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A walk number that is underlined has been altered since its original posting or is a new inclusion
Earlier walk programmes have now been removed from the web pages to save space, but copies including the reviews going back to 2001 may be obtained from Stan
Walking Group Mobile phone numbers are : 0754 6069085, 0752 2958435 & 0735 4800839 - Please note that the phones will only be operative on the morning of a walk to enable members who are running late, are lost or delayed, to contact the walk leader. If one number does not work, try the other
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.
Seventeen
of us set off from Croome car park on a cloudy morning after a
frost, not the brightest day of the week, although we did see the
sun briefly later. Sonia had information and anecdotes along the
route, about Croome Estates and the people who lived and worked
there, which made the walk very interesting, and there was a
lovely view over the lake from Park Seat where we had our coffee
break. Those with arthritis or feeling fragile were allowed on the
seat first, which pleased me! There was lunch to look forward to
afterwards in the canteen back at Croome. This was my first group
walk after a long break because of ill health. Sonia introduced me
at the start and everyone was very friendly; I look forward to my
next walk.
( Thanks go to Linda for her report and to Margaret and Terry for
the Photos - SF)
Ready then? (Margaret)
Some garden gate! (Margaret)
Coffee break (Margaret)
Three . . . . ?
(Terry)
(Thanks to Noel for his usual most literate report, and to the ever reliable Margret for the photos - SF)
Details The paths will be wet and slippery so the route may be adjusted if yet more rain has fallen. To make it a circular route, we proceed towards the hill, pass by the turn up the tarmac road to Lalu farm and then right along Pigeon Lane. After the 2 cottages and barn we turn left up the stoney land and past barns where the path opens out into farmland. We continue to the Scots pines and rest for coffee at the bench at the escarpment woods. We return to the pines and turn right. The track here is always muddy so care must be taken. Eventually we join the tarmac road to the BT tower and continue to the crossroads and turn right, pass Lalu farm and finally reach the summit stone. If fine we can have an early lunch or at least a snack. We then return to the crossroads and down the road to Overbury.
9 Walkers gathered in their long-johns (if they had any sense) to set off for the assault on Bredon Hill, led by Geoff.
As per plan, we ascended along Pigeon Lane and it wasn't long before we reached almost the top and the seat on the ‘Wychavon Way’. I say "the seat" - there is probably more than one.
It was now clear that the whole part was suffering from wind, and a cold wind at that so we dipped down below the ridge to have a quick drink and recharge.
It was here we met another group of fools [walkers] coming in the other direction, we can only hope they were prepared for the conditions they were about to meet.
Being too late to change diet, it was decided instead to change the direction of the walk to limit the wind that way.
So instead of struggling to reach the tower, it was prudent to have wind assist and walk in the opposite direction. Somewhere above Beckford, we nestled in a hollow to have our sarnies and whatever remained of our drink.
Before continuing on and reaching our starting point all wind-blown - but happy!
Much thanks to Geoff, the descendant of a famous Arctic explorer (possibly), for leading and being so experienced to be able to re-route at a moment’s notice.
Report from Calvyn; photos by Geoff and Website by “Stub”
There were 11 of us on this grey cool morning, assembled at the Stroud Brewery to commence our walk to Wallbridge and back. More dredging had been done since our last visit 2 weeks ago, and some hedge had been neatly laid. We had a new member, Claire, today, who seemed to enjoy the walk and our company. The Frome river was in spate following last night's rain, making quite a contrast with the still waters of the Thames-Severn canal. We witnessed a reed-cutting barge travelling through one of the locks.A varied lunch was promptly provided by the brewery along with their tasty brew.
Many thanks to Mike for leading the walk, writing the report and even providing photos together with Guy! Top Man! - website by “Stub”
1. Meeting the reed cutter with a Volunteer
2. A Winter’s Day, Reflecting Along the Canal
3. The River Frome in spate under a Viaduct
4. An Exercise in Transport Perspective?
Walk 1604a (New walk)
Thursday 8
February
5 miles Mod/Energetic Pub Lunch
Meet
The Wyche inn,
Upper
Wyche, Malvern, WR14 4EQ GR 770438 9.30am to Order Food
Contact
Graham &
Betty
Tel: 01684 594331 or email:
graham.mealand@btinternet.com the week before.
Directions
A438 Tewkesbury-LedburyRd, Turn left A449 at Malvern
Hills Hotel, 2.5 miles towards The Wyche then turn right on B4232 with
roadside parking nearby.( The Wyche Inn is at the top of the hill on
B4232 just round the bend on left.)
Details
From the Wyche, walk on lower slopes on the eastern side of the
Malverns to British Camp, returning on the lower path on the western
side, back for lunch by approx 1pm at The Wyche Inn.
After
a late rescheduling because of expected heavy rain the walk took
place a day earlier than originally planned. Sadly only 9 of the
19 who had booked for the Thursday could manage this, so a reduced
number met at The Wyche Inn on a grey, but dry, day to set off on
this lovely walk along the sides of the Malverns. The first side
was what Betty euphemistically called ‘undulating’ and up and down
we went enjoying the challenge eventually arriving at British
Camp. The second half of the walk on the other side was
comparatively smooth going and a chance to catch up on
conversations with fellow walkers. We arrived back at the Inn
where many enjoyed their pre ordered lunches (beware, the soup may
not be as described!).
Thanks to Betty and Graham for this enjoyable walk. Thanks also to Andrea for her report, and to Graham for his photos - SF)
Firstly, the weather looked “ok” as 16 of us gathered near the Yew Tree pub at Conderton, where some of us would be eating later. We looked forward to being led by Noel who knows the area so well after being a member of our walking group for many years.
Off we went, anticipating our climb to Cobblers Quarry so, walking polls to the ready, and we were only to enjoy an early pause, as Noel mentioned how the COCO (Conderton & Overbury Community Orchard) group are protecting the orchard that we were passing.
Onwards and upwards to Shalden Farm, where the ever-welcome coffee stop awaited - these days I have become reluctant to sit with my back against a wall as I fear not being able to get up again! However, hill walking beckoned, as we looked forward to views from the higher slopes of Bredon Hill not forgetting the promise of Spring as we saw early daffodils and snowdrops.
It was actually sunny and warm - so our walk became even more enjoyable as we passed The Belt and started to descend through Overbury Wood.
It might be appropriate to mention the writings of local poet A. E, Housman (born in Bromsgrove) as we were walking through the country he loved so much, particularly "Bredon Hill” from ‘A Shropshire Lad’, published in 1896?
“ In Summertime on Bredon
The bells they sound so clear;
Round both the shires they ring them,
In steeples far and near.
A happy noise to hear.”
Thanks Noel , we always enjoy your walks and also on this occasion the pub grub afterwards!
Report: Graham; and photos: Phil; website “Stub”
3. Attention – [another] Ever-welcome Coffee Stop
4. Inattention: pondering "Bredon Hill”?
Details The walk is on the beacon, along quiet lanes around the Roccoco area if weather permits. (Cancelled due to illness)
Replacement.
Contact Mike & Jenny 01684 772194 the week before. Picnic en route (can call in at The Plough at Ford after the walk)
9.45 for 10am start
3 miles after Ford turn left to Hinchwick ( no signpost) In 1 mile park in muddy layby on your left just past the turn to Hinchwick Manor GL54 1EX grid SP145 301
One steady short uphill through woods at start, the rest udulating.
Easy walking mainly on tracks. One stile
Walk 1607
There
was light rain when the 17 of us arrived at the National Trust car
park. This had stopped by the time were booted and suited,
and we had a dry walk with good views over the Severn valley and
Painswick. The early part of the walk followed the firm limestone
path of the Cotswold Way through Standish Wood. Lanes and tracks
took us to the slope of Vinegar Hill, from whence we began the
more energetic section over sometimes slippery turf and stiles, to
the trig point on Haresfield Beacon and onward to the topograph.
Some of us had booked lunch at the Edgemoor Inn, which was good,
but we were only just in time as 2pm is last orders for food.
Many thanks so Sylvia and John for leading us on a very enjoyable
walk. (Thanks also to Mike for the report - photos by
John W - SF)
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.
Report by Jim; photos by Mike and Website by “Stub”
2. Pondering the Direction of the Nag's Head?
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.
Completely new details as follows:
-------------------------------
Change to walk 1610 Thursday 14th March Now 3.5 miles Moderate, pub lunch
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.
report
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.
report
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
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.
To go to The Tewkesbury U3A main site click here; Tewkesbury U3A
Contacts:
Sylvia (Group Leader) 01684 437462
E Mail sylviamurdoch@outlook.comHugh, (walks coordinator) 01452 780460 E Mail candhbennett@gmail.com
Webmaster . . . Stan Fagg stanfagg@freeuk.com Updated 20th March 2024