VALEWAYS NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2015

“My, my at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender”

We all know how time flies when we enjoy ourselves but it doesn’t seem anything like two hundred years since Abba recorded ‘Waterloo’. It’s been an exciting few months since our last Newsletter –General Election, Lee Selby just becoming a World Boxing Champion, a three legged dog winning ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and then there was the ‘Arrival’ of the VALE OF WALKING FESTIVAL!

Sunny weather, a variety of walks and of course stunning scenery greeted all who participated, ensuring that everyone was “having the time of your life”. The programme offered something for everyone – geologists, historians, botanists, budding photographers or just old rockers with a ‘Rocky Shore Ramble’ around Ogmore! Walks varied in length from an eight mile walk around , visiting ‘Castle, Court and Wells’ and an eight mile trek at , taking in views of the coast and river; to a two mile ‘Nature at Night’ walk at . Yes, ‘there was something in the air that night’. The festival drew to a close with a stroll around Barry’s newly renovated seafront before retiring to Café Cove, with the setting sun providing a fitting background. Thanks to Café Cove for arranging to remain open for some well-earned refreshments and also, ‘Thank you for the music!’

This year’s festival also coincided with The Music Festival and many, including Jane Hutt AM, took advantage of the opportunity to combine an inspiring piano recital at St Illtyd’s Church, with an invigorating walk along some of the most dramatic coastlines in . Nearly three hundred participated over the week-end, each capturing a memory of the festival – from visiting the grave of composer Joseph Parry at Saint Augustine’s Church, with a choral version of his most famous composition, ‘Myfanwy’ playing in the background to being followed by a herd of inquisitive but friendly cows in a field at . An uniquely surreal moment was experienced by a group of intrepid walkers on the ‘Iolo Morganwg Heritage Walk’ when they were greeted by a figure dressed as a giant bear promoting a product at a local store! Yes, the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival had something for everyone!

‘Why did it have to be me?’ At a recent meeting of Valeways Walk Leaders plans were already discussed for the seventh Walking Festival. We would still appreciate any thoughts walkers have on their experiences and suggestions for the future – please send them to the office.

Thank you very much all Tesco customers who nominated Valeways in the ‘Helping Hand’ Competition, sponsored by Tesco, Barry. Valeways will use the donation to provide Way Marker Discs and to reprint one of the more popular Walking Route Guides.

Photo: Phil, Benda, Val and Mike attending the presentation and accepting the cheque for £500 on behalf of Valeways. Every Little Helps!

Many thanks also to and the Vale of Glamorgan Council for their generous donations of ’Money, Money, Money’ towards the organisation of the Walking Festival.

Every little helps is certainly true when it comes to the valuable efforts of the ‘Walk and Clear’ group. Under the guidance of Rebecca, our Volunteer Co-ordinator, the group is not content with removing overgrown brambles and nettles but as we see, no protruding large branch or tree trunks is safe when our ‘Super Troupers’ are around!

For more information about Valeways ‘Walk and Clear’ programme just log on to our website!

The group recently erected a planter on the outskirts of . Please look out for it on your travels.

Rebecca’s Report

Newly Trained Walk Leaders and Jobs!

Five of our newly trained walk leaders have stepped up to the mark since their training and have started leading walks. Marion and Alena have teamed up to provide a number of walks for the Summer Programme and Dylan is offering Walk and Click outings with great advice on using your camera. We are also grateful to Denise who is starting a new Coffee Shop Strollers walk in Llantwit Major in July. Many thanks to everyone for their commitment and enthusiasm. That’s the name of the game!

Meanwhile our walk and clear sessions continue on a Tuesday and Thursday now attracting up to 13 volunteers in a session. We are targeting problems reported by the volunteers who check the Valeways leafleted walks and respond to issues raised by other walkers and the Council. These sessions are great teambuilding sessions. Congratulations to four of our volunteers who have recently gained employment. Great news for them but not so bad for us as some are still able to join us when they can.

We are always keen to recruit new volunteers to assist us with social media, press releases and of course walk leaders, especially to help with Coffee Shop Strollers in Llantwit Major or to set up a new group in Cowbridge.

As a bonus, the volunteers have also enjoyed harvesting wild garlic for salads and pesto as you can see!

Please contact me by email- [email protected] with any ideas or suggestions.

Photo: Do you like wild garlic Rob? ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’!

‘Looking out for a place to go?’ – look no further! The Summer Walking Programme once again offers a variety of walks from a ‘Relaxing Evening Stroll’ to a seven mile trek ‘Going Backwards’! Look out also for an ‘outreach’ walk to Merthyr – and ‘Mamma Mia!’ there’s even a walk reminding us of the onset of Autumn!

Only a few sunny days to go before the Vale of Glamorgan Show on Wednesday 12 August. Look out for our tent on the field, call for a chat or come to promote our walking programmes and provide us with some ideas and suggestions for future ventures.

One lucky walker who took part in the Walking Festival, whose name was drawn out of the hat receives a signed copy of Derek Brockway’s book, ‘Weatherman Walking’. Congratulations to Sylvia Tapp. ‘The Winner Takes it All’!

…and finally