Ramblers

walkNews and information from the Isle of ALKWight Issue 122 Area and Groups Spring 2014

Farewell to Before Ramblers’ walks leader Carol Hamilton hangs Carol – and a up her boots, she explains why one particular place plea to every member! on the Island is special to her Carol has obviously gained a great deal of pleasure from her time leading walks for the IW Ramblers. She is knowledge- able and exper- ienced and we are sad to lose her – but don’t worry, she’ll still be out Every picture there walking! Meanwhile, tells a story Carol’s departure highlights the I WAS DELIGHTED to see featured growing shortage in an article to encourage Ramblers to become of walks’ leaders walks’ leaders in the winter edition of walkTALK. on the Island. This photo was taken by my husband Robin If you love walking when he was my back-marker during the May and you’d like to 2008 walking festival. It shows walkers striding out across the sand into the sun. A lovely scene. become a walks’ Helens and Nettlestone area. Priory Bay was now leader, there’s Priory Bay, on the north-eastern corner of the my territory, including the notorious footpath R89, plenty of help and Island, has always been a special place to me. through Priory Woods. On one occasion I led a advice available to Let me tell you a story. Many years ago I worked walk, meaning to go through Priory Bay but I had get you started. as a civil servant in Portsmouth Dockyard. One miscalculated the state of the tide. We had to walk For more sunny day, together with a girlfriend, I was through Priory Woods instead and it was not a information, you invited to join two lads (before Robin!) on a day’s pleasant experience. Several members (you know can contact David sailing trip. This was to be my very first (and who you are...) will not let me forget it! I’m afraid I Howarth on tel: last) experience in a yacht. We sailed out into had a lot to do with the closure of this path on the 759823 or email and soon were off shore on the Isle grounds of safety. In my opinion it had become a davidhowarth220@ of Wight. We spent the afternoon on a beach. I death trap due to the very unstable condition of btinternet.com remember the anchor being dropped and wading the terrain. My photograph (inset right) taken early ashore to a large bay with golden sands backed this year shows the condition of the “path” now. Due to unavoidable by woodland, without a building in sight. I had no I have led many Ramblers walks through the Bay; time constraints, we are idea where we were and all too soon it was time my Picnic and Paddle walk was an annual event only able to bring you to return to Portsmouth. For years I used to dream a slimline version of in the summer months. With Robin, I always led about that beach. WalkTALK this spring, a walk in the May walking festival and shall be but we expect the Robin and I moved to the Island in 1975. I had doing so again this year, with Time and Tide Wait summer edition to be back to normal. always been a keen walker, although not yet a for No Man, on Tuesday 13th May at 2pm. Getting member of the Ramblers. I started exploring the a tide forecast for the May walking festival when Island and on one of these expeditions I walked the walks have to be submitted the previous along the beach from St Helen’s Duver, passing September is quite a task! Nodes Point (it must have been a low tide). There I’m now calling it a day and this will be my very facebook/Ramblersiow it was, the beach of my dreams – Priory Bay! It last led walk. It is time for someone younger and looked exactly as it did all those years ago. fitter to take over. I will continue to walk through Since then I have been a regular visitor. A few Priory Bay, and I know I will still get a shiver up years after I joined The Ramblers I became a my spine when I round either Nodes or Horestone walks leader and a footpath rep – coincidentally Point and I see that fantastic bay stretching out Mike Marchant assigned me to the Seaview, St. before me. www.iowramblers.com walkTALK Headon Warren landslip Social events, holidays, shows, media and reports Welcome... THE ISLAND HAS had twice its normal rainfall during the winter months and this ... to walkTALK, the newsletter from the is the second year in succession it has occured. The consequences for our rights Isle of Wight Ramblers. If you’re new to of way have been quite dramatic and many paths have been closed or made off As recommended by Alan Skittles and American Wandelrondje walking, or if you’ve not seen walkTALK limits. Titchmarsh... supper Wight Wandelreportage | Engeland before, why not join us? Benefits include: Higher groundwater levels increase the pressure on soft rocks and clay with the Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens and ROLL UP YOUR sleeves! Come and •260 led walks on the Island each year; resulting erosion of our cliffs. Swannery, Tuesday 19th August 2014 have some team fun – please bring a •a variety of social events; plate of food to share. •walking holidays; Amongst many others, a dramatic landslip has occurred at Headon Warren, “One of the finest gardens I have ever visited.” •national Walk magazine and walkTALK; near The Needles (pictured), with about 100 metres of land slipping two or three Alan Titchmarsh Entrance fee, payable at the door, is metres in depth. The coastal path crossed this point but has now been re-routed £2.50. There’s a free car park opposite. •discounts from leading outdoor suppliers ABBOTSBURY IS A magnificent 20-acre garden Engeland in het klein. Zo zou je het eiland Wight voor de Britse zuidkust kunnen omschrijven. Op het to avoid the area. Isle of Wight Coastal Path volg ik de (eg Cotswold; Blacks) and HF Holidays; nine miles west of Weymouth with an especially Friday 6th June from 7.15pm to 10pm, contouren van dit ruitvormige eiland, langs spectaculaire kliffen, vriendelijk glooiende heuvels en uitgestrekte •support for an organisation campaigning mild climate for growing rare and exotic plants at Wootton Community Hall, Brannon stranden. Zelden was een wandel- David Howarth instructie zo eenvoudig: “Hou de zee rechts van je, dan kom je er wel”.

ÆÆ for greater access to the countryside. from all over the world. At the other end of the Way, Wootton. Tekst & foto’s: Steven Vermeylen village lies the Swannery, home to some 600 Joining us couldn’t be easier. And if you pay Carol Henley, tel: 537445 Wandelrondje Wight by direct debit, there’s £10 off the price! swans in the Fleet Lagoon off the Chesil Bank, an Als voetpassagier aankomen op Wight is rijk is: die naar de populaire badplaats bepaald spectaculair. Wanneer ik de catama- , 14 kilometer verderop. SSSI. This area of the coast is now designated a ran-ferry uit Portsmouth verlaat, sta ik op de kop van de bijna 700 meter lange pier van het Belgische baksteen Just go to www.iowramblers.com and elegante kuststadje . Terwijl ik naar de Zodra ik vaste grond onder de voeten heb, Ramblers’ summer wal loop, word ik op het 19de -eeuwse staketsel ontwaar ik de eerste markering van het kustpad. ingehaald door een knalrood treinstel. Eigen- World Heritage Site with around 300 bird species Het witte meeuwensilhouet stuurt me west- lijk is het een opgeknapte metro van de London waarts, naar de havenstad click on the membership link. Underground. Het model dateert uit 1938 maar . Omdat de kustlijn hier grotendeels in privéhanden is doet, na renovatie, nog dapper dienst op de , verlies ik na enkele honderden meter het zicht enige moderne spoorverbinding die het eiland recorded. barbecue op zee. Onder een stralende zomerzon stap ik 24 | Op Weg 2014-1 A WARM WELCOME to new members: WE’RE HOLDING A barbecue, with a We have been offered a special Group Rate LAST SUMMER, A Belgian Main Group vegetarian option, and quiz, to test your Combined Visit for only £9 per person – during journalist from the walking Ms L Burchill Freshwater knowledge of the Shanklin area. 2014 only – plus a 10% discount off all food and magazine Op Weg visited Mr A Cooke Ryde drink at the Gardens and Swannery Restaurants. A bar will be open for drinks or tea and the Island as a guest of Visit Mrs W Barton Brighstone coffee. Isle of Wight, and in February Mrs C Carey Wootton Bridge We will again be going by Red Funnel car ferry this year, a feature appeared Mr R Mann Freshwater from at 8.30am, or by Red Jet Saturday 16th August at 4pm, Shanklin in Op Weg – meaning On Mr A Paskins at 9.15am from Cowes (you will need to buy Rowing Club, The Esplanade, Shanklin. the Road – with the heading Mrs J Methold your own ticket). An Excelsior coach will leave The cost is £5 per person and booking Wandelrondje Wight, Ms J Tunstall Newport Southampton at 9.45am for Abbotsbury and the is essential. Please make cheques which loosely translates as return coach fare will be £12 per person. If you’re payable to Isle of Wight Ramblers and wandering round the Wight. interested, please let us know as soon as possible Wightsole (for younger walkers) sent to: Carol Henley, 189 Staplers Rd so that we can book the coach. Foreign translations being Mr S Barnett Newport IW PO30 2DP a little outside the editorial Mrs M Craven Newport Cheques, payable to “IW Ramblers” for the total capacity of walkTALK, an Mr G Lumley Newport of £21, should be sent to: Jackie Hough, 2 Forest Christmas dinner and internet translation site Miss A Bell East Cowes Road, Winford, Sandown, IW PO36 0JY Chairman’s annual birthday walk no later nevertheless came up than 15th July 2014. disco DAVID HOWARTH WAS joined on 21st February by 21 There will be a three-course set menu, wth the following slightly other ramblers for his annual birthday walk. Weymouth spring break 2015 with a vegetarian option. mangled interpretation of the Total membership feature’s introduction: The five-mile walk was from Manor to A FIVE-DAY spring break, with local pick-up, is for the IW Ramblers Soup 539 Mottistone Down and the Longstone. This was one being planned for next year. We will be staying “ in miniature. Main Group 496; Wightsole 43 of the rare sunny days that we had during the stormy at Daish’s newest hotel on Weymouth sea front, Roast turkey with trimmings So you’d Isle of Wight winter. with two days’ walking and an excursion. Dates described. For UK south Christmas pudding coast on the Isle of Wight Two cakes – which had been generously provided and prices will be confirmed in next edition (or another choice) Coastal Path I follow by Carol Henley – were served with coffee, and were of walkTALK. Please let us know if you are contours of this diamond- enjoyed by everyone. interested. We would need a minimum of 20 to Coffee RBB leaflet covers so far, get a group rate. shaped island, along plus story Friday 5th December spectacular cliffs, friendly Jersey September-October 7pm for 7.30pm rolling hills and vast 2014 Shanklin Conservative Club, beaches. Rarely was a 6 Palmerston Road, Shanklin walking instruction so THIS HOLIDAY IS now fully booked but a waiting simple: Keep the sea list has been started. Please contact us if you your right, you’ll get would like to go on the list. The cost is £18 per head and booking is essential. Please make cheques there.” Brownsea Island June and July payable to Isle of Wight Ramblers, and Depending which way round send to: Carol Henley, 189 Staplers Rd, he was going, we know what 2014 Newport IW PO30 2DP the writer means... STILL A FEW places left in the second coach for these day trips (26th June, 15th July). Please Would you like to help at the summer shows? contact us if you would like a place. THERE WAS GOOD attendance at the summer shows last year, with For more information about any of the above much interest shown in the IW Ramblers’ stand. Dates have already excursions, or to book a place, please been set for 2014, and we’re on the hunt for volunteers again. If you contact Tim and Jackie Hough, tel: 868517 can help man the stand, please contact Pam Dana on tel: 863189. or email: [email protected] Chale Show August 2nd and 3rd; Garlic Festival August 16th and 17th; Wolverton Garden Fair August 30th and 31st 2 walkTALK www.iowramblers.com www.iowramblers.com walkTALK 3 THE BACK PAGE... THE BACK PAGE... THE BACK PAGE...THE WWLP – thank you and goodbye Annual General Meeting 2014 AFTER FIVE YEARS supporting over 120 projects and THIS WAS HELD at Arreton Community Centre on Saturday investing nearly £2.5m, the West Wight Landscape 15th February with about 50 members in attendance. Partnership is heading to pastures new. Ramblers’ president Kate Ashbrook had to abandon her journey from the Chilterns due to the dreadful weather, but Since 2008, many people and organisations have she is planning to lead a walk at Rookley on 9th August. donated time and resources to help deliver a range of high quality works and activities that are enhancing Andrew Turner MP held a question and answer session and the local landscape. These include a cemetery warden there was much discussion about the future of the Island programme; the restoration of large tracts of heathland; coastal path. The government is expected to respond to the seascape surveys; education programmes; guided walks latest consultation soon. and talks; live arts events; and traditional rural skills and David Howarth was re-elected area chairman and gave a carnival arts training. presentation of the highlights of the year. Communications None of this would have been possible without the have been improved with an expanded website, continued WWLP’s partnership approach to working. The landscape production of walkTALK, and the use of Facebook. partnership baton is being passed to the Isle of Wight Highlights of the year included funding for four projects by Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership who will the West Wight Landscape Partnership. Walks were held to lead the delivery of Down to the Coast, the East Wight mark 50 years of the Island’s AONB. Our innovative Donate Landscape Partnership. a Gate scheme received 87 donations. The Isle of Wight Ramblers was a partner to the WWLP Minutes of the meetings and motions to General Council can scheme, attending board meetings, and benefitting from be seen at www.iowramblers.com Heritage Lottery funded grants. The 2015 AGM will be held on Saturday 30th January at Footpath improvements have taken place at The Needles, Arreton. Mill Copse at Yarmouth and steps at and Compton Bay. New accessible trails have been created at ADVERTISEMENT the Yar estuary, Tapnell, and Newbridge to Shalfleet.

Pictured Sue Poston of the West Wight Landscape Partnership (centre) with members of IW Ramblers at the newly constructed steps leading to Tennyson Down

Isle of Wight Ramblers Queen’s Award for Voluntary Contact information Service Area Council IOW Group Committee Wight Sole Group Items for the next edition of walkTalk Area Chair David Howarth 759823 Chair Vacant Chair Gary Clarke 299511 Thank you to those who submitted material Area Secretary David Howarth 759823 Vice Chair Vacant Deputy Chair Tracey Darch or 07804 for this edition. If you would like to contribute Treasurer Lynda Woolford 716021 Secretary Rio Bellgore-Gullit 07800 Treasurer Dave Aitken 856249 to the next edition, published in August 2014 Footpath Secretary Mike Marchant 564909 528626 Membership Suzanne Aitken please send to: Membership Bobby Carlin 740332 Treasurer Vacant Publicity Alison Cardy Access Officer Mike Slater 752997 Walks programme Steve Gibson 761927 Graphics/Web Toby Davies David Howarth, Red Oaks, 4 Woodlands, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight PO39 0FE Countryside Officer David Howarth 759823 Social Secretaries Carol Henley 537445 Footpath Sub-Committee Publicity Officer Howard Duffus 755469 Committee Pam Dana 863189 Secretary Mike Marchant 564909 Tel: 759823 Newsletter Editor Steve Williams 524007 Members John Rolfe 520155 Planning Cttee Adrian Tavill 562565 Email: [email protected] Committee John Hague 862842 Tim Hough 868517 Members Charlie Davidson 756788 Members John Gurney-Champion 522665 Janet Whiteman 296957 By 5th July 2014 at the latest. David Yates 07718 Print: St Mary’s Hospital Print Unit 685939 The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number 4458492. Registered charity in England and Wales number 1093577, registered charity in Scotland, number SC039799. Registered Office: Second Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW 4 walkTALK www.iowramblers.com