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Ramblers Group
Co-ordinator — Martin Richards
This is a very active, popular and sociable group who enjoy each other’s company while tramping the local fields, highways and byways, marvelling at the wonderful Warwickshire scenery so close to us.
We meet twice a month, on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Wednesday at 10.00 am. Details of the next walk are given below.
We have a number of walk leaders, from the membership, who take it in turn to select a walk of about 5 to 6 miles. They choose where to go and where we meet. Newer members are encouraged to offer to lead a walk either singly, as a couple or a small group, after they have settled in with us but there is no compunction to do so!
We try to start within 10 miles of Balsall Common and most frequently find pub car parks very suitable for our starting/finishing points! Many members stay for a drink and/or a meal after the walk.
The membership of the group is about 80 of whom most are active.
A walk averages around 18–25 members with a high of 36! Walks take place in most kinds of weather with one major exception being snow!The cost is very low — there is a joining fee of £2 and to date no other costs. However, members are asked to pay for their own drinks/meals after a walk!
With the joining fee money raised so far we have bought and kept up to date three first aid kits for the leaders to take on their walks and future funds will be available to buy maps, written up walks, etc.
If you would like to join or require any other information please contact Martin Richards (the co-ordinator) by telephone: 01676 533429, or email: ramblers@balsallcommonu3a.org. Prospective new members can also "try us out" by just turning up at a walk starting point and joining us for that particular walk. Please note, however, if you are not already a u3a member you will not be covered by the u3a insurance scheme. Following that if you wish to continue you will need to join the u3a and the Ramblers group.
If anyone wants to lead a walk please contact the co-ordinator. Lots of help is at hand for anyone who has never led a walk before.
If anyone wants to create a ramble route, either for the U3A or for personal reasons try out the following site: http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm
Millennium Way website — lists of walks
For Archived Photographs for the years 2011 to 2017 Please Click Here
The archive is on the members Page so Username and password required
If you have forgotten them please click here
For Photographs of Ramblers in 2018 Click Here
For Photographs of Ramblers in 2019 Click Here
For Photographs of Ramblers in 2020 / 2021 Click Here
For Photographs of Ramblers in 2022 Click Here
From 19th July 2021 all Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, however walkers must read the new Ramblers Risk assessment shown below.
Click here to see Ramblers Risk Assessment Statement updated 21st July 2021
First October Walk 2022
When: Tuesday 4th October 2022
Where: Hockley Heath/Umberslade (approx. 4 miles)
Meet: 10:00 Car park of Wharf Tavern, 2390 Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, B94 6QT
Travel Directions: Approx 8 miles/18 mins by car. From BC Balsall St. B4101 turn left into Watery Lane. Continue to Warwick Road A4141, TR. After approx half mile turn left onto Norton Green Lane, continuing on to Darley Green Rd, then Packwood Rd (approx. 1.7 miles). Turn right into Vicarage Rd. Remain on Vicarage Rd turning left at first cross onto Aylesbury Rd/B4101 till reach Miller and Carter pub on corner of Stratford Rd/A3400. Turn left.
Wharf Tavern is short way down on right hand side (opposite Rybrook Garage).Parking: Please note parking charges now apply at Wharf Tavern, but free if staying for lunch. Please provide registration details at same time as lunch order.
Otherwise pay by phone 2 hours £2 or 4 hours £4 as per signage on entry.
Alternatively free parking is available in Council owned car park on opposite side of road at rear of Rybrook garage on Old Warwick Road. Look out for painted yellow entry barrier. Only steps away.Walk Description: Approx 4 miles. From Wharf Tavern walk left along Stratford Canal to Drawbridge (28). Mostly easy canal, field and path walking with some inclines.
Area a little overgrown in second part of walk, so long trousers advised. Walk crosses over A34 at one point, so care advised. Some stiles in second half of walk, one or two of which are quite challenging. Will try to identify workarounds where possible on final recce. Walk continues close by Nuthurst Grange then up to dairy farm opposite the 70 foot tall historic (1749) obelisk overlooking M40. Photo opp.?
"Farmer Teds Shed" offers hot and cold drinks, snacks and milk (vending machine accepts cards). Walk passes through the farm (livestock safely in sheds, not fields) to reach Umberslade Church. Short stretch of road walking back to pub.Afterwards: Pub has limited kitchen staff in October so specific orders will be required in advance. See website for details.
Standard pub options www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/west-midlands/wharf-tavern/
Orders please by latest Sunday 2nd October, with car reg details where applicable, table for 10 provisionally booked, merrylmuat@hotmail.com.Walk Leaders: Merryl Muat 07952 281917 and 01564 772221
Christine Harris 07845 467233 and 01676 523140
Second October Walk 2022
When: Wednesday 19th October 2022
Where: Wootton Wawen
Meet: 10:00 Navigation Inn, Stratford Road, Wootton Wawen, B95 6BZ. The pub says that the doors should be open before the walk, allowing use of the toilets if desired.
Travel Directions: (12m, 20mins). Take the A452 towards Kenilworth out of BC. TR at Meer End onto A4177 towards Warwick. At 5 ways roundabout take 2nd L towards Shrewley and Claverdon. Continue to Claverdon where you TR onto A4189 towards Henley in A. Shortly after the Crab Mill pub (now closed) TL onto Pettiford Lane and continue to the T junction with the A3400. Here TL and the pub is on the LHS just after the bridge.
Walk Description: We leave the pub to walk along the Stratford canal before turning right to go through the top of Austy wood and down to Cutlers Farm, across fields towards Langley and return to Cutlers farm via Knowles wood; we then return to Austy wood, but take a different route downhill to cross arable fields to the main road and back to the pub. It is six miles, with no stiles; no sheep or cows were met on the recce, but there is a short steep climb on the way back, up to Austy wood from Cutlers farm.
Afterwards: Could those intending to stay for lunch please let me know by 6pm on Tuesday 18th October so that I can let the pub know the number. There is no need to pre-order. They have a Facebook page, but not a website; the lunch menu (not on the Facebook page) includes a reasonable range of mains, light bites and sandwiches.
Walk Leader: Geoff Kennedy, tel: 01676 535094, email: kennedy@tiscali.co.uk
Covid Precautions: Please see latest Ramblers Risk Assessment
Walk Leaders 2022
04/01/2022
Liz Cowley & Sheila Jones
19/01/2022
Barbara & Phil Hammonds
01/02/2022
Jim/Bernie Henry
16/02/2022
Martin Richards
01/03/2022
Keith Simpson
16/03/2022
Juliet Hancox
05/04/2022
Peter Calver
20/04/2022
Liz Cowley & Sheila Jones
03/05/2022
Matthew Stephens
18/05/2022
Leslie and Carolyn
de Chernatony07/06/2022
Alan Buckland
15/06/2022
Sandra Heard &
Frances Critoph05/07/2022
Lynn & Tony Brinkworth
20/07/2022
Keith Simpson
02/08/2022
Peter Calver
17/08/2022
Geoff Kennedy
06/09/2022
Richard Drake
21/09/2022
Richard Glynn
04/10/2022
Merryl Muat and
Christine Harris19/10/2022
Geoff Kennedy
01/11/2022
Matthew Stephens
16/11/2022
Alan Buckland
06/12/2022
Richard Drake
21/12/2022
no walk - Xmas lunch?