Oswestry Group Walks Programme March to June 2018

Dogs: Only ‘Registered Assistance Dogs’ are allowed on Group walks Details of the Oswestry programme can always be found on our group Website at www.ramblers.org.uk/ oswestry. Details of walks by other Groups in the Area can be found at www.shropshireramblers.org.uk Walk meeting points, grades and guidelines Times stated in the programme are at the meeting point. Please arrive early to allow time for leadersto issue instructions and arrange car sharing. Note: If you intend going directly to the walk start point, it must be understood that if, due to unforeseen circumstances, the walk has to be changed or cancelled, the leader is unlikely to travel to the walk start point. If in doubt check with the leader on the day of the walk. • Thursday morning walks Approximately 4 to 5 miles, maximum grade Moderate and walked at a moderate pace. Normal meeting time 10:00 in Gatacre car park, Oswestry. • Sunday long walks Usually more challenging walks, grade up to and including Strenuous. Normal meeting time 9:30 in the main Oswestry car park in front of the flats. • Sunday medium walks 6 to 8 miles, maximum grade Moderate and walked at a moderate pace. Normal meeting time 10:00 in the main Oswestry car park in front of the flats. • Sunday afternoon walks 4.5 miles maximum and grade up to Moderate. Normal meeting time 13:15 in the main Oswestry car park in front of the flats. Our walks are graded in accordance with the Ramblers national guidelines. Full details can be found at http:// www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route/about-group-walks/walks-difficulty.aspx In order to provide transport to participants without cars and to keep the number of cars to a minimum, the majority of walks have a central meeting point before proceeding to the starting point. It is suggested a voluntary contribution towards fuel costs, as detailed on our Web Site, be offered to car drivers. To simplify matters each walk in the programme is assigned a travel zone. When parking at the walk start, please ensure that cars do not block gates. Please take passengers in your car if driving to the walk start point rather than the official meeting place.

Date and meeting Description Grade & Leader time distance (miles) Thurs 01/03/2018 From by road, field and track part way up Moderate Dave M 10:00 Gyrn Moelfre to Bodlith and Pont Pentregwyn. Zone B 5.5 07910 518520 Sun 04/03/2018 A moderate plus circular walk from Bala Lake with Moderate Christine & Graham 09:30 lake views, moorland, upland pasture and a dark 8 01678 520646 forest with some boggy sections. Your leader will meet you at car park eastern end of Bala Lake. SH928354 Zone D

page 1 Date and meeting Description Grade & Leader time distance (miles) Thurs 08/03/2018 Bwlchycibau. Woodland paths and lanes with one Moderate Barbara D 10:00 steep ascent. SJ179175 Zone B 4.5 07939 263993 Sun 11/03/2018 A moderate walk from Lee Brockhurst along quiet Moderate Jean 10:00 country lanes, woodland tracks and meadow paths. 6.5 01939 291927 Leader will meet you at small car park by War Memorial. SJ548268 Zone C Thurs 15/03/2018 From St Martins along lanes to Hindford and Moderate Bruce & Cathy 10:00 returning via tow-path and fields. SJ323368 Zone A 5.5 01691 770364 Sun 18/03/2018 Chirk Bank following the to Glynmorlas, Moderate Diane & John 10:00 ascend to Pont-y-blew, pass through Chirk to Pont 6 01691 622651 Faen Bridge, return along canal. Field paths and quiet lanes. Zone A Thurs 22/03/2018 Around Beriew on field paths and along Montgomery Leisurely Dawn 10:00 Canal. SJ188005 Zone D 4 01691 659410 / 07808 430603 Sun 25/03/2018 From Trefonen across field paths around Mynydd Moderate Peter D 10:00 Myfyr to Pentre Cefn, then along field paths and 8.5 01691 661714 quiet lanes to pass through Craig Sychtyn nature reserve and onto the summit of the Moelydd. Zone A Thurs 29/03/2018 Bayston Hill. Walk on surfaced paths and river banks Leisurely Gwen 10:00 then up and over Sharpstone Quarry Edge. 6 01691 623362 SJ488088 Zone C Sun 01/04/2018 A circular walk taking on the unmistakeable rugged Moderate Diane & John 09:30 Stiperstones Ridge, one of Shropshire’s well known 6 01691 622651 hill landmarks. Excellent views over Shropshire and . Zone D Thurs 05/04/2018 Over The Wrekin with 350 metres of ascent. Zone C Moderate Huw & Janet 10:00 6 01691 658134 Sun 08/04/2018 . Details of this walk will be given at a Moderate Bruce & Cathy 09:30 later date. Zone C 8 01691 770364 Thurs 12/04/2018 From Craignant to Bronygarth and return using parts Moderate Maggie 10:00 of Offa’s Dyke. The option of an extra 2.25 miles to 4.7 07990 516469 Selattyn Hill. SJ253349 Zone A Sun 15/04/2018 From Craven Arms on mostly good paths, woods Moderate Carole & David 09:30 and pastures. Lovely views of Stoksay Castle and 7.5 01691 624643 unspoiled hills above the River Onny. Zone D Thurs 19/04/2018 A small section of the Maelor Way to Little Overton Moderate Dave M 10:00 and return. Zone B 5.7 07910 518520 Sun 22/04/2018 From the village of , along Offa’s Dyke path Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 09:30 with a moderate climb up to Beacon Hill. Great views 7.5 01691 661714 towards , return via a quiet lane through woodlands and fields. Zone C Thurs 26/04/2018 From Pontfadog through woodland to join Offa’s Dyke Moderate Gwen 10:00 path and back via Ceiriog Way. SJ234380 Zone B 6 01691 623362

page 2 Date and meeting Description Grade & Leader time distance (miles) Sun 29/04/2018 Chirk to Ruabon including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Moderate Chris 09:30 Dep Oswestry 09:30 Bus Route 2. Return Ruabon 8 01691 654066 Bus probably 14:45. Your leader will join the bus in Gobowen Thurs 03/05/2018 From car park at Llantysilio over Velvet Hill and back Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 10:00 via Valle Crucis Abbey and Britannia Inn. Possible pub 5 01691 661714 lunch at Chain Bridge. SJ198433 Zone B Sun 06/05/2018 Starting from Bentlawnt, through Hope Common and Moderate Maggie 09:30 Hope valley to the edge of the Stiperstones, returning 7.5 07990 516469 via the Hope Nature Reserve and Hopegate. Zone D Thurs 10/05/2018 From Nescliffe Country Park on field and tracks Moderate Colin & Linda 10:00 towards Ruyton-XI-Towns. SJ391198 Zone A 5.5 01691 679069 / 07545 382869 Sun 13/05/2018 EARLY START A moderate walk at Beddgelert in Moderate Kirsten 09:00 Snowdonia, from the Copper Mine to Cwm Bychan, 8 01691 652645 Nantmor, Pont Aberglaslyn, back on the rocky path along the Glaslyn river. Zone F Thurs 17/05/2018 A walk from Llansilin on field paths and along lanes Leisurely Colin & Linda 10:00 with very little ascent. SJ209279 Zone B 4.2 01691 679069 / 07545 382869 Sun 20/05/2018 An interesting border walk in the Ceiriog Valley from Moderate Gwen 09:30 Pontfadog passing through Penant, Bronygarth and 8 01691 623362 Offa’s Dyke. Lovely views of Chirk Castle. Zone B Thurs 24/05/2018 A walk from Rhydycroesau Woods taking a look at the Moderate Lorna 10:00 historic Borderstone and back through Cefn Canol. 4.5 01691 831320 SJ241303 Zone A Sun 27/05/2018 Llanrhaeadr YM. A moderate walk along quiet lanes Moderate Jane 10:00 and through fields around Llanarmon Mynydd-Mawr. 6 01691 780764 Lovely views. Zone B Thurs 31/05/2018 From , part of the Ramblers Walkabout Moderate Bruce & Cathy 10:00 Hidden Gems Festival. SJ267210 Zone A 4.5 01691 770364 Sun 03/06/2018 EARLY START Snowdon up the Pig track and down to Strenuous Huw & Janet 08:00 Llanberis. 730 metres of ascent. Parking Nant Peris 8 01691 658134 car park, fee applies, 2 bus journeys. Zone F Thurs 07/06/2018 From Queen’s Head along the canal. Part of the Moderate Bruce & Cathy 10:00 Ramblers Walkabout Festival. SJ339268 Zone A 4.5 01691 770364 Sun 10/06/2018 Moderate plus. Carrog, Bwelch Coch, Pen y cae, Ty Moderate Dave 09:30 canol. An initial steep climb followed by footpaths 7.5 07910 518520 and bridleway over undulating moorland and fields. Zone C Thurs 14/06/2018 From Brown Moss to on Shropshire Moderate Chris 10:00 Wildlife Trust maintained land. Hopefully there will 5.5 01691 624797 be a profusion of wild flowers. Zone C Sun 17/06/2018 A moderate walk from the historic village of Ysbyty Moderate Diane & John 09:30 Ifan, along a Drovers road, across open moorland and 8.5 01691 622651 upland pastures, splendid views across Snowdonia. Zone E Thurs 21/06/2018 Fields and lanes around Llanrhaeadr YM with some Moderate Jane 10:00 ascent. Zone B 5 01691 780764

page 3 Date and meeting Description Grade & Leader time distance (miles) Sun 24/06/2018 EARLY START A Moderate Plus walk from Llyn Moderate Ruth & Phil 09:00 Geirionydd car park along forestry and moorland 9.5 01948 710966 paths and tracks with some ups and downs. Great views, weather permitting. Zone F Thurs 28/06/2018 Take the coach to Criccieth and then by coastal path Moderate Gwen 08:00 to Porthmadog. Must be pre-booked with Gwen 7 01691 623362

Membership Most walks listed here are primarily intended for Ramblers members. Non-members are welcome to join us as guests on two or three walks, though if you walk with the group regularly you will be expected to join the Ramblers. Membership forms are available from the Membership Secretary or the Ramblers website www.ramblers.org.uk. Your Responsibilities All sporting and leisure activities have inherent hazards associated with them and rambling is no exception. Safety of participants in group walks is always the paramount concern; however, accidents will occasionally occur. It is important therefore, that when entering into the activity, each participant appreciates that they have a responsibility to identify the hazards associated with the activity and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the potential for an accident to arise. Please make sure that you are fit enough to undertake the walk you intend to join. If you are unsure of your fitness level, try a short walk first. Most walks are off road in rural areas. Please have suitable footwear (normally boots) and clothing for the walk you intend to join, also you will need some food and drink. Leaders can refuse to accept participants who, in their opinion, are inadequately equipped or not sufficiently fit. Accidents/Incidents Any incident or accident however minor must be reported to a programme secretary within 7 days of the completion of the relevant walk. This instruction includes participants on recces. Path Problems Path problems should be reported to the relevant council. For Shropshire Council report problems to Outdoor Partnerships; problem report forms can be found at http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/media/213108/or-prow-problem-report.pdf. If you prefer you can inform the Footpath Secretaries (Chris Jenkins or Peter Carr) [email protected] as to the nature of the problem; giving the location, with grid reference if possible. Postage Costs The ever-increasing postage costs puts a strain on our group budget and uses money that would be better directed to campaigning to protect and improve our footpaths. Over three-quarters of our group members already receive their programmes via email. For the group this reduces the cost of providing the programmes considerably and we thank them for this. For those members who do receive email programmes it enables us to provide information quickly and conveniently as to last minute changes to walks, of which there were several during the life of the last programme. We ask that if you do have email, but don’t currently receive your programme that way, please consider if you could receive future programmes by email and help us to contain costs and also keep you better informed as to group activities. To receive programmes via email, simply send an email with subject line ‘email programmes’ to: enquiries@ oswestryramblers.org.uk. In the body of the email please give your full name, postal address and if possible

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Oswestry Group Committee (at January 2018)

Responsibilities Name and contact details Chairman Bruce Macdonald 01691 770364 [email protected] Vice Chairman Peter Danby 01691 661714 [email protected] Secretary Jackie Knight 01691 653541 [email protected] Treasurer Pat Harper 01691 682272 [email protected] Footpath Secretary Chris Jenkins 01691 654066 [email protected] Publicity & Press Peter Danby 01691 661714 [email protected] Programme co-ordination, Jane Hadlow 01691 650470 publishing [email protected] Thursday Programme Ceinwen Danby 01691 661714 [email protected] Sunday morning Programme Diane Smith 01691 622651 [email protected] Sunday afternoon Programme Pat Harper 01691 682272 [email protected] Area Council Rep Colin Chandler 01691 679069 [email protected] Walking Environment Officer Bob Kimber 01691 679646 [email protected] Membership Secretary Barbara Pryce-Jones 07866 532979 [email protected] Local webpage editor Maggie Hill 07990 516469 [email protected] Social Barbara Pryce-Jones, Jane Hadlow (as above) Ordinary committee member Huw Jones 01691 658134 Ordinary committee member Lorna Gwilliam PPP Co-ordinator Peter Carr 01691 780722 (non-committee) [email protected]

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity ( & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment,

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