Oswestry Group Programme & Newsletter November 2017 to February 2018 page 1 page 2 Chairman’s Chat As many of you will know I am coming to the end of my term as your Chairperson after four years, so we are looking for someone to come forward and volunteer to be our next chairperson. I would like to thank three groups of people who have helped to make my job pleasant and enjoyable. To all members of Oswestry Ramblers for their support and encouragement, to all the walk leaders for their time and effort in giving us such a varied and interesting programme and to the members of the committee, past and present, for their support and work during my four years, so THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. The AGM is set for Tuesday 28 November, 7.15pm, at Whittington Cricket Club. Please come and see if we can have more members there than ever. The new walks programme is out and if there are any dates vacant, apart from those over Christmas, that will be due to the programme co-ordinators having less walks offered as our pool of walk leaders is diminished. We need members to see if they have a favourite walk they would like to offer to lead for the next programme. Thank you all once again and have good walking. Colin Chandler, Chair of Oswestry Ramblers Area News This will be replaced with a regular half-yearly newsletter. Dates for Your Diary • 28TH NOVEMBER 2017 GROUP AGM 7 pm for 7.15 pm at the Whittington Cricket Club. It is a ‘Bring a Plate’ event and there will also be a raffle plus country dancing. Tea and coffee will be provided by the Social Committee. • 14th DECEMBER 2017 CHRISTMAS WALK AND PUB LUNCH. This year it is being held at The Keys, St Martins, 1 pm for 1.30 pm. Please contact Ceinwen Danby on 01691 661 714 for details. • 21st MAY to 24th MAY, inclusive 2018 OSWESTRY RAMBLERS GROUP HOLIDAY based in Newport, Pembrokeshire. Please contact Barbara Pryce Jones on 07866 532 979 for details. • 5th to 8th OCTOBER 2018 HF WHITBY HOLIDAY. Please contact Jane Hadlow for details on 01691 650 470. Programme Dogs: Only ‘Registered Assistance Dogs’ are allowed on Oswestry Group walks Details of the Oswestry programme can always be found on our group Website at www.oswestryramblers.org.uk. Details of walks by other Groups in the Shropshire 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 leaders to 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. page 3 • 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) Sun 29/10/2017 From Trefriw opposite the Woollen Mill, walk up Moderate Ruth & Phil 09:00 to the lakes of Crafnant and Geirionydd using good 7.5 01691 622651 paths, forestry tracks and quiet lanes. Steady ascents (Diane) and descents. Rough ground in some places. Zone E Thurs 02/11/2017 From Llanrhaeadr through fields and lanes with a Moderate Jane Hudson 10:00 couple of climbs. Zone B 4.5 01691 780764 Sun 05/11/2017 A circuit of Llyn Alwen Resevoir on good tracks and Moderate Diane & John 09:30 paths with stunning upland scenery. Zone D 7.5 01691 622651 Thurs 09/11/2017 From Pen-y-foel along country lanes, through Moderate Anne 10:00 woodland with some steep climbs. Zone C 4.5 01938 590530 Sun 12/11/2017 EARLY START A Moderate walk from Dinas Mawddwy Moderate Kirsten 09:00 around the Dovey Valley. Good paths, tracks and 7 01691 652645 quiet roads. Lovely views. Zone E Thurs 16/11/2017 From Trevor along the Panorama to Llangollen with Moderate Huw & Janet 10:00 350 metres of ascent. Return by bus. Zone B 6.5 01691 658134 Sun 19/11/2017 From Meifod following Glyndwr’s Way across gently Moderate Ann 09:30 rolling farmland to the village of Pontrobert. The 7 01938 590530 return route takes a slightly higher, more wooded 07714 310111 ground and along some very quiet pastoral lanes back to Meifod. Thurs 23/11/2017 From Queen’s Head through golf course and field Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 10:00 paths to Maesbury and back via the canal and West 5.5 01691 661714 Felton. Zone A page 4 Sun 26/11/2017 A moderate walk up to Rodney’s Pillar and over Moderate Gwen 10:00 Middleton Hill and Bulthy Hill with some steep 8.5 01691 623362 ascents and descents. Good paths and tracks with views across Wales and into Shropshire. Zone B Thurs 30/11/2017 Around Weston Rhyn on field paths and quiet lanes. Leisurely Colin & Linda 10:00 Zone A 4.7 01691 679069 07545 382869 Sun 3/12/2017 A Moderate walk from Llanfyllin along quiet lanes, Moderate Jane Hudson 10:00 field paths and woodland with some ascent. Zone B 6 01691 780764 Thurs 07/12/2017 From Llansillin down towards Cynllaith Valley to Moderate Maggie 10:00 Sycharth and return over Mynydd-y-Bryn. Zone B 5.5 07990 516469 Sun 10/12/2017 A circular walk visiting Valle Crucis Abbey and Castell Moderate Carole & David 10:00 Dinas Bran. Farm tracks and field paths and a section 7 01691 624643 of the Llangollen canal towpath. 5 stiles. Zone B Thurs 14/12/2017 A walk around St Martins followed by Christmas Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 10:00 lunch at The Keys. More details later. Zone A 5.5 01691 661714 Sun 17/12/2017 An easier moderate walk from Morris Bridge along Moderate Diane & John 10:00 quiet lanes and across field paths. Zone B 7.5 01691 622651 Thurs 21/12/2017 Starting at Rednal, along the canal path and return. Leisurely Gwen 10:00 Zone A 5 01691 623362 Thurs 28/12/2017 From the river bridge at Melverley up Bausley Hill and Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 10:00 down through woodland to riverside path. Zone B 5 01691 661714 Thurs 04/01/2018 From Nant Mill, near Wrexham through woodland Moderate Pat H 10:00 which forms part of the Clwyd Trail. Zone C 4.5 01691 682272 Sun 07/01/2018 Church Stretton. Ascend via Townbrook Hollow onto Moderate Diane & John 09:30 the Long Mynd and Pole Bank. Return via Cardingmill 6 01691 622651 Valley. Zone D Thurs 11/01/2018 A walk around Gobowen on paths, roads and fields. Moderate Rodney 10:00 Zone A 5 01691 624677 Sun 14/01/2018 No walk offered Thurs 18/01/2018 From Grinshill over to Yorton with sandstone outcrop, Moderate Diane & John 10:00 old quarries and gentle farmland. Zone B 5.5 01691 622651 Sun 21/01/2018 From the village of Forden, along Offa's Dyke path Moderate Peter & Ceinwen 09:30 running north with a moderate climb up to Beacon 7.5 01691 661714 Hill. Great views over towards Powis Castle, return is via a quiet lane, through woodlands and fields to the village of Forden. Zone C Thurs 25/01/2018 From Llanfyllin through Dolfach Park and up Ty’n ’twll Moderate Gwen 10:00 with 500ft of ascent and back through Coed Lletty- 4.5 01691 623362 yr-eos. Zone B Sun 28/01/2018 From Caergwrle up to Hope Mountain on good paths, Moderate Pat 10:00 great views all round, passing old Quarry. Return via 6 01691 656132 field paths and tracks. Zone C Thus 01/02/2018 From Trefonen to Craig Sychtyn Nature Reserve and Moderate Pat 10:00 return. Zone A 5.5 01691 656132 page 5 Sun 04/02/2018 09.30am No. 2 bus from Oswestry Bus Station, alight Moderate Chris J 09:30 at the bus shelter opposite the Hand Hotel in Chirk, 9 01691 654066 09.50am.