Walks April - June 2010
If you are wishing to arrange a car share please use the discussion board in our Facebook group here
Sunday 11th April - Snitterfield to Claverdon and back via Wolverton
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 10.5 mile walk taking in parts of the Monarch Way, a little woodland and lots of rolling countryside with some very good views. There are a few mild climbs at is may be quite muddy. There is a pub stop mid way round in Claverdon, so please bring bags for your boots.
Start Point: Start Point: 10:30am in Snitterfield village centre, outside the Foxhunter Inn (currently out of action and fenced off, due to a fire). Grid ref SP213597. Please car share where possible as there isn't much parking available in the village. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Heather McEntee
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th April - *Weekend Away* Spring New Forest Frolic
Grade: D1 (explained here)
Info: Friday & Saturday nights in the Burley YHA on a B&B basis £47 This weekend away will be quite the opposite of our January weekend in the lakes! We aim to have a relaxing ramble through the fairly flat forest on Saturday (around 14miles). On Sunday we plan to walk around 8 miles stopping for a pub lunch. Whilst Mark is rambling on Sunday I plan to go horse riding for an hour and then meet up with the others for lunch. You don't need any experience if you want to join me, it costs £30.
Leader: Carminha & Mark Flinders
Sunday 18th April: Ufton Fields Nature Reserve - Southam
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 7.5 mile walk starting with a pleasant one mile stroll around Ufton Fields Nature reserve, noted for its abundance of butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers and birds. We will then walk through Ufton Wood and the Stoney Thorpe estate to reach the Holy Well just outside Southam, returning to Ufton through farmland, woodland and heathland.
Start Point: 10:30am at the Ufton Fields Nature Reserve car park (free). The car park can get busy on Sundays so please lift share where possible (*alternative roadside parking is available in the centre of Ufton village, around a 5-10 minute walk from the nature reserve). Grid Ref SP378615/Postcode CV33 9PU. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: David Hamilton
Sunday 25th April: Shipston-on-Stour-Todenham-Stretton-On-Fosse
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 7 mile walk in the Cotswolds starting from Shipston-on-Stour, taking us along bridleways and meadows to Todenham Manor, then through pastureland and on to the quaint village of Stretton-on-Fosse.
Start Point: 10:30am - public car park opposite the Old Mill Inn, Mill Street, Shipston-on-Stour. Grid Ref SP254403/Postcode CV36 4AW. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Paul Thornton
Friday April 30th - Monday May 3rd - Elan valley/Rhayader camping weekend away
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: Staying at Wyeside Campsite (Link below), this weekend away offers you the chance to cycle, walk or do both.
Saturday: choice of 20-30 mile road/track based cycle ride round the beautiful reservoirs & flooded valleys, OR a 12-15 mile walk.
Sunday: another walk or some may wish to go off-road cycling.
Monday: local sightseeing / short walk at Llandrindod Wells or Abey Cwm Hir, the burial place of the last native Prince of Wales "Llewellyn the Last".
There is no numbers limit on the campsite or for the walks and Saturday cycle ride, but the Sunday off-road cycling may need to be limited. The most important thing re the cycling is that everyone is relatively experienced / comes prepared. Local cycle hire is £20 per day for a mountain bike and £15 for a hybrid. Camping costs 3 per night for a tent (up to 4-man) and £6 per person, so a tent with two people in would be £15 per night total / £7.50 each, more info on prices via link below. Bank holidays can get busy, so the earlier you can arrive on the Friday the more chance of a good pitch you'll have. I will probably be there early afternoon at the latest and will get your pitch if you pay me in advance. Meals will be 'communally' (multiple cooks?!) prepared (if you wish) with breakfasts on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and packed lunches on the Saturday and Sunday at a cost of approx £10 each in total, with dinner most likely being fish and chips / takeaway Friday, meal out / barbeque Sat and Sun weather permitting. http://www.wyesidecamping.co.uk/ http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/home/
Leader: Jo Porter
Sunday 2nd May - Warwickshire Country Stroll - Lapworth, Packwood House & Chadwick End
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: An easy 10.5 mile walk from Lapworth following canal towpaths, country lanes and rolling paths through the villages of Lapworth, Packwood and Chadwick End. We will pass by the delightful Packwood House, a National Trust building dating back to Tudor times.
Start Point: 10.30 am at Kingswood Canal Junction Car Park off Brome Hall Lane (changed) in Lapworth. Grid Ref SP186710. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 9th May - Bourton-on-the-Water and Cotswold Villages (changed)
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: A 10-mile walk in the Cotswolds, taking in the pretty villages of Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter and Naunton, as well as the sheltered river valleys of the Eye and Windrush, and some impressive views.
Start Point: (changed) 10:30am Parking at Station Road unofficial carpark in Bourton-on-the-Water (Grid Ref SP169206/Postcode GL54 2BN). Parking costs £2 for the day. Follow car park signs from the A429. These will take you down Station Road , and as you get to the main car park you should find signs to another (cheaper) carpark 150m further down the road, on the left. If you use the coordinates above (or link below), you should find that they point to an empty field, just south of a bus depot. This is a part-time car park! Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: James D'Alessandro
Evening Walk Thursday 13th May, Fleur De Lys Pub, Lowsonford
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 3.5 mile walk around the Lowsonford & Lapworth area, followed by drinks at the end, we will possibly eat at the Fleur De Lys.
Start Point: 7pm Fleur De Lys Pub, Lapworth Street, Lowsonford B95 5HJ
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 16th May - Baslow Circular (Peak District)
Grade: D2 (explained here)
Info: This is a very enjoyable 12.5 mile walk through varied scenery. We start with a climb up to Baslow Edge, then follow Curbar Edge and Froggatt Edge to the National Trust's Longshaw Estate. The beautiful Padley Gorge then takes us down to the riverside which we follow back to Baslow
Start Point: 10:30am at Baslow pay and display car park. Toilets in car park. Grid Ref SK258721/Postcode DE45 1SS. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Tania Young
Sunday 23rd May - Caer Caradoc & Lawley (Shropshire) (changed)
Grade: M2/3 (explained here)
Info: An 8 mile walk starting from the village of Cardington in South Shropshire. We will ascend the Hope Bowdler and Hazler hills before reaching Church Stretton. We will then walk around Helmet hill before ascending the Caer Caradoc (459m) where we will be rewarded with stunning views across Shropshire and out to Worcestershire and Wales. There is a great pub in Cardington at the end.
Start Point: 10:30am in Cardington. Please park responsibly in the village (exact start point TBC). Grid Ref SO506952 Start Point
Leader: Charlotte Brook
Evening Walk Thursday 27th May, Punch Bowl Pub, Lapworth
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 3.5 mile walk around Packwood & Lapworth area, followed by drinks at the and possibly food at the pub
Start Point: 7pm Punch Bowel, Rising Lane, Lapworth B94 6HR
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 30th May - Napton on the Hill and the Grand Union Canal
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: This 7 mile walk starts from the beautiful village of Napton on the Hill, which is dominated by a fine landmark windmill. We walk past the windmill and descend to the Napton Bridge Inn, by the Grand Union canal, into beautiful countryside. After passing the marinas along the canal and the Napton reservoirs, the route climbs back up the hill top and descends southwards to Marston Doles.
Start Point: 10:30am St Lawrence's church car park (or on road) in Napton on the Hill. Please car share where possible. Postcode CV47 8NE. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Jo Porter
Sunday 6th June - Ilmington, Ebrington and Hidcote, including Ebrington Hill
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: An eight mile walk with a couple of hills. Good views for a lot of the way, particularly at the start after the climb out of Ilmington, at the top of Ebrington Hill (the highest point in Warwickshire at 261m) and on the Ilmington Downs. The route passes by Foxcote House and the National Trust's Hidcote Manor.
Start Point: 10:30am at Ilmington village green, near the War Memorial. Some parking around the village green, otherwise along the road in the village. Car sharing where possible might be a good idea. Grid Ref SP210433. Start Point Start Point on MultiMap
Leader: Rebekkah Smith
Sunday 13th June - The Ridgeway (changed)
Grade: D2 (explained here)
Info: A 12-mile moderate walk starting in the Vale of White Horse, then walking up on to Ridgeway with spectacular views of the Downs in both directions and finishing by walking along some gallops on the Lambourn Downs. There will be an opportunity to see the famous White Horse at the end of the walk.
Start Point: National Trust cark park at the White Horse, Woolstone Hll Road (pay & display but free to National Trust members). Signposted off A420 Swindon to Oxford Road, next to the B4507 between Ashbury and Wantage. 9 miles from J15 and 15 miles from J14 on the M4. Start Point
Leader: Jocasta Gardner
Evening Walk Thursday 17th June Red Lion Hunningham
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 3 mile walk around the Hunningham area, followed by drinks at the Red Lion.
Start Point: 7pm Red Lion Pub, Hunningham CV33 9DY Start Point
Leader: Steve Bick
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th June - North York Moors Weekend
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: Friday & Saturday nights in the Osmotherly YHA on a B&B & Lunch basis £56
A chance to walk in a different area of the country. Walks won't be too hilly - the average height of the moors is 300m.
- Friday evening - for those who can get away from work early an evening walk
- Saturday will see us setting off on a 12 mile or so walk probably incorporating part of the Cleveland way along the escarpment that forms the western edge of the North York Moors. On a clear day, the views over the Vale of York to the Yorkshire Dales beyond, are stunning.
- Sunday can either be an urban sightseeing walk in York or another walk in the national park depending on what people want to do.
Leader: Tania Young
Sunday 20th June - Mid Warwickshire amble
Grade: E2 (explained here)
Info: : A delightful 7.5 mile canal side and level foot path walk via Stockton locks then through the villages of Broadwell, Leamington Hastings and Long Itchington. With plenty of time to enjoy the wonderful pub at the end for a drink by the canal.
Start Point: The Blue Lias Pub car park, Stockton Road, Long Itchington, CV47 8LD SP427647 Start Point on MultiMap Start Point
Leader: Steve Bick
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
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