Newsletter September to December 2010
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Download flyer for Bellevaux, June 2011
Download flyer for Derbyshire Dales April 2011
Download flyer for Treasure Hunt September 2010
(The booklet form of this newsletter will be sent out to members during week ending 14 August 2010)
From our Chairman
Now that summer is coming to an end, I hope that our forthcoming programme of walking activities will give you something to look forward to. As well as our normal programme of walks, we continue to offer a good range of walking holidays. Although both the Andorra week in September and the Mendips weekend at the end of October are now fully booked, you will find a flyer with this Newsletter for our Spring 2011 walking weekend in the Derbyshire Dales and a flyer for a return trip next year to Bellevaux in France. Bellevaux is situated in the mountains above Lake Geneva with stunning views over the French Alps. I was part of the group that went to Bellevaux last year and I thoroughly recommend this holiday. Looking further ahead, John Kingdom is organising a walking weekend in Norfolk at the end of October 2011.
With the expiry of this year’s 20% Cotswold discount voucher at the end of June, I would like to remind you that the 15% discount for Loddon Valley members continues until 31st March 2011. Although all members of the Ramblers continue to get a 10% discount at Cotswold by showing their Ramblers membership card, to get the 15% discount you will need to say that you are a member of the Loddon Valley Group and quote AF-LODVR–G4.
If you have any thoughts about activities you would like to be included in our future programmes, then please come to our Annual General Meeting in St Mary’s Church Hall in Twyford, when you will have the opportunity to talk to me and other members of the Committee. Unfortunately, Chris Robson will not be re-standing as our social secretary at the AGM, so I am currently seeking a new social secretary to join the Committee and organise our social events. If anyone is interested then please contact me or any other members of the Committee. On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Chris Robson for standing in as our Social Secretary since Lynn Bennett stepped down last year. The rest of the Committee intends to re-stand for another year.
I hope to see many of you on our traditional mince pie and mulled wine walk just before Christmas.
David Turner
Chairman
Forthcoming Events
- TREASURE HUNT 19TH SEPTEMBER 2010
See the Walks Programme and enclosed flyer for details. Plan your team now and book with Janet!
- DERBYSHIRE DALES WEEKEND APRIL 2011 See the flyer enclosed with this newsletter, for details of the latest LVR weekend, 15-17 April 2011. It's sure to offer memorable walking and great company. But hurry, applications have to be in by October 1st!
- BELLEVAUX JUNE 2011
Yes, Barbara Curtis is again offering this popular holiday in June next year. Just ask those who have been before, the scenery is magnificent, it's a fine hotel, and of course the company will be great. See enclosed flyer, applications by October 1st please. - LODDON VALLEY RAMBLERS AGM
Commences 7.30 pm on Wednesday 3rd November 2010 at St Mary's Church Hall, Station Road, Twyford. This is a great opportunity to socialise, meet the committee, ask questions and hear a good speaker. Put it in your diary now! - RAMBLERS BERKSHIRE AREA AGM
Saturday 27th November 2010
Hosted this year by Mid-Berks Group, the Area AGM will be held at 2.00pm at The Calcot Centre, High View (off Royal Avenue), Calcot, Reading RG31 4XD. Beforehand, there will be a walk of 4-5 miles starting promptly at 10.45am. Please bring a picnic lunch if you wish or there are a pub and an hotel nearby. The meeting is expected to finish with tea and cakes by 4.30pm. - ANDORRA 18-25 SEPTEMBER 2010 & MENDIPS WEEKEND
22-24 OCTOBER 2010
Both now fully booked.
Footpaths
At the time of writing this the glorious summer I spoke of in my last report appears to have arrived and let’s hope it continues well into the year. As the public rights of way dry out there is a tendency to think that there are no problems on the network. The warm weather however brings another set of issues in the shape of foliage. We have all been on walks where we have had to duck and weave under and around brambles and overhanging branches.
I would like to encourage those of you that can to carry a pair of secateurs and snip the odd bramble as you go along. If we all cut ten bramble leaders it makes a great difference. You know the one’s I mean, the aggressive type that shoot out across the path at all heights. You would be right in thinking “shouldn’t the council being doing all this work”. Well, yes in an ideal world they would but the Countryside Service simply does not have the money or manpower to be everywhere on Wokingham’s 145 miles of public rights of way.
The Ramblers head office have, like the rest of us, realised that all the cutbacks are going to have an effect on the level of maintenance and have launched a campaign called “Dead End” which is aimed at footpath secretaries and others, with the intention that we liaise with our councils to see where the Ramblers might be able to help with some of the shortfalls. I will be contacting Wokingham’s Countryside Service to see if we can improve on the help we are already giving. Some of you have already been out with me on small projects for which I thank you and it may be there are some more to be done. Please remember the valuable role that you can play by reporting any problems you encounter. Apart from overhanging brambles, another particular problem is where a crop encroaches over a cross field path and is more than 12 inches high. Please report this. If you prefer to report directly to Wokingham Borough Council that’s fine but I or your local footpath officer would like to be advised so that we can chase the issues up.
Happy walking.
Ray Sharp
Dartmoor Weekend
Dartmoor is well known for its splendid scenery but not for its wonderful weather and the forecast for the bank holiday weekend did not conjure up visions of heat waves, so taking these facts together I think we were incredibly fortunate not to have been soaked while walking on the moors and in the valleys of the area. Yes, there was rain, but somehow it often stopped minutes after we set out and only started again when we had completed the walk. Certainly there was not a heat-wave but layers of clothing kept out the chill winds.
Twenty-three people came on the Dartmoor Weekend. Six of them, including Pat and Daphne Perridge, who were due to lead a walk on the Sunday, arrived at Brimpts Farm on Thursday. Pat planned to do a recce for his walk on Friday, and Daphne and three of us went along with him. This was a six mile hike, setting out from the farm and following the East Dart upstream, crossing by stepping stones in the river bed. From there it climbed over open moors with views of the highest points on the southern moor. In all we made four crossings of rivers at different points via lines of stepping stones. The West Dart crossing was the longest stretch. These stones, which were not necessarily level on top, were placed well apart. Long legs and a brave heart were certainly an advantage in enabling a leap to be made from stone to stone. One in particular had a decided point which scarcely left enough space for two boots. Pat was a gem providing a helping hand. He went to help Barbara, but the pointed stone won in the end and Barbara slid off and sat down in the water. Pat nobly stepped into the river in order to help. Not ideal in that chilly wind. On reaching the far bank Barbara stripped off as many of her wet clothes as was possible and decent and donned a cardigan, which had remain dry in her rucksack, together with a couple of borrowed items. After pouring the water from her boots and wringing the water from her socks she put them back on and continued walking. What no one remarked upon was that Pat also had watery boots, but like the gentleman he is, he did not once complain or even mention it.
Pat’s description of the walk mentions a picnic and bathing spot. Well indeed we did picnic and some unexpected bathing had taken place. From there a short climb led us back to the farm. In spite of the mishap we all enjoyed the walk which passed through delightful scenery.
That evening we were joined at supper by Jane Kieley and Cliff Lambert, formerly Chairman & Secretary of the Berkshire Area Ramblers and now members of Plymouth Ramblers. They were to lead both the long and short walks the following day and gave us a brief indication of the routes we were to follow.
The starting point for Saturday’s walks was to be at Calstock, the village where Jane and Cliff live, very close to the Tamar viaduct. Both groups walked the first six miles together which took us through pretty countryside and beside the river, eventually taking us to the quayside of this tidal river, quite close to the entrance to the vast estate of Cotehele House, a National Trust property. Here we ate our packed lunches, then the more adventurous walkers set off led by Jane to continue their walk. They were to add a further 6 miles to their ramble and arranged to return to meet us at Cotehele House.
The short walk group, being led by Cliff, walked on to enter the grounds of Cotehele House, however, we came across a gate which refused to open. The catch was jammed. Cliff suggested trying another entrance some distance away but Blanca stepped forward and lifted the gate of the catch and behold ! She successfully opened the gate. Every walker's group needs a Blanca ! The gardens were a delight. Although the main show of daffodils was over, there were still many hundreds of narcissi in bloom. The camelias and rhododendrons were a blaze of colour too. Most of the group also visited the interesting old house, which contained many beautiful tapestries.
By the time the house visit was over the long walkers had arrived and we all set off on the walk back to Calstock, where we repaired to the local pub for a little liquid refreshment, before making the journey back to Blimpts Farm. The sun had shone throughout the day and only as we drove back did rain begin to fall.
Supper was served in the farmhouse and we later gathered together in a large room for coffee. Barbara Curtis had prepared 3 quizzes for us, just to make sure we remained awake and alert. Vlad kindly undertook to be quiz-master, a role which he filled well and very fairly. The fun quizzes were enthusiastically and competitively enjoyed. The AK47 team insist that they were overall winners and as far as I know no one denied them their moment of glory. Many thanks to Barbara and Vlad for providing the entertainment.
Sunday dawned dry but dull and chilly. The long walkers set off from the farm towards Laughter Tor, before heading east to the East Dart, then via Bellever to Postbridge, crossing by Clapper Bridge and on to Pizwell. Continuing on through Cater Common and Riddon Ridge they crossed the stepping stones below Babeny, where no one fell, then the final uphill to Brimpts. I am informed that this 13 mile walk was led, without mishap and with truly excellent map-reading by Ian Murray. Full marks, Ian. I think a special medal should be struck for Vlad who achieved this epic, personal best in just over 4 and a half hours. Well done Vlad !
Meanwhile eleven intrepid walkers, who were well aware of the dreaded stepping-stones they would need to cross, set off from Brimpts. Even Barbara decided to go along, though hoping she would not repeat her bathing incident of Friday. It was only at the third crossing that several walkers managed to get their feet wet. The stones were wet on Sunday due to overnight rain but Pat ended up walking in the river in order to offer a helping hand. In spite of this Daphne slipped in and unfortunately Moira, who was the last to cross, fell across a stone, badly grazing her shin as she did so. Graham, being a man, was given no help and so managed to slip and wet his feet in the river.
Having been forewarned of the hazards ahead, most of the group had taken a change of clothing and so were able to change into drier socks, etc, though the wet boots had to be worn. Kath was given a first-aid kit and was able to dress and bandage Moira’s leg. They arrived back at about 3pm, at about the same time as the long walkers, and gathered together in the tea room to compare stories.
I enjoyed the weekend of walks and also the company of all members there.
Thank you, Ian, for arranging the weekend and for leading the long walks, and many thanks also to Pat for leading and shepherding his group.
Sylvia Paton