TEWKESBURY U3A WALKING GROUP

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NB   1.   Walkers are requested to carry both their U3A membership cards and their ICE (in case of emergency) cards with them on all walks and strolls.
NB   2.   Members should consider carrying hand sanitizer and a face covering. Members are urged to continue with appropriate measures to minimise covid transmission.
NB   3.    Numbers on walks are as always at the walk leader’s discretion. This may well be limited. This may depend upon a number of factors including any government diktats as well as the nature of the walk, e.g. number of stiles.
NB     4.    Where two walks are offered in a week, if you wish to go on both walks please do not book onto your second choice walk until the end of the week before. This is so that members are not denied a place on any walk by early second walk bookers.

Programme 193 March & April 2024

March 2024

Walk    1608

Thursday 7 March        4 miles    Energetic        Pub lunch
Meet        Tank Quarry WR14 4NA   Grid SO 769470      9.45 for a 10.00am start
Contact    Jenny and Mike     01684 772194    the week before
Directions     Take A449 through Malvern, Left towards West Malvern. Go past main car park and Clock Tower. Road up to Tank Quarry picnic place on the left just past the Clock Tower.
Details     We make a circuit of the Northern hills. We start on the East side, climb to the roundel below the Beacon (which we don’t climb)and return on the West. No stiles. Short steepish climb at beginning. Easy walking but Energetic because of.ascent.
Note    We drive back to the Nags Head at Malvern Link for lunch, WR14 2JG (plenty of road side parking). Please look at Menu online and order lunch when you book the walk.

Finding the Tank Carpark unexpectedly closed, 15 of us gathered in front of the Clocktower. Starting our walk along the path through the Clock Tower car park, we stopped briefly to read the information board describing the East Malvern Fault, a reminder of the hill's turbulent geological origins. To me, walking on the Malverns always seems to be "UP" and so it was today until close to St Anne’s Well. There, we reached a grassy area with benches, giving us views looking down upon Malvern and up to North Hill. We continued uphill to the Indicator below The Beacon, before continuing along Lady De Walden's Drive, skirting around North Hill. Although the skies were grey, the views from the north side of the hill were as always most impressive. From here, we descended , at last, to the road at Tank Quarry, from where most of the company retired to the Nag's Head for lunch.

Thanks, yet again, to Jenny and Mike for a lovely walk in an area of the Malverns that was a little different for most of us.

Stroll

Tuesday 12 March       1 mile     Elmley Castle village        Possible pub lunch
Meet        Opposite Queen Elizabeth Inn, High Street, WR10 3HS, at 10.30am
Contact    Angela and Chris           01684 294325          the week before
Directions    From Tewkesbury, take A46 for Evesham. At Teddington Hands roundabout go second Left, continuing along A46. After 5.5 miles turn Left signposted Elmley Castle & Hinton. Keep right to Elmley Castle immediately after the this junction. After 2.8 miles enter Elmley Castle village. At T-junction turn Left. At top of Main Street; park in road opposite black & white Queen Elizabeth Inn.
Details    A short route (I mile), mostly flattish, in this attractive village under Bredon Hill. We’ll stroll on paths & quiet roads, no stiles, entirely mobility scooter friendly
Lunch     If any wish to join us, we shall probably eat at the QE Inn (lunch 12 – 2pm) or there’s the Bredon Hill Country and Café that you passed on the A46.
Note: It is Cheltenham race week and all eating places and the roads may be busy.

Walk    1609   This walk is postponed until Thursday 28th March - Same details.

Wednesday 13 March    3.25 miles    Easy    Lunch own arrangements
Meet        Lay-by (old road) on the B4632 road from Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill at south edge of Winchcombe, GL54 5NH Grid 018277 for a 10.30am start
Contact    Barry on 07751170833 (evenings) or by email to bminettsmith@icloud.com the week before.
Directions    To Winchcombe, then B4632 towards Cheltenham, then as above.
Details    A walk around Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle.
Note: Lunch - It is Cheltenham race week and all eating places and the roads will be busy.

Walk     1610

Thursday 14 March   4 miles     Easy/moderate        Lunch own arrangements
Meet        Church Lane, by St Lawrence church, Mickleton, GL55 6RX, Grid 162435 for a 10.30 start
Contact    Linda and Ken    01684 772030     the week before
Directions    A46 towards Evesham, and turn right before the town, to Childswickham. At the end of the village take the left-hand fork up Pennylands Bank then turn left at the top. At the roundabout on the A44, go straight across (2nd exit onto the B 4632 to Mickleton. Park in Church lane (turn right off the High Street)
Details    A varied walk, fields, lanes, and woodland, starting with a gentle climb onto the Cotswold escarpment, passing Kifstgate and Hidcote Gardens and through the pretty hamlets of Hidcote Bartrim and Hidcote Boyce, one gentle climb, no stiles.
Note: Lunch - It is Cheltenham race week and all eating places will be busy.

Following a walk over, Linda has had to change the walk completely. The old route was impassable due to mud.

Meet at Hollybush free car park off A438, grid 758368 for a 10am start. (Postcode HR8 1ET is closest)

Contact as before: Optional lunch afterwards at the Duke of York. Choose from the website and give order when phoning Linda on 01684 772030 to book for the walk by Friday 8th March.

Directions: A438 (over Mythe Bridge from Tewkesbury), straight on at staggered crossroads after Duke of York. Car Park is on the right at the brow of the hill.

Details: Walking south around Ragged Stone and Chase End Hills to Bromsberrow Park and back through White Leaved Oak, undulating lanes with some short inclines, and through woodland. Expect some mud, no stiles.

We met up at Hollybush car park and commenced our walk south around Ragged Stone and Chase End Hills.   Although the weather was cloudy, the views of hills across the Severn Vale were good and alongside the paths at the edges of the woods, wild daffodils, wood anemones and primroses were in flower amongst the leaves of the recently flowered snowdrops.

We stopped for coffee in Bromsberrow Park at the foot of an old tree with convenient logs, stones and raised ground for all 17 of us to sit on in.   Suitably refreshed and rested, we journeyed on.   As expected, there was some climbing to do in the lanes before we descended the slopes.

Crossing a field, on the right we could see the site of the former legendary 500 years old Sessile Oak tree which was burned in the Summer of 2020.     Upon reaching the hamlet of Whiteleaved Oak where the boundaries of the 3 counties of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester meet and stocks are displayed, we took the Worcester fork and climbed into an oak tree wood.   The first 15 metres of so were very muddy but fortunately none of us lost our footing.   Coming out of the wood, we were then back at Hollybush for a change of shoes and then on to The Duke of York for our lunch.

Whiteleaved Oak valley is named after a Whiteleaved Oak tree that was cut down in Victorian Times, rather than the burned Sessile Oak tree.   After it was burned, some cuttings were taken to be grown in the village but they did not survive.   A project has now been set up by Gary Biltcliffe to grow rare Whiteleaved Oaks in memory of this Sessile oak.   The plan is to re-introduce the Whiteleaved or Variegated Oak Quercus Robur “Albomarmarata” to the valley.    These rare Whiteleaved Oak trees can be found in Westonbirt Arboretum near Cirencester, Childwell Park, Liverpool and the National Trust property, Biddulph Grange in Stoke on Trent,

Thank you, Linda, who is a new member, and her husband Ken for leading the walk. (Thanks also to Paul for the wonderful report ant to Phil for his photos - SF)

The rest of Us

Walk    1611

Wednesday 20 March    4.5 miles. Easy/Moderate       possible pub lunch
Meet        Bourton Vale Car Park GL54 2LU Fee of £6 for 4 hours for a 10:00 start
Contact    Andrea and Bob on randawalton@googlemail.com or 01684 294676 the week before
Directions    A46 through Ashchurch, then B4077 turning right onto Buckle Street, signposted to Bourton on the Water, cross the A429 onto Lansdowne Rd, to the High Street, car park is on this road.
Details        This is a circular walk, from Bourton to the village of Wick Rissington and back, mostly through countryside but some sections on roads and lanes. It is mostly flat but with a 44 metre rise overall. It could be muddy as it is mostly on low lying ground.

Andrea led 16 of us from the Village Inn in Twyning , as an alternative to their advertised walk.
Following the footpaths towards Church End we encountered the only patch of mud on the walk.
We crossed the Ace cross country field and skirted the village to our coffee break viewing the "New Manor".
The climb up to Hillend took us past a beautiful cherry tree, which gave us a photo opportunity.
Back to Lunch at the Village Inn and thanks to Bob and Andrea for arranging a pleasant end to the walk.
(THanks to Sonia for the report and to Andrea for the lovely Spring photo - SF)

Blossom

Walk    1612   Cancelled for personal reasons

Thursday 21 March        6 miles    Moderate        Pub lunch
Meet        Beauchamp Arms, Dymock GL18 2AQ Grid 700312 9.30 for 9.45 start.
Contact    Terry and Margaret 01684 7722278 the week before
Directions    M50 to J2 Right over motorway on A417, Left in half mile through Bromsberrow Heath & Brooms Green to B4216. At Greenwood, turn left to Dymock 1 mile, turn right, pub on right, parking on left and in field if possible.
Details    Another walk in search of daffodils. Some fairly easy undulation, with a few Stiles and muddy patches. Mainly on field, track and quiet lanes.
Lunch: please choose from the pub menu when booking the walk the week before.

report

Walk    1613

Wednesday 27 March    5 miles   Easy/Moderate    Possible NT cafe lunch
Meet        Woodchester Park NT Buckholt car park - off B4066 Stroud to Dursley road, Grid 797015 (1 km NW from Nympsfield village GL10 3UA)   09.45 for a 10.00am start
Contact    Hugh and Sue 01452 780460     the week before
Directions    M5 J13, then A417 towards Stroud, at roundabout just before Stroud take B4066 towards Dursley, follow the brown signs from the B4066 to NT Woodchester Park. Park in NT Buckholt car park, free for NT and NT for Scotland members. £3 all day for non-NT members (no change from ticket machine). Note: do not follow signs to Woodchester Mansion or NT directions to the NT Tinkley Gate car park.
Details    A walk along the north side of Woodchester Park lakes, and returning along the south side; mainly following contour lines but with some gentle uphill slopes. Forest tracks and footpaths, no stiles.
Possible lunch at NT cafe at Tinkley Gate, use postcode GL10 3UH to find. Sadly the pub in Nympsfield is closed and for sale.

‘A brave twenty of us made are our way to the car park at Woodchester Park on a cold and soggy morning. We set off for our walk around the lakes and we were rewarded by the rain eventually ceasing and we had a pleasant walk through the woods and along the lakeside(s). The smell of garlic beginning to appear was evidence of spring along with one or two bluebells. Most of us had a tasty lunch in the NT cafe at Tinkley Gate’(Report by Meg, photos by Sylvia ans Jim)

April 2024

Walk    1614

Thursday 4 April    5 miles     Mod/Energetic         Picnic lunch at end of walk
Meet        Mill Pond, Golden Valley, Hollybed Common, Near Malvern, WR13 6AA, Grid 777371 for a 10.00a.m. start
Contact    Graham & Betty   01684 594331 or email graham.mealand@btinternet.com the week before.
Directions    A438 Tewkesbury-Ledbury Rd. After Duke of York pub, turn right at X.roads onto B4208. In 1.5 miles turn left signed Golden Valley, park near Mill Pond in 0.5 mile.
Details    Great views from Golden Valley, as we gradually climb towards the Malverns across commons, then steepish past British Camp reservoir before refreshments at British Camp cafe/toilets. Return lower slopes of British Camp to Castlemorton Common, retracing path to Mill Pond. Picnic by Pond if weather favourable.

Please note that Graham and Betty's landline telephone 01684594331 is not working at the moment but their mobile telephone 07587813326 and email address are OK.

As we met together by the duck pond on Castlemorton Common we were so glad the BBC weather had changed from it’s original rainy forecast to a more promising walk. However, when the 14 of us set forth the deluge from the night before greeted our footsteps as we sloshed forward. It’s a trek that most of us had done before and we soon forgot our waterlogged feet as we caught up on news .
A water stop on the edge of the common about half way towards the British Camp Kiosk coffee stop refreshed us before the steep upward climb by the side of the now full reservoir. The best way to survive this ascent is to enjoy an interesting conversation as you climb and you don’t notice the pain! We soon ordered a variety of drinks and eats at the Kiosk but beware the pizza size Bacon Butty ( ask Noel for details)
Mums & children enjoying the last days of the Easter school holidays walked with us as we started on the second half of our walk on firmer footpaths along the side of the British Camp. But another crossing of that Common had to be tackled as we sloshed our way back to the cars for a picnic lunch , taking care to hide from the ducks! Boot cleaning ahead back home but we survived a wetter than usual underfoot experience. (Report and photos by Graham)

Stroll

Tuesday 9 April    1.25 miles        Forthampton village
Meet        Forthampton village hall car park    GL19 4QB   Grid 854326 for a 10.30 am start
Contact    Hugh         01452 780460    the week before
Directions    Over Mythe bridge then A438 Ledbury road for about 2 miles, turn left to Forthampton. At cross roads in village, straight over on no through road, village hall car park on right after 200 metres.
Details    Mainly metalled lanes with about 600 metres in the middle on an easy footpath alongside fields. One short downhill section to begin with and one gentle uphill section to finish. No stiles. Unsuitable for mobility scooters on footpath section.

report

Walk    1615

Thursday 11 April    4 miles    Moderate    Lunch at the Orchard Restaurant at Hayles Fruit Farm.
Meet        Hayles Fruit Farm, GL54 5PB Grid 054298 for a 10.00 start. Ignore signs to the campsite on the left, where the lane ends, turn right to the farm. After *parking (see below), collect a parking ticket from the restaurant.
Contact    Linda on 01684 772030 Choose lunch from website menu and give order when phoning to book for walk by Friday 5th April.
Directions    A46 from Tewkesbury to Teddington Hands roundabout, then third exit onto B4077 to Toddington. Turn right at roundabout 2nd exit onto B4632 (sp. Winchcombe) then 3rd left on lane following signs to Hayles Fruit Farm. *Drive through the first car park and follow the track past the farm buildings to the second (tarmac) car park on the left.
Details    An initial climb taken gently onto the Cotswolds, then through the Farmcotes and back past Hailes Abbey. Tracks, lanes and the Gloucestershire Way. No stiles. Good views on a clear day.

report

Walk    1616

Thursday 18 April    6 miles    Moderate/Energetic             Lunch Pub/Picnic
Meet        Green Dragon Pub Cockleford GL53 9NW       Grid 971141    10.00 Start
Contact    Sonia        01684 298409    the week before
Directions    M5 South to J11A, A 417, A436 to Seven Springs, A435 towards Colesbourne. Third turning on the right to Cockleford. Car Park off lane opposite.
Details    A walk on quiet lanes, fields and tracks through attractive Cotswold villages
with views over the Churn Valley. One steady uphill climb, one downhill section with possible loose stones and several stiles.
N.B. We have to cross the busy A 436 opposite The Hungry Horse Pub, so we will need to cross with caution. Will advise necessity to book Pub in April on booking.

report

Walk    1617

Wednesday 24 April     5 miles    Moderate        Pub Lunch
Meet        Royal Oak, Bredon GL20 7LW    Grid SO 925 369      9.45 for a 10am start
Contact    Mike and Jenny    01684 772194        the week before
Directions    B4080 from Tewkesbury. Royal Oak is on your right before the railway bridge. Car park is behind the pub.
Details    We walk to Bredons Norton for a coffee stop in Northcroft garden where the fritillaries may still be in flower. We return via Westmancote. Mainly field walking, two stiles.
Lunch   1.15pm. Order when you book. Menu on main u3a website – groups – walking - upcoming walks.

report

Walk    1618

Thursday 25 April        4 miles    Moderate        Hotel lunch
Meet         The Slaughters Country Inn, LOWER Slaughter, GL54 2HS, Grid 165225. Car park behind the inn. If not having lunch, park on straight road outside inn or outside church 50m away, order lunch from 9.30 for a 10.00am start.
Contact     Noel   01684 772526 or ngslaney@gmail.com   the week before
Directions    B4077 to Toddington and Ford. After 1mile or so (crossroads) turn right onto long, straightish country lane for 4miles crossing over B4068; 1mile later turn left onto narrow lane for the Slaughters. Turn 1st right, then 1st left for Lower Slaughter, Inn on right.
Details    Paths and lanes around the two Slaughters; soft going on some low lying paths with 3 short, gentle climbs. No stiles. Views of Bourton Vale and Wolds.
Lunch menu at https://www.theslaughtersinn.co.uk/dining-drinking/restaurant-bar. Note this is a comparatively expensive 3 star hotel e.g. soup £8.50, baguettes £11ish.

Notes for Guidance
        Information for all members (revised July 2020)
Group Leader        Walks Co-ordinator                  Treasurer
Sylvia Murdoch        Hugh Bennett                              Tony Barrett
01684 437462                          01452 780460    01684 276960
sylviamurdoch@outlook.com     candhbennett@gmail.com tonyandjenniferbarrett@btinternet.com

Walking Group mobile phones: 07546069085 and 07522958435

Details of all walks and reports can be seen at http://home.freeuk.net/stanfagg/u3a.html

Walks are graded to give some idea of what to expect:

Stroll: A short walk at an easy pace with frequent stops. Warning is given about inclines or difficulties

Easy: Undemanding and mainly level with occasional gentle ascents or descents. There may be a few stiles.

Moderate: Some uphill/downhill stretches “ uneven walking“ several stiles.

Energetic: Some longer steep hills and rough ground - may be many stiles.

Please book with the leader of the walk by the date given and arrive in good time before the start to boot-up and order lunch etc. Be sure to cancel with the leader if you are subsequently unable to take part; one of the group phones will be turned on on the morning of the walk so that you can make contact in the event of a last minute delay or you become lost.
Wear suitable shoes/boots and clothing for the walk and do not over-estimate your abilities.
An attendance fee of 50p is charged for each walk attended.
Dogs are not allowed on walks.
Members may bring a guest but the guest must not displace a member if spaces on the walk are limited.
We usually stop for a 15-20 minute coffee-break after about an hour; so, as well as refreshments, something to sit on can be useful on wet ground.

SAFETY POLICY

Walkers

Carefully read the walk description to ensure that you are capable of walking the route at a moderate pace (about 2 miles per hour) without risk to health. Remember that a short moderate walk may be more demanding than a longer easy one.

Dress sensibly. Make sure that you have suitable clothing and footwear for the weather expected. A walking pole or stick can be of great help.

Remember to carry any medications that you might need. There will normally be a coffee stop so carry food, and water, especially on hot days. It is sensible to carry a small first aid kit. A whistle is a good way of attracting attention if you need help.

Follow instructions given by the leader. Keep those in front and those behind you, in sight all the time.

Keep to the route indicated by the leader: do not devise shorts cuts, etc. If you wish to leave the walk, you must let the leader know.

Walk in single file on roads and heed any advice about crossing roads given by the leader.

Be aware of the danger from ticks and hence tick-borne diseases, particularly in the summer months and near animals. Dress appropriately, e.g. long trousers rather than shorts; trousers tucked into boots, socks or gaiters.

Each walker is ultimately responsible for carrying out a personal risk assessment for every walk they undertake.

Carry identification in case of accident: name, date of birth, emergency contact number, doctor's number, essential medications. (ICE Card)

Carry your U3A membership card which may be checked.

Leaders

    Classify your walk as STROLL/EASY/MODERATE/ENERGETIC. Mention any steep     climbs and stiles.

    Aim to carry out a walk-over (with your co-leader) of your proposed route not more than     two weeks beforehand.

    Consider all the points in the national U3A walk leaders risk assessment (attached below).     Take action as you consider necessary.

    Limit your walk to a maximum number that you think you can safely manage.

    Have a co-leader to act as back-marker: count the party at the start and at suitable points during the walk. The back marker needs to know the planned route in case the party gets split.

    Liaise with Sylvia Murdoch to obtain the leader's pack (contains: phone & charger, first aid kit, hi-viz vests)

    Carry the walking group first aid kit; however remember that you may not be qualified to give medical advice. However there may well be a member with medical training and experience on the walk.

    Set a pace of about 2 miles per hour plus coffee and lunch/tea stops. Indicate on walk details if lunch is to be late. Ensure that those finding the pace difficult have sufficient time to rest and recover, even if this is not favoured by more energetic members.

    Carry a map, the group mobile phone (as well as your own). A GPS receiver is useful for pinpointing location. Switch on the group mobile phone before you leave home and keep it on until the walk is over.

    If your walk is along roads where traffic is expected, use the Group yellow vests for the leader and back-marker. Walk in single file and face on-coming traffic except where visibility is obscured.

Ask for volunteers to write a report on and take photos of the walk and forward them to:     stanfagg@btinternet.com.

Having collected 50p from each walker, pass the money together with a note of date, walk number, number of walkers and total to Tony Barrett or Sylvia Murdoch.

General Information

Walkers on the email list will be sent full details of walks every other month. If you require a paper copy of the walking programme, there is a charge of Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£4 p.a., payable at the Walking Group AGM or the Enrolment Meeting. This will be sent to you by post.

Reports on walks already done can be seen at http://home.freeuk.net/stanfagg/u3a.html

We are affiliated to the Ramblers Association and the membership card may be used to obtain a 10% discount on walking gear in most local outlets. Please contact Richard Hart or Tony Barrett if you need a copy of the card.

All walkers and leaders are covered by U3A third party insurance even in the case of negligence, although it is assumed that all will conduct themselves with common sense.

Walk Details

Leaders, when sending details of their walks to the walks coordinator for inclusion in future programmes, need to supply the following details:
    Preferred date; length of the walk; grade, i.e. stroll/easy/moderate/energetic; lunch arrangements, e.g. pub, picnic etc
    Meeting Place with post code and/or grid reference; meet time and start time.
    Directions to the meeting place
    Details of the walk, e.g. outline of the route; type and state of ground; steep gradients;     number of stiles.
    Any special instructions or information.
.

Nearly all the photos on this page have been reduced in size and resolution to save both space and bandwidth. Should you want a copy of any of the photos, Stan would be happy to supply a copy of the original file - just quote the walk number and the photo title.