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Blockley
Ramblers News – 22 February 2008
Message from Edwina
Edwina, who stepped down as Chairperson of Blockley
Ramblers at the AGM on 19 November after seven years in the post, says
she wants to thank everyone for the ‘delightful arts & crafts’ gift that
was presented to her at that meeting. She adds that she generally
enjoyed her role so much that she ‘did not deserve a reward’. This is
one occasion on which members would surely want to beg to differ with
her.
Mid-week walks
Blockley Ramblers now walk mid-week as well as on
Sundays. Depending on Bank Holidays, mid-week walks are being arranged
for the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month, the Tuesday
walks being similar in length to the Sunday’s i.e. around 4-5 miles,
with the Thursday ones being longer (8-9 miles), with a pub or picnic
lunch.
Details of the March and April’s midweek walks are as
follows:
Tuesday 4 March
The local ‘Bs’:
Blockley, Batsford Garden Centre, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Bourton Woods,
Blockley Easy 5 miles. Meet Bus Shelter @ 10.00
Thursday 27 March
A Ford figure of 8:
Ford, Taddington, Ford, Temple Guiting, Ford Moderate 8 miles with
lunch in Ford (Plough Inn). Meet Ford (Plough Inn) @ 10.00
Tuesday 1 April
Coffee in Campden?:
Fish Hill (above Broadway) – Chipping Campden – Broad Campden -
Blockley Easy 5 miles. Meet Lower Street bus stop to catch 9.41 bus to
Broadway Tower Park
Thursday 19 April
North Meadow, Cricklade:
a stroll along the Thames Path and around the English Nature reserve to
see the famous fritillaries. Meet pay & display car park in Cricklade
High Street @ 10.30
Suggestions for future walks will be gratefully
received. Please email details to
keithsisson@hotmail.co.uk
Cotswolds Wardens
Parish Wardens
The Cotswolds Wardens undertake a variety of activities to help sustain
and improve the amenities of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
that is the Cotswolds. One of these, the job of so-called Parish
Wardens, is walking local footpaths and liaising with the relevant
Gloucestershire County Council officers in the event of problems such as
broken stiles or fallen trees. Blockley, which is one of the largest
parishes in the north Cotswolds, has a number of such Wardens, each of
whom has responsibility for a different group of footpaths: Paul Adams,
Chris Blewitt and Emma Blewitt, Dick Robinson and Keith Sisson. If you
come across a problem on a footpath in the parish during your walking,
please let
keithsisson@hotmail.co.uk know in the first instance.
Wardens' Week 24 May-1 June 2008
2008 will be the 40th Anniversary of the
Cotswold Wardens. To mark their anniversary, the Wardens will be
undertaking a range of activities throughout the AONB in the half term
week of 24 May-1 June 2008 with the objectives of:
One of these activities will be a series of short walks
of around two hours that are suitable for all-comers. The intention is
that each walk will have some environmental, historic or similar
interest, with a time that is likely to encourage a good turn-out. So it
could be daytime or evening, weekday or weekend. The following list
gives a first indication of the walks being scheduled in the North
Cotswold area:
Saturday 24 May at 10.30
Broadway Parish Walk: See the Ducks on the Pond
A gentle walk from Broadway High Street through the Farncombe Estate to
Willersey; pass the duck pond and return.
Meet at Broadway, Leamington Road car park (pay and display) OS
Leisure: 45/099 375 E2
With David Jelfs
2.5 hours 4.5 miles Easy
Saturday 24 May at 14.30
Chipping Campden Town Walk: A tour of the beautiful and historic town of
Chipping Campden
A guided walk along some of Campden's beautiful streets with an
explanation of the history of the town houses.
Meet at Chipping Campden Market Hall OS Leisure: 45/152 392 F2
With Ann Colcomb
1.5 hours 1.5 miles Easy
Sunday 25 May at 14.30
Ebrington Parish Walk: Fishponds, Salmon and Canning
To Foxcote House via Longmoor and return via bridle way.
Meet at Ebrington Village Hall
With Dick & Christine Cluley F2
2.5 hours 3.5 miles Easy
Monday 26 May at 18.00
Stow & Maugersbury Town Walk
An evening stroll around this historic market town and its manor,
covering lots of local history on the way.
Meet at The Old Stocks – Market Square. OS Leisure: 45/192 259 F3
With Ian Chalmers
1.5 hours 2 miles Easy – Suitable for 4x4 buggies
Tuesday 27 May at 10.00
Alderton Parish Walk: In the paw prints of the Panther?
A walk from Alderton village hall across the fields Dixton Hill and
return. Suitable for families.
Meet at Alderton Village Hall OS: 150/000 332 D2
With Ted & Pauline Hodgkins
2.5 hours 4.5 miles Easy
Tuesday 27 May at 10.00
Sherborne Parish Walk: Around the Water Meadows
Details tbc G5?
With Ann Harris
Wednesday 28 May at 10.00
Broadway Parish Walk: See the Wardens' Work around Broadway
A short stile-free walk to see wall rebuilding below Broadway Tower and
the success of the Millennium Wood project.
Meet at Broadway, Shear House car park, Leamington Road OS Leisure:
45/099377 E2
With Stuart Bates & Gordon Franks
1.5 hours 2.5 miles Moderate
Wednesday 28 May at 10.00
Half Term Family Friendly Walk: Dale's Tales- a farmer's secrets
Hear about country life in the north Cotswolds from Bourton-on-the-Hill
farmer Robin Dale. A very short, easy walk suitable for young and old.
Starting Point: From the A44 above Bourton-on-the-Hill, take the B4479
(signed Blockley). After 300 yards take the first right turn and look
out for the 'Walk Starts Here' sign. OS Leisure: 45/169 331 F3
With Mike Matthews & Stephen Wright
2 hours 1 miles Easy
Wednesday 28 May 28 at 10.30
Winchcombe Town Walk: A tour of this historic town
A guided walk around this ancient historic town. Suitable for families.
Meet at Winchcombe Library car park OS Leisure: 45/025 284 D3
With Bob Cox
2 hours 2 miles Easy
Wednesday 28 May at 18.00
Adlesdrop Village Walk: I remember Adlestrop
An evening amble around this unspoilt village, with bags of local
history en route.
Meet at Adlestrop Village Hall OS Leisure: 45/242 272
With Michael Banks & Ian Chalmers
1.5 hours 2 miles approx Easy – Suitable for families but no
buggies.
Wednesday 28 May 18.30
Conderton Parish Walk: Breathtaking views from Bredon Hill
A circular walk from Conderton towards Grafton, returning via Conderton
Iron Age Fort. Lovely far-reaching views. Optional pub drinks/meal
afterwards at the Yew Tree Inn 01386 725364 for meals
Meet in Conderton Village above Yew Tree Pub. OS Explorer: 14 SO/965
371 D2
With Sue Chandler
2 hours 4 miles A few short steep sections, may be muddy in places.
Wednesday 28 May at 18.30
Beckford Parish Walk: An Evening Stroll on Bredon Hill
A walk from Beckford, up Bredon Hill (meeting walkers from Conderton)
and through the woods towards Grafton, then to Conderton via the Iron
Age Fort. Lovely far-reaching views. Pub visit at the Yew Tree Inn
before returning to Beckford.
Meet at Beckford Church. OS Explorer: 14 SO/976 359 D2
With Vivienne McGhee
Estimated return time 21.00.
Thursday 29 May at 18.30
Elmley Castle Parish Walk: An Evening Stroll on Bredon Hill
A walk from Elmley Castle, around Bredon Hill, towards Great Comberton
and upwards to the Banbury Stone before returning to Elmley Castle.
Lovely far reaching views.
Meet at Elmley Castle Church. OS Explorer: 14 SO/982 411 D2
With Vivienne McGhee
Time/Distance
Thursday 29 May at 18.30
An Evening Stroll on Bredon Hill – meeting up with walkers from Elmley
Castle
A walk from Great Comberton, around Bredon Hill, towards Elmley Castle
and upwards to the Banbury Stone before returning to Great Comberton.
Lovely far reaching views.
Meet at Great Comberton Church. OS Explorer: 14 SO/954 421 D2
With Sue Greenwood
Time/Distance
Friday 30 May
at 10.30
Blockley Parish Walk: ‘Discover Bourton Woods’
With Dick Robinson & Keith Sisson
Walk along the High Street and enter the
woods at Dovedale. Meet the Forestry Manager and explore this beautiful
managed wood.
Meet by Blockley Post Office OS Explorer: 45/164 349
2 hours 3 miles Couple of short steep sections, may be muddy in
places.
Saturday 31 May at 14.00
Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Walk: Away from the crowds – A Stroll on
Footpaths around Bourton-on-the-Water
The walk passes through the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature
reserve which includes Salmonsbury Camp Scheduled Ancient Monument. The
return route passes around lakes at the edge of the village on which a
variety of birds may be seen.
Meet at the War Memorial, Bourton-on-the-Water Village Green OS
Leisure: 45/167 207 F4
With John Foster
1.5 hours 2.5 miles
Easy
Sunday 1 June at 14.30
Mickleton Parish Walk: 'Mickleton....deserves more than a passing
notice’
'Even a glimpse …. must rouse both envy and curiosity’ (Highways and
Byways of Oxford & Cotswolds 1905). Check this out with a parish walk.
Meet at St. Lawrence’s Church, Mickleton F2With John & Pauline Medlyn
3 hours 4 miles (approx) Initial climb to Baker’s Hill Woods
Sunday 1 June at 14.30
Ilmington Parish Walk : The Battle of Lark Stoke
A chance to re-enact the
1644 Battle of Lark Stoke.
Meet at Saint Mary’s
Church, Ilmington F2
With Stephen Wright & Mike Matthews
3 hours 3 miles Initial steep climb
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