Newsletter January to April 2010
From our Chairman
I hope you all enjoy a Merry Christmas and there is much to look forward to in 2010. To start with we have our New Year Dinner on 15th January at the Great House in Sonning. There are still a few places left, so if you would like to join our celebration of 15 years since the Loddon Valley Ramblers were formed, please contact Lynn Bennett (telephone number 01249 462136). As well as a full programme of walks on Thursdays and Sundays, there is a weekend in April in Dartmoor and an October weekend walking in the Mendip Hills (look out for the flyer in the next Newsletter). Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the holiday in Bellevaux next June due to a lack of numbers, but there has been a good response to the proposed holiday in the Pyrenees (Andorra) next September and Nick Price is now finalising this holiday.
Our AGM was held on 4th November and we enjoyed a very interesting talk on walking holidays by Tony Maniscalco from Ramblers World Wide Holidays. I am pleased to report that Chris Robson has been elected as our new Social Secretary and she has started her tenure by organising a skittles evening on 5th March next year (see enclosed flyer). I am also glad to report that all the other ten members of the current committee were re-elected.
Enclosed with this Newsletter is a booklet of walks produced by the Berkshire Area Committee to celebrate the Ramblers 75th Anniversary (1935 – 2010) called “An Invitation to Sixteen Led Walks in Beautiful Berkshire”. This booklet will be Berkshire Area’s major recruitment activity in 2010 and is comprised of walks that each of the eight Groups in Berkshire have agreed to host and lead between March and October 2010 and feature local “treasures” or places and objects of interest. It is hoped that these walks will encourage non-members to try walking as a recreational activity, be it for health reasons, because of an interest in the local countryside or the opportunity to meet new friends. So non-members as well as all RA members are invited to join in these walks. The majority of walks are relatively short and will be taken at a leisurely pace and we hope that as many Group members as possible will join one or more walks during the year. If for any reason, you are unable to make use of the booklet, we would encourage you to pass it on to someone who perhaps would. This might be a relation, a neighbour, a friend, a work colleague or a fellow club member of another activity you are involved with. There is a Ramblers Application Form and Special Offer inside the booklet. Please see the booklet as your recruitment opportunity and your chance to help swell the numbers of the Ramblers, Britain’s biggest walking charity and the main voice for walkers and the protection of our wonderful rights of way heritage.
Lastly, don’t forget the mulled wine and mince pies walk that I will be leading on Sunday 20th December.
David Turner
Chairman
Forthcoming Events
« If you only attend one event next year make it the LVR NEW YEAR DINNER on 15th Jan 2010!
This will certainly be a fun event, and a great opportunity to have a social evening with some of the people you walk with! Only a few places left (at £25 each, includes three course meal, pre-dinner drink and coffee), call Lynn Bennett on 01249 462136
« SKITTLES & SUPPER EVENING 5TH Mar 2010
An annual favourite, not to be missed. This is a very relaxed and fun evening, with good company and conversation guaranteed. Previous experience or skill in Skittles a positive disadvantage! See the flyer enclosed.
« DARTMOOR WEEKEND 30th April 2010
Now fully booked.
« BELLEVAUX WEEK 12th JUNE 2010
Regrettably, this event has been cancelled, as there were insufficient applications to make the holiday viable.
« ANDORRA 18 - 25 SEPTEMBER 2010
There has been a good response from members wishing to go on this holiday, and it is in the final stages of planning. Contact Nick Price quickly (nick@theprices.org.uk) if you would like to be included.
Footpaths
By the time you read this, summer will be a distant memory but I hope like me you enjoyed some nice walking. It was a successful summer for your footpath officer team as they secured a number of footpath repairs and obstruction removals. I would like to extend my thanks to the officers because my role would be difficult without them. I am still looking for a volunteer for the Earley parish.
I would like to use the rest of my available column space to promote Wokingham Borough Council's litter picking weekend which takes place on 20th and 21st March 2010. If, like me, you are interested in cleaning up some of our public footpaths and would like to contact me I will give you all the information you require. You will need to advise me which day you would like to attend and the area you wish to operate in. I will do the initial co-ordination for our members but will ultimately pass you to the relevant parish co-ordinator. This is strictly voluntary and your parish may decide not to take part in the event. If you could let me know as soon as possible so that a tabard and litter picker is available for you.
As usual my preferred method of contact would be by e-mail but if that is not possible you are welcome to contact me by telephone. Details are at the rear of this programme. Ray Sharp
Cambrian Way part 3
This is the final instalment of Nick Price and Richard Kenton's epic hike along the Cambrian Way, the long distance trail running from Cardiff to Conwy.
The 8th September dawned; Richard and I had returned to Wales to complete the Cambrian Way.
On Day one of this trip we left Dinas Mawddwy and climbed steeply for what seemed a very long time (but we climbed steeply most mornings) to arrive in Minffordd. Day two took us over Cadair Idris and onto Barmouth. On Day three we used a taxi to get to the north of Rhinog Fach, scrambled over it, and walked back to Barmouth over undulating steep hills. Day four, a taxi again, this time to the south of Rhinog Fawr - we didn’t make it the top but got about three-quarters of the way up and couldn’t find a way around the overhangs, we were also running out of time as we had a further nine miles to walk that day. The next day we started from Trawsfynydd, an easy 10 mile walk to Tanygrisiau (aren’t the names wonderful !) via the defunct nuclear power station. We stopped in the village of Maentwrog for refreshment at the one and only hotel, only to be refused ! It was a Sunday and they did not open until 12.00 ! At Tanygrisiau we had a day off and travelled on the Ffestiniog railway to Porthmadoc.
Day seven was over Cnicht and on to Beddgelert. Day eight, Snowdon - lots of cloud on the top but it did clear in patches to afford fantastic views. We stayed overnight in Capel Curig in the old church, now a B & B. Next day up and over the Glyders to Ogwen avoiding Tryfan , the climb involved a scramble up a 'chimney' which Richard enjoyed. From Ogwen to Conwy is about 18 miles with 4,600 ft of climb. There is no accommodation on the direct route - so after 13 miles on Day ten we took a two mile diversion and descended from about 3000 ft to 150 ft to the village of Rowen. And so the final day ! We climbed back onto the ridge and descended gently into Conwy. The End !
As we found on the previous legs it, does not rain in Wales, at least not when we are walking there because Richard was wearing his ‘lucky trousers‘. There was some cloud every day and some very strong winds especially on the Snowdon day. The only damage we sustained was aching limbs and sunburn.
On this final leg of the Way we walked 112 miles and climbed 28,000 ft. The overall numbers were 334 miles and 62,000 ft of climb. If you like hills, this could be the one for you! Richard Kenton and Nick Price
Sidmouth 23 - 25 October 2009
Sidmouth is one of England's most select holiday locations, an unspoilt Regency Town on the World Heritage Coastline. It nestles between the slopes of the Peak and Salcombe Hills with breathtaking views of Lyme Bay to East Portland and Chesil Beach and westward to Torbay and Berry Head.
Some twenty-four of us stayed at the Woodlands Hotel, a lovely 13th century manor house with an interesting history of ownership and change. The rooms were comfortable and in our case enormous, we didn’t have to pre-book our food and we ordered from an excellent menu. The staff couldn’t have made us more welcome.
Most of the party knew each other so conversation was no problem and even boisterous after a few drinks.
On Saturday John and Chris Kingdom, our organisers, led a walk along the South West Coast Path to Beer. The weather to start with was misty with damp overtones, but quickly the sun broke through and lit up the sea and countryside to afford beautiful vistas and provide perfect walking conditions. To say the walk had some ups and downs would be an understatement, but this is 'glorious Devon' after all. For those who wanted a shorter walk, there was a drop off point to see a Donkey Sanctuary and then a walk back inland to Sidmouth. John tried hard to sell it but the hardy party all wanted the long walk to Beer. So Salcombe Hill was followed by Dunscombe Cliff and a climb down to Weston Mouth followed by a steep climb to Weston Cliff, Coxe’s Cliff and then a steep drop and a pub stop at Branscombe. A quaint unspoilt Devon pub, a place dreams are made of. The cliffs to this point are red Devon sandstone. There followed a steep climb (the last) along the Cliff Path and then mostly downhill to Beer, a gem of a fishing village. We caught a bus and got off at Sidford for the final dash of around 2 miles to the Woodlands Hotel. With 30 minutes to spare, quick showers and in for dinner, everybody was a'glowing.
There was some dispute over how far we walked. My left foot said about 11 miles my right foot was telling me more like 14 plus miles. I don’t really care, it was so beautiful.
Sunday - a breakfast to die for and more sunshine. Today's walk went to the west and started with a more gentle climb onto the downs at Windgate and those wanting a shorter walk (I was one) dropped down the hill to Sidmouth and enjoyed Jacob's Ladder, facing the sun with more views of Red Cliffs and then a stroll around Connaught Gardens.
The more adventurous continued for a bit more climbing and then inland to Otterton, famous for its operating mill, restaurant and visitor centre, then returning inland to Sidmouth.
Thanks go to John and Chris Kingdom for all their hard work and good humour in organising what was another excellent weekend away with a great set of friends. Chris King
Treasure Hunt 27th September 2009
The first treasure of the day was the glorious sunshine! In all, six teams of four took part – leaving Popes Meadow car park every five minutes or so.
Despite regular rambles being jolly sociable, the LVRA annual treasure hunt really does put communication, team skills and patience to the test! The sharing of pens and clipboards, navigation skills and the ability to find reading glasses in the many pocketed, breathable, eco-active, packable, quick-drying, wick-away performance outer-shells proved to be the first challenge in most teams.
Once Chris and Liz had set all six teams out with strict instructions for cryptic clues, pictures clues and bonus clues they were able to sit at the picnic table and enjoy tea, biscuits and the Sunday paper! (Please contact Graham Smith if you would like to organise next year’s LVRA Treasure Hunt.)
We caught a glimpse of the varied team tactics and attitudes displayed as the teams passed back though the park on the figure of eight route. Everyone was certainly in good spirits in the autumn sun but while some teams were happy to enjoy the park and views of John Nike’s garden, others concentrated more on the matter at hand and had eyes only for the sheet of picture clues. One team had little time for having their photo taken so keen were they to ‘hunt’. In turn, Vlad was concentrating on finishing promptly to get home in time for the Grand Prix!
All the teams did very well but were very vocal during the marking - agreeing that Chris and Liz had set a hard course. The winning team - Tim, Jean, Dave and Alex justly deserved their bottles of wine with a score far above the runners-up. Jean and Dave were new to LVRA but that situation was soon rectified as the socializing continued over lunch and drinks at The Roebuck Pub. Liz Turkington
AGM 4th November 2009
Our AGM took place at St Mary`s Church Hall, Twyford and the meeting was attended by 28 people including John Moules, Berkshire Ramblers' Area Chairman, who made an appeal for volunteers to join the Area Committee which, for next year, only has John as an officer.
The meeting was preceded with a talk by Tony Maniscalco of Ramblers' Worldwide Holidays. This is a charitable trust which offers four categories of holiday: Worldwide Holidays, UK Holidays, Cruise and Walk Holidays and Family Holidays. Block bookings by walking groups are welcomed and discounts for groups are available.
The business of the meeting included David Turner, Chairman, outlining past and future walking and social activities followed by Ray Sharp, Footpath and Countryside Secretary, reporting on his activities during the year. Wokingham Borough footpaths are generally in good order and Ray`s hard work and diligence in following through on footpath problems is improving our Rights of Way network for the benefit of us all. This was followed by Kath Parker, Treasurer, giving a brief summary of the accounts for the year ending 30th September 2009.
Chris Robson was elected Social Secretary replacing Lynn Bennett who stood down following her move away from the area. All other committee members were re-elected, there being no other candidates.
Thanks are due to Barbara Curtis for organising the finger buffet and drinks for the evening.