes is a combination of woodland and countryside, through fields and pathways, with some challenging and undulating areas.
- Participants understand that the route may include hazards such as uneven surfaces, steep inclines, down-hills, long/short grass, nettles, potholes, mud, twigs/branches from tree fall, loose stones, flint, gullies, protruding tree roots and general countryside and tarmac pavement terrain.
- Weather dependent, the routes may be wet, muddy and slippery and unstable in parts.
- Suitable attire is required for all weathers and the terrain involved, including robust and sturdy supportive walking/hiking boots with a strong grip. Ideally comfortable with cushioning and support. This is to safeguard participants from injury and help reduce any strain and stress of high-impact activity on joints.
HEALTH & SAFETY
- All participants enter the DENS Castle Walk entirely at their own risk.
- All participants (and any family/group the lead participants have registered) must be physically fit and in good health to safely walk the 5 or 10 mile routes.
- If the participant, or any member of their family/group, is in any doubt about their physical ability to take part, including any medical concerns or relevant health conditions, they must obtain approval from their GP or doctor prior to the event. Participants with asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, a heart condition, or any other medical condition which may affect their ability to participate in this event should consult their GP prior to signing up for the walk or run.
- Participants are strongly advised not to participate if they are or have recently been suffering from a cold, flu or covid symptoms.
- Participants accept that minor injuries (scrapes, sprains, soreness, etc.) are possible and serious injury, although uncommon, can occur.
- Each participant is advised to build up to their nominated distance over several weeks/months prior to the event.
- DENS reserve the right to refuse entry to the Event in our absolute discretion, with no refund provided, if for whatever reason we consider a person unfit to take part.
- DENS, the sponsors, volunteers or supporters of the event shall not be liable for any injury, death, damage, or loss howsoever suffered by participants or spectators, other than in respect of any injury, death, damage, or loss arising as a result of negligence.
PARTICIPANT ENTRY
- By registering a team/family, the registering participant (lead participant) agrees to the terms and conditions on behalf of everybody they register and is responsible for ensuring their party read, acknowledge, agree and adhere to the Castle Walk Terms and Conditions.
- Entries are processed on a first come first served basis and are subject to availability.
- DENS reserves the right to change the registration closing date, or close registration, at any time.
- Participants must be 18 and over to take part without an adult.
- Families are welcome. Please note it is a long day of physical activity.
- Children (under 18s) must be accompanied by a participating adult. One participating adult may take responsibility for up to three under 18-year-olds.
- By entering the event online, agreeing to the parental consent at point of entry and paying in advance, parental/guardian permission is assumed.
- Carers can be allocated a free place. They must take full responsibility for the person they are caring for throughout the event. To book a carer place, please contact fundraising@dens.org.uk or 01442 800268.
- All participants are advised that their entry fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and registration closes at 9am on Thursday 11th June 2026.
- Event entry may close early if maximum participant capacity is reached.
- We will only accept entries on the day where we are satisfied that it is safe to do so.
AT THE EVENT
- Neither the 5 or 10 mile routes are suitable for wheelchairs, prams, buggies or mobility scooters.
- Participants must monitor their physical condition throughout the event and stop immediately if they feel unwell or unsafe.
- Participants understand that medical care may not be immediately available due to parts of the route being in remote countryside, but participants must consent to treatment and transportation if required.
- If withdrawing, participants must report to the next marshal/aid point to formally withdraw.
- All participants are responsible for their own hydration, however there will be a water stop on each route. On the 10-mile route only, participants can top up their bottles at the halfway point in Aldbury.
- Participants must wear their wristband with walker number clearly and visibly for the duration of the event.
- For safety reasons, participants arriving late, and after the lead walker has left Berkhamsted Castle, may not be able to participate and must abide by the instructions and decisions of the Control Centre.
- The route is a public right of way, and as such, we will be sharing it with members of the public. Please be courteous to other users, respect local residents, avoid excessive noise, and do not litter.
- For the safety of yourself and those around you, the use of headphones is discouraged.
- DENS asks that all participants do not use or display aggressive or abusive language or behaviour towards other participants, volunteers, DENS staff, dogs, or spectators.
- Under no circumstances is alcohol or any other substance to be brought into or consumed prior to or during the event.
ENTRY RULES FOR DOGS
- Dogs must be always kept on a short lead. A harness rather than collar is preferable. Slip Leads, flexi-leads, Canicross leads are not permitted, and you will not be allowed to take part if you attend the event with any of these.
- No more than two dogs per adult handler are permitted on the course and at the event. The dog(s) must always be handled by an adult for the entirety of the event.
- All participants wishing to bring their dog should consider the dog’s age, ability, any medical conditions and breed before registering. If in doubt, vets’ advice is required.
- On the day of the event all dogs must be at least one year old, fit and healthy, sociable with other dogs and humans, willing and able to complete the walking course, not in season, wearing a harness or collar with a clearly identifiable tag, and fully vaccinated to reduce risk of spreading infection
- DENS reserves the right to remove any person or person with a dog from the course or Event should they breach our Terms and Conditions or be considered a danger to other participants, volunteers, DENS staff, dogs, or spectators.
- Participants are responsible for picking up after their dog.
- Participants are responsible for the hydration of their dog and must bring with them adequate water for the entirety of the event.
- Participants must always be in control of their dog. The most important thing is that dogs and humans enjoy the event. If a dog becomes anxious or stressed in any way, we reserve the right to remove any dog from the course/event village.
- In the event of extreme heat, we will implement our Extreme Weather Plan. This may include dogs being prohibited from participating, in order to protect their health and wellbeing.
FUNDRAISING, SPONSORSHIP & DONATIONS
- DENS Castle Walk is a fundraising event, and we encourage every participant to raise a minimum of £50, families or larger groups to try and raise over £100 together, to enable us to continue to support local people facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion.
- If a participant doesn’t feel they can raise funds through their family, friends and connection, DENS asks that the participant considers making a personal donation to the charity.
- All participants have a legal responsibility to ensure that all sponsorship monies/donations received in connection with the event are paid to DENS. We ask that participants do this as soon as possible after the event.
- Please ensure that all donations and/or sponsorship forms are returned to DENS to enable us to claim Gift Aid where possible. To arrange this, please contact fundraising@dens.org.uk or 01442 800268.
- In the event participants are unable to participate, or the event is postponed or cancelled, then sponsorship monies will still be payable to DENS unless the sponsor has specifically requested that funds be returned in these circumstances.
PHOTOGRAPHY
- The registering participant agrees to give their permission for themselves (and any person they have signed up to their party) for their image(s) to be captured via camera and film by DENS outside sources. The lead participant understands that these images may be used indefinitely to promote the work of DENS and its fundraising activities via the DENS website, advertising, print and digital publications, marketing material, social media, and other media that may be available to the public, and that it is the participant’s responsibility to inform the Event Organisers before the event starts should they wish such images of themselves, or of the people in their care or who they have registered, not to be used.
USE OF YOUR INFORMATION
- Participants are advised that DENS will process their personal data for the purpose of the event application, and that they will never sell or swap participant’s details with anyone.
- Confidential information (including medical details that a participant has disclosed) will be retained on the DENS database for safety reasons. This information will not be shared with anyone other than the medical provider at the event. Any medical information that is provided is deleted from DENS records post-event.
- By signing up to the DENS Castle Walk, the registering participant may receive SMS/WhatsApp messages in relation to the event. They can opt-out at any time by contacting fundraising@dens.org.uk.
- DENS may keep participants informed via email about future editions of this event, or similar upcoming events. If participants would prefer not to receive these communications, they should email fundraising@dens.org.uk.
- For more information on DENS data processes, please see the privacy policy at dens.org.uk.