Blockley Ramblers


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:

  • encouraging interest in the Cotswolds

  • making the public aware of the work Wardens do

  • recruiting new Warden

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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