eBoot – January 2017

This month’s edition includes:

• Walk Leaders’ expenses • Skittles evening • Ceilidh • Members Development Day • Avon Area AGM • Pathwatch - reporting problems with paths • WalkFest 2017 • Bristol Walking Alliance • Forthcoming walks • Commercial corner

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ bristolramblersgroup/

Walk Leaders’ expenses Walk Leaders’ expenses can be claimed for the costs of one pre-walk or recce. If a car is used, then payment will be at the marginal cost of 13p a mile. If public transport is used, there will be full reimbursement but receipts must be provided. In addition, any necessary parking charges and bridge tolls can be claimed. A claim can only be made once a walk has appeared on the Ramblers Programme and must be made within a month of the date of the walk. A downloadable form will be on the website and should be completed and sent, with any necessary receipts, to the Treasurer who will arrange payment.

The scheme will be operative for walks appearing in the Programme from February 2017 onwards.

Skittles evening The skittles evening in December was a great success, with £165 raised from ticket sales and raffle for Longtown Mountain Rescue.

Ceilidh A date for your diary: there will be a Bristol Ramblers ceilidh on 17th March at The Civil Service Sports Club 19.30 – 23.30. Further details to follow.

Members Development Day - 26th February Tessa Wyatt, chair of the Avon Area, writes: the Ramblers are holding a Members Development Day on 26th February at Keynsham. We are fortunate to have a development day in our area, so I do hope lots of members take advantage of this event. There are workshops to suit group officers with their roles and members who wish to learn a little more

!1 about all that walking has to offer (further details are being circulated with this eBoot).

As the Avon Area is 'hosting' the event, we will need volunteers on the day to help with registration, and manning the Area information pod at lunch time. I will need to know the names of volunteers and also their clothes size (for a T-shirt).

If you would like to help, please contact Tessa at [email protected].

Avon Area AGM - 4th February The AGM Avon Area will be on Saturday 4th February next year at the Walton Park Hotel in Clevedon. The programme will be much as in previous years. • 10.30-12.30 - optional four-mile walk • 12.30 - 1.30 - informal buffet lunch • 1.30-3.30 - formal AGM proceedings, followed by speaker from Somerset Coal Canal Trust.

Pathwatch - reporting problems with paths The national Ramblers Pathwatch campaign was launched in November. Last year’s Big Pathwatch revealed that about 9% of paths, nationwide, are poorly maintained. The campaign’s target is that all paths should be in good state by 2020.

You can help by reporting problems with paths. If you use the Pathwatch app (see the national Ramblers website, or the link on the homepage of the Group’s website), you can submit reports which will be automatically passed on to the relevant local authority. Alternatively, you can submit reports through the national Ramblers website.

Bristol WalkFest 2017 Planning for the 2017 festival is now underway. This will be Britain’s biggest urban walking festival (but rural walks are also welcome). If you would like to offer a walk, perhaps with a local theme or showcasing a local feature, for next May, please contact [email protected].

Bristol Walking Alliance The Group is a member of the Bristol Walking Alliance, which campaigns for improvements to the walking environment. If you would like to be added to the circulation list for regular newsletters and updates, email [email protected].

Forthcoming walks

Full details of the walks programme are in the published programme and on our website and also on the national Ramblers Walkfinder.

!2 If you would like to lead a walk in the next programme (February to May), you can use the spreadsheets on the Group’s website (walks>led walks>walks for future programme).

1st January - Backwell to Wrington (A/B walk, 11 miles) Our New Years Day walk starts from the village of Backwell and climbs gently for the first part leading to views across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh Hills, and down to Steep Holm. Later, we have fine views of the vale of Wrington and the Mendips before we descend into Wrington for our lunch stop at the welcoming and spacious Plough Inn. The afternoon will see us return via Goblin Combe and Brockley Combe. The vast majority of this walk is on firm tracks and well drained limestone bridal ways.

Please organise yourselves at Gt George St for lift sharing 09:15, and depart Bristol via Hotwells following the A370 Long Ashton Bypass, signed Weston-Super-Mare. In the village of Backwell at the cross roads with traffic lights turn LEFT into Dark Lane, signed Recycling Centre, and park at the top of this road to meet the Leader at 09:30.

For those wishing for a shorter walk (8 miles) meet us at 11:00 at the lay-by with a bus stop half way up Brockley Combe (entrance to Fountain Forestry, GR ST484664 Exp 154).

4th January - around (Wednesday walk, 4 miles) Starting in the centre of Fishponds, Sue Jarvis will lead you round the outskirts of Fishponds taking in three parks and two nature reserves. We will also use the Bristol to Bath path and the Frome Valley Walkway. So many parts of the walk will be familiar. If the weather is inclement, Sue will shorten the walk. Pubs and cafes at end.

Note that the B walks on the 8th and 15th January have been switched. Mandy Macdonald’s Lansdowne walk will now take place on the 8th (meet at 9am) and Chris Sanders’ Limpley Stoke walk will take place on the 15th (meet at 8.30am).

In addition, Sarah Shorter’s Sherston walk, programmed for 8th January, will now take place on 15th January.

8th January - Lansdown (B walk, 11 miles) The walk will start and end in the public car park in Swineford on the A431 behind the Swan Pub. We will walk up to Landsdown, then down, via part of the , to the Crown in Kelston where we will stop for lunch. Then back along the Avon.

15th January - Limpley Stoke (B hill walk, 12.5 miles) Chris Sanders is leading this walk on behalf of his good friend Russell Jenner, who devised and led it in 2005. He says: “I hadn't realised just how steep the three hills are on this walk, so I've re-graded it as a B Hill !3 Walk.” This delightful walk starts from Batheaston and climbs steeply up through Bathford to Brown's Folly. We will then carry on through the woods, along the River Avon and along the canal to Limpley Stoke and our pub lunch stop. After lunch we'll climb steeply up and over to Monkton Combe, and up again to the Bath Downs: the actual route will depend on the time available. Then it's back towards Bathampton and steeply down the incline to the canal, and around the new meadow walk to Batheaston. Please bring a torch, just in case.

15th January - Midford (A walk, 14 miles) This walk starts near Hinton Charterhouse and descends to Freshford. A level section leads us through Limpley Stoke to reach the Dundas aqueduct. The day’s first climb takes us to a short section of the Bath Skyline walk before returning to the valley of Midford Brook and lunch at Midford. We then climb steeply to Southstoke and then we gradually lose height to reach Combe Hay. Our return to the cars takes in Twinhoe and Hinton Charterhouse. This is an undulating but not difficult walk with some muddy sections.

15th January - Sherston (shorter B walk, 7 miles) Note no lunch time pub stop: pub stop at end of walk.

5th February - Chalford (A walk, 14 miles) We start near Brimscombe, climb on to the through woodland and the Toadsmoor valley. We skirt Bisley, following the and descending to Oakridge (lunch stop, with pub) and the Frome valley. Climbing out of the valley south of the river, we cross some farmland before venturing through woodland down to the . The last mile is along the canal. This is an easy A walk with 600 metres of ascent. It could be muddy in places.

15th February - Wotton-under-Edge (Wednesday walk, 5.5 miles) This is a circular walk from the car park of The Royal Oak, Wotton-under- Edge (GR ST755934, nearest postcode GL12 7DG). The route goes up Coombe Hill, through Conygre Wood to the land mark trees and panoramic view on Wotton Hill, and then descends to Bradley Green and the outskirts of Kingswood before climbing back to Wotton.

Contact Tricia or Jenny (07724 063973 or 0778 8804439) for more details.

Commercial corner

! !4 Ramblers Holidays (and Ramblers Holidays Worldwide) is the Ramblers holiday walking partner. If you book a holiday with Ramblers Holidays, this Group will receive a contribution if you let them know that you are a Bristol Ramblers member (£10 for UK holidays, £20 for short haul, £30 for long haul). See www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/page/ thewalkingpartnership.

Note that this has no impact on the price you pay for the holiday.

Discounts for Ramblers members Most outdoor gear shops offer discounts to Ramblers members.

!

Cotswold Outdoor is the Ramblers national sponsor, and their discount is 15%.

!

Taunton Leisure sponsors this local Group, and also offer 15% discounts, rising to 20% at their regular special events.

!5