The Bear 20's & 30's Walking Group Walks January to March* 2006
*See Stratford dragon boat race at foot of page
Sunday 8th January - Ilmington and Ebrington
Grade: Moderate
Info: A 10-12 mile walk on the edge of the Cotswolds which takes in the village of Ebrington.
Start Point: 10.30am, Red Lion pub, Ilmington
Leader: Trudi Cooke
Sunday 22nd January - Broadway and Cotswold villages
Grade: Moderate to Easy
Info: 7 miles - A walk through Broadway, Buckland, Laverton and Stanton villages.
Start Point: 10.30am Pay and Display Car Park at the Back of the High Street, Broadway; Grid ref SP095373. Walk will start promptly. Please bring your own lunch as we can't guarantee a pub at the right point for lunch.
Leader: Mark and Carminha Flinders
Sunday 29th January - Napton on the Hill
Grade: Moderate
Info: 7 miles. A walk with fine views through attractive opencountryside and past a historic windmill. Includes a stretch along the Oxford Canal.
Start Point:10:30am. St Lawrence Church car park, Napton on the Hill
Leader: Mark Roach
Sunday 5th February - Bidford and Welford
Grade: Easy
Info: A long 10 mile ramble near the River Avon, visiting four charming villages.
Start Point: 10.15am, Recreation ground car park, Bidford. GR 099517.
Leader: Kate Westlake
Sunday 12th February - Warwickshire Villages
Grade: Easy - 9 miles
Info: The walk starts in Kingswood, 8 miles north east of Warwick and passes Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House National Trust properties and the Lapworth flight of locks on the Grand Union Canal.
Start Point: 10.30am, Haywood Picnic Car Park, Haywood Lane, Baddesley Clinton: From Warwick A4177, take 1st left -Case Lane at island of A4177 & A4141, then right onto Quarry Lane.
Leader: Michael Potter & Will York-Moore
Sunday 19th February - Hatton to Kenilworth
Grade: Moderate to Easy
Info: 11 miles - A walk along the Centenary Way to Kenilworth Castle, then back though fields and country lanes via Beausale
Start Point: 10.30am The Waterman pub, Hatton. On the A4177.
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 26th February - Mickleton and Meon Hill
Grade: Moderate / Hard
Info: 8.5 miles. A walk along the Monarch and Heart of England Ways circling Meon Hill and passing the villages of Hidcote Boyce and Upper Quinton. Some fine views but at least one steep walk up at the start.
Start Point:10.30am. Parking on the High Street in Mickleton opposite the Kings Arms public house
Leader: Mark Roach
Sunday 12th March - The Eastern Black Mountains
Grade: Difficult
Info: 14 miles. This walk takes in five of the Black Mountain peaks. Starting at Hay Bluff, then Twmpa, Rhos Diriondown to the village of Capel-y-Ffn, the up over Black Mountain southern and main tops. The route follows part of the Offa's Dyke path, with other paths marked by cairns. Excellent views are offered on most of the route.
Start Point:10.30am, Park at the Stone Circle on the minor road between Chapel-y-Ffinn and Hay-on-Wye. Start grid ref, Outdoor Leisure13:SO 238 374
Leader: Steve Bick - It may be worth staying over on Saturday night in Hay-on-Wye. If many people take up this option, this will become part of a weekend away with a Saturday afternoon walk being arranged nearer the time.
Sunday 19th March - Malverns
Grade: Moderate
Info: 7 miles. The walk follows the Worcestershire Way on its outward leg, with a detour to the obelisk. The homeward route follows the ridge of the Herefordshire Beacon with its Iron Age fort, contours Hangman's Hill to visit the Giant's Cave, then over Swinyard Hill and finally climbsover Midsummer Hill to visit another Iron Age fort. The walk is quitetaxing due to the up-and-down nature of the Malverns.
Start Point:10.30am The car park, situated just outside Hollybush, is a private car park belonging to the Eastnor Castle Company.Start grid ref: SO758368 (Explorer 14)
Leader: Andrew Kennard
Sunday 26th March - Alcester and Coughton Court
Grade: Easy ½ day
Info: 6 miles - The route heads from Alcester through the Arden countryside to Coughton Court, then follows the River Arrow
Start Point: 10.30am, Outside the Town Hall, top of the High Street, Alcester
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 14th May Expected 9am - 4pm Charity Dragon Boat Race
Location: River Avon in Stratford
Info: 11 people (10 rowers, 1 drummer!) required to crew and race a 30ft Hong Kong style Dragon Boat on the river Avon. Take part in three heats racing against other crews, with the fastest teams going through to the finals. Or for the less energetic (or crazy) just bring along a picnic and a bottle of wine and cheer on the team! If interested please let me know early due to limited spaces and popularity of the event (Approx £10-12 per person plus sponsorship)
Leader: Mark Roach
To contact the walk leaders directly please email bearwalkinggroup@hotmail.co.uk with the walks you are interested in/have questions on and we will pass them on.