Walks July - September and into October 2010
If you are wishing to arrange a car share please use the discussion board in our Facebook group here
Sunday 27th June - The Malverns Challenge 2010
Grade: D3 (explained here)
Info: : No more support bus, five miles added with a diversion down the Worcestershire Way this leisurely 17 mile amble with 4650ft of ascent (don't convert it to metres it will scare you!) takes in the best the Malverns has to offer and all the peaks. Only significant amounts of money or you knocking on deaths door will make me divulge the escape route:-)
Start Point: 10.30am at the British Camp pay and display car park, opposite the Malvern Hills Hotel (Wynds Point - WR13 6DW) on the A449 , this route reverses the direction taken for the last two years to show the Malverns in a different light and make the navigation more challenging. (Grid Ref SO763404) Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Michael Potter
Sunday 4th July: Bidford-on-Avon, Cleeve Prior and Middle Littleton
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: An 8 mile walk that crosses field and meadows, passing through Marcliff and Cleeve Prior, to the villages of North and Middle Littleton. From here a gentle climb onto a ridge is followed by a fine ridgetop walk above the winding river Avon back to Marcliff. Ending with a pleasant stroll across riverside meadows back to Bidford-on-Avon.
Start Point: 10.30am at the Saxton Fields car park (free) near the centre of Bidford-on-Avon (off the main round about). Grid ref SP 098518. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Eleanor Carpenter
Sunday July 11th: Alcester and surrounding countryside
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: pleasant 9 mile walk starting in the Roman town of Alcester, passing through farmland and woodland to the west of the town.
Start Point: 10:30am at Bull Head Yards car park (behind the main high street in Alcester). Grid ref SP 090573/Post code B49 5BX Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: David Hamilton
Sunday 18th July: Winchcombe, Cleeve Hill and Belas Knap
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: A 9 mile walk from Winchcombe over Cleeve Hill. One steep climb fairly near the start, leading to good views of Cheltenham, before passing Belas Knap and heading back down into Winchcombe.
Start Point: **Note update about parking** 10:30am by the war memorial on the High Street (B4632) in the centre of Winchcombe. Please leave enough time for parking as parking spaces immediately by the War Memorial cannot be used for all day parking. There is a nearby car park at Back Lane (postcode GL54 5PZ and grid ref. SP024284) which costs £1 a day. This is signed as the long stay car park for Winchcombe and is behind the library. It is then a short 3 minute walk (following signs to town centre) down Cowl Lane to the War Memorial. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Frances Jauch and Judith Wilden
Sunday 25th July: Hinton-Byfield-Charwelton, nr Daventry
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 10 mile undulating walk starting in Hinton then on to Byfield, with a hill top lunch near Helidon passing by the telecoms tower landmark then returning via Charwelton. The last section of the walk is a bit overgrown in places so it is advisable to avoid wearing shorts.
Start Point: 10:30am Hinton on the corner of Pool Street and Farndon Road, utilising roadside parking. Grid ref SP 535524 Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Clive Taylor
Wednesday July 28th: Kenilworth Castle and surrounding countryside
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A pleasant 4 mile walk starting at Kenilworth Castle and back via Chase Woods
Start Point: 7pm at the English Heritage car park for Kenilworth Castle. Parking is free. Grid ref SP 279721/ Post code: CV8 1NE. Start Point
Leader: Sumit Hazra
Sunday 1st August: Elmley Castle & Bredon Hill
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: This pleasant 7 mile walk will take us along tracks and bridleways from Elmley Castle through the villages of Great and Little Comberton and back, with fantastic views of Bredon hill stretching out to the Vale of Evesham and Wales.
Start Point: CHANGED 10:30am Elmley Castle picnic site and car park site (free parking). Grid ref SO984410. Start Point Start Point on Multiap
Leader: Paul Thornton
Sunday 9th August: Broadway & Snowshill
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: A 9 mile walk from Broadway to Snowshill. There will be a pub stop before the return to Broadway. The walk heads across fields up to Burnhill to join the Cotswold Way, with great views of Broadway and the surrounding countryside.
Start Point: CHANGED 10:30am Milestone Ground Car Park, Childswickham Road, Broadway, WR12 7HA . Grid ref: SP090376 Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Don Smyth
Sunday 15th August: Chequers & surrounds, Buckinghamshire
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: :A 9 mile walk through serene woodland tracks and fields, with fine views from the ridgetops of the Chilterns. This walk loops around the idyllic valley where the Prime Minister's summer retreat can be seen.
Start Point: 10:30am Wendover Station (station carpark £5.50 per day). Gridref: SP 865077 Please allow approx 1.5 hours for the drive from Warwickshire. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Michael Potter (change of leader)
Sunday 22nd August: Edge Hill & the surrounding villages
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: 9 miles, starting from the village of Middle Tysoe the walk takes us up onto Edge Hill on the Centenary Way and along to the picturesque village of Ratley and back south taking in part of the Macmillan Way.
Start Point: 10:30am outside the Peacock Inn Pub, on 'Main Street' in the village of Middle Tysoe. Parking on road outside the pub. Grid ref: SP 340442. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Michael Potter
Sunday 29th August: **Bank holiday weekend**
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: Camping weekend - staying near Littlehampton West Sussex. Weekend will involve walking, - probably in the South Downs National Park, possibly cycling, and hopefully some watersports on the sea / Arun estuary eg sailing there will def be some beach time! probably on the sunday. Please let Jo Porter know whether you are interested, via the bear email address, bearing in mind that a £20 deposit per tent will need to be paid as soon as possible camp site link: http://www.camping-caravaning.co.uk/
Leader: Jo Porter
Friday 10th to Sunday 12th September - Camping in Builth Wells, Wales
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: Fforest Fields Caravan and Camping Site (http://www.fforestfields.co.uk/)
Where?: Hundred House, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales, LD1 5RT
Price: Per night the campsite charges a £4.50 pitching fee plus £4.00 per adult (so, for example £12.50 per night if two people are sharing a tent). Food costs still to be estimated.
Draft itinerary
Arrive Friday, whenever it suits but before dark! Dinner arrangments may depend on numbers coming. Could do a big pot of chilli or BBQ. Drink and be merry!
Saturday: brekkie: Hearty fry-up for breakfast for those who wish to partake (in both cooking and eating it). Otherwise, bring-your-own. Loop walk: approx 6-mile walk to pub, where we'll stop for lunch, then approx 6-mile walk back to campsite. BBQ in the evening (we'll organise who can bring BBQ's and what food/drink in advance of the weekend)
Sunday: Pack up tents. Shorter walk - details TBC, then drive home mid - late afternoon. Lunch details TBC Any non-walking time can be filled with games, so we encourage people to bring swingball, bats & balls, frisbies, boules etc Also, if anyone can play the guitar and fancies providing us with some campfire entertainmnet that would be great. Walk leader: Clive Taylor, will be leading the walks as I have no sense of direction! I'll be organising the logistics of the weekend. Once we have a better idea of numbers we will firm up details of food etc. Please register interest for the weekend by the end of July.
Leader: Kirsty Warwick Kirsty_01LWarwick@hotmail.co.uk
Sunday 5th September: Sugar Loaf, Abergavenny
Grade: D2 (explained here)
Info: A 12 mile walk up Sugar Loaf via Twyn-yr-allt and Deri returning via Llangenny (possible pub stop) and Graig woods. There are some very steep climbs and a couple of the paths are a little overgrown.
Start Point: 10.30am at the Lamb and Flag pub on the A40 Brecon Road about 1 mile past Abergavenny centre. Please park in the spaces closest to the road and car share where possible as Sunday is a busy day for the pub. Grid ref SO281152 or postcode NP7 7EW. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Tania Young
Sunday 12th September: Lighthorne - Compton Verney - Combrook
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: This peaceful 9 mile route passes through farmland meadows, bridleways, stunning woodland, and close to tranquil pools and lakes. It is very rural and there are good views of Compton Verney on the way round. If it rains it can be very muddy in places so please come prepared!
Start Point: 10:30am - meet outside "The Antelope" pub near the village green in Lighthorne (Grid ref SP339558/Old School Lane, CV35 0AU). Please park responsibly in the village. There are several side streets with ample parking close to the pub/village green. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Sarah Richards
Sunday 19th September: Keeping it local and easy in Leamington
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: An easy local walk of about 8 miles starting and finishing in Leamington Spa. Taking in Offchurch, out to Ridgeway Lane, and then back along the Grand Union Canal. We should be finished by early afternoon.
Start Point: 10:30am in the car park of Leamington Spa Leisure Centre, Newbold Comyn Park. Plenty of free car parking. Grid Ref SP330658, CV32 4EW. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Mark & Carminha Flinders
Sunday 26th September: Coberley & Withington nr Cheltenham
Grade: D2 (explained here)
Info: A 13 mile walk through beautiful cotswold countryside, the lovely villages of Withington, Foxcote and Colesbourne, a couple of hills and a fantastic pub to start and end at. Revisiting much of Jo's Bronze D of E walk (the countryside should have had time to recover after 20 years...)
Start Point: 10:30am Car Park of the Mill Inn, Withington. Please allow approx 1.5 - 2 hours for the drive from Warwickshire. Grid ref: SP 032154/Post code GL54 4BE. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Jo Porter
Sunday 3rd October: Market Bosworth - Hoo Hill - Congerstone - Carlton
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 10 mile walk starting in Market Bosworth.
Start Point: Market Bosworth Country Park Car Park (was £1.50 pay on entrance in August). Grid ref SK411031 Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Craig Philips
Sunday 10th October: Great Rollright - Hook Norton
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 7.5 mile walk starting in Great Rollright.
Start Point: TBC
Leader: Paul Thornton
If you would like to lead a walk and are stuck for ideas you can view our previous programmes here.
To contact the walk leader or put in your own ideas! email bearwalkinggroup@hotmail.co.uk