Walks January - March 2010 - plus our first April walk
If you are wishing to arrange a car share please use the discussion board in our Facebook group here
Sunday 3rd - January - Kenilworth and the surrounds
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A pleasant and not too energetic 7.5 mile walk, to start the year off, over farmland, the Berkswell Greenway and Abbey Fields.
Start Point: 10:30am Parking at Castle Brays Pay & Display Car Park inside the Castle grounds (NOT opposite the Pub) as there's more space) Grid Ref SP 280 720
Leader: Michael Potter
Sunday 10th - January -Warwick to Hatton
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: An easy 7.5 mile walk from Warwick to Hatton, following the Grand Union canal for a pub stop half way, then back over easy footpaths and country lanes.
Start Point: 10.30am at Warwick Museum, in Warwick Market Square Grid Ref: SP 282 650
Leader: Steve Bick
Sunday 17th - January -Danzey Green - Tanworth-in-Arden & surrounding countryside
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A pleasant 8 mile walk through fields, country tracks and woodland passing through the village of Tanworth-in-Arden.
Start Point: 10.30am at Danzey Green Railway Station (free parking at the station car park) (Postcode B94 5BE) Grid Ref SP122696
Leader: David Hamilton
Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th January - Weekend Away in the Lakes- Grasmere / Ambleside
Grade: M3 (winter conditions in the Lakes, possible snow) (explained here)
Info: Staying at Ambleside YHA, 2 hard days of mountain walking out of Grasmere including Fairfield, exact routes tbd depending on weather conditions. Please note that the conditions in January can be/are most likely to be challenging. We will be starting early to make the most of the short days. Limited places available, we will be staying at the YHA on Friday and Saturday night. It will be £53 for 2 nights B&B and two packed lunches. **This is now closed**
Leader: Carminha and Mark Flinders
Sunday 24th January - Leamington riverside/canalside walk & Offchurch
(*local alternative to the Lake District weekend away)
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: An easy 6 mile walk through parkland and the Leam Valley nature reserve, then along the Grand Union canal and a disused railtrack to the village of Offchurch, returning to Leamington via fields/farmland.
Start Point: 10:30am at Newbold Comyn Park Car Park, Leamington Spa, (Postcode CV32 4EW) click here for start point map
Leader: Sarah Richards
Sunday 31st January - Moreton-in-Marsh & Chipping Campden
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 9 mile walk that starts in the historic market town of Moreton-in-Marsh and will take us along the Monarch’s Way to Chipping Campden, with fine views of the surrounding countryside.
Start Point: 10.30am at the outside public toilets in the centre of Moreton-in-Marsh (opposite mini supermarket). Car parking next to main through road (Fosseway). (Grid ref SP204324) click here for start point map
Leader: Charlotte Brook
Sunday 7th February - Berkswell & Balsall Common
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 7.5 mile walk which begins and ends at Berkswell, passing through Balsall Common via open fields, scraps of woodland and working farms.
Start Point: 10:30am at the parking bay on Meriden Road opposite Berkswell Village Hall/a wooden bus shelter (Grid ref SP246 792) click here for start point map
Leader: Craig Phillips & Sumit Hazra
Sunday 14th February - Whatcote, Oxhill & Tysoe
Grade: E1 (explained here)
Info: A 7.5 mile mostly flat walk starting at the village of Whatcote that will take us through the Valley of the Red Horse and provide excellent views of the Cotswolds.
Start Point: 10.30 opposite 'Royal Oak' Pub in Whatcote. Car share where possible as there is not much room for parking in the village. Do not park in the pub car park as they need all the spaces for Sunday diners. click here for start point map
Leader: Matt Dutton
Sunday 21st February - Snowshill & Broadway
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: An 8.5 walk that starts with a climb out of Snowshill walking north to the Broadway Tower (a folly built in 1794) with great views towards Worcester. We will then take the Cotswold Way to Broadway stopping for lunch, then return to Snowshill.
Start Point: 10:30am at a free car park approx 200m away from Snowshill Manor, going towards Snowshill village (Grid ref SP097 338 or postcode WR12 7JU) click here for start point map
Leader: Celia Graham
Sunday 28th February - Badby, Everdon & Newnham (near Daventry)
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 9 mile gently undulating walk through Badby wood, then out on to open parkland and hilltops with scenic views on the way round. The route will take us along the Knightley and Nene ways and we will pass through the peaceful villages of Badby, Everdon and Newnham.
Start Point: 10:30am at The Windmill Inn pub, Badby, (Grid ref SP560590 or postcode NN11 3AN). *The pub is on “ Main Road ” in the centre of the village. It has closed down so the car park is not accessible. Please park responsibly throughout the village, there are several side roads where this is possible click here for start point map
Leader: Sarah Richards
Sunday 7th March - Coaley Peak, Cotswolds (nr Stroud)
Grade: M1 (explained here)
Info: A 9 mile walk through ancient beech forest tracks and pastureland. This route provides panoramic views across the Cotswolds and beyond, and was featured in the Ramblers top 50 Bristish "Great Views" book in 2009.
Start Point: 10.30am at Coaley Peak viewpoint car park off the B4066 (Grid ref SO794013 click here for start point map) Approx 1h45 from Leamington
Leader: Andrew Kennard
Sunday 14th March - Clent Hills, Worcestershire
Grade: M2 (explained here)
Info: A varied 10 mile walk through the Clent Hills country park, Romsley and the Wasely Hills country park.
Start Point: 10.30am at the end of Adams Hill off the A491. (Grid ref SO926798 or postcode DY9 9PS). click here for start point map
Leader: Tania Young
Sunday 21st March - Westonbirt Arboretum & Surrounding Areas
Grade: M1(explained here)
Info: A 10 or 11.5 mile walk (dependent on time/weather) through areas of outstanding natural beauty in the Cotswolds. Starting in Tetbury and proceeding along Monarch's Way passing close by Prince Charles' Highgrove House, the walk offers spectacular views, crossing through meadows, valleys and bridlepaths (one in particular very muddy after rain!) to bring us to the entrance of the national arboretum. There is an option to take a extra 1.5mile circular route through the arboretum itself (for a nominal charge to the National Trust) or we can carry straight on back into Tetbury to finish our journey.
Start Point: 11am Car park located on the site of an old railway station at the foot of Gumstool Hill, Tetbury. Grid ref ST893932 click here for start point map
Leader: Susie Murray/Abigail Bonsall
Sunday 28th March - Charlbury & Ascott-Under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire
Grade: D1 (explained here)
Info: A 12.5 mile circular walk starting in the Oxfordshire village of Charlbury, taking us past Cornbury House and the village of Finstock (frequented by woodpeckers) and into the ancient Wychwood forest to reveal "The Grand Vista". Then continuing out of the forest on to Ascott-under-Wychwood for welcome refreshment in The Swan Hostelry. Once suitably refreshed we will cross the River Evenlode and return to Charlbury along the Evenlode Valley via the Oxfordshire Way.
Start Point: 10.30am (clocks change. you need to get up an hour EARLIER) at Spendlove Centre car park, Charlbury, believed to be free at time of writing (Grid ref SP357196 or postcode OX7 3PQ). click here for start point map
Leader: Jim Costelloe
Sunday 11th April - 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 on MultiMap
Leader: Heather McEntee
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