Isle of Wight Ramblers Volunteers at the heart walkNews and information from the Isle of WightALK of all Issue 129 Area and Groups we do Autumn 2016 If only There’s always room for more... ISLE OF WIGHT Ramblers has had some we could control success increasing our volunteer pool this year, thanks in large part to the work of our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Jacky Carter. You may be surprised at the numbers: the we currently have 116 volunteers carrying out 171 different roles. One area in which this growth in volunteering has had a marked effect weather... is in the increase in the numbers of new walks leaders – which of course translates into a bigger and more ALSO varied walks programme, including the IN THIS ISSUE sunset walks described below. • Coastal Trail: the journey begins • Ruby wedding surprise But there is still much work to do to • Walking with your dog ensure that we have a bright future – • The Island’s Gift to Nature there’s always room for more! • Only connect • Walk of the world Volunteers are involved in a very wide • Secrets of Northwood House range of tasks, and you can commit as • Victorian walks much or as little time as you wish. • Autumn walks programme If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Jacky on 506077. WE ARE OFTEN asked to organise walks have been successful in recruiting more sunset itself, the sky magically turned to a of shorter or longer distances on specific volunteer walk leaders, so there should crimson colour. days of the week and sometimes in the now be more choice. Our last programme evening. had some 127 walks and events in the Sadly, the walk in June was spoiled by four-month programme. poor weather with rain at Totland Bay for Well, we do our best to try to meet the 7pm start. Understandably, no one everyone’s expectations. Many of our Two sunset walks, led by David Howarth arrived for the start of the walk, but by members are retired and can make in the West Wight, took place in May and 8pm, the sun was shining with excellent most times, but we are very aware that June. Three people joined the first walk views across The Solent. there are members working and unable which went from Freshwater towards the to join us during the week. Recently we Needles. It was a glorious evening and, at Now, if we could only control the weather... Welcome... Ramble up the Hamble Up-coming Ramblers’ holidays Chitty’s chug ... to walkTALK, the newsletter from Paphos, Cyprus overland to Oz This autumn holiday will be based in the eastern Mediterranean during October/ the Isle of Wight Ramblers. If you’re TWENTY FIVE MEMBERS enjoyed November, 2017. new to walking, or if you’ve not seen a social event last March when Nick Enquiries have been made for a 14-night holiday to the island of Cyprus, staying walkTALK before, why not join us? Pointing (pictured), owner of Chitty, at the four-star Athena Beach Hotel, on a half-board basis. Flights and transfers Benefits include: the car that he built and then spent are included. This beachfront five months driving to Australia, gave •280 led walks on the Island each hotel is within walking a talk about his adventure. (See year; distance of the picturesque WalkTALK, winter 2015 edition). •a variety of social events; harbour and archaeological sites. It is child-free and is Nick’s wife was a keen fan of the film •walking holidays and day trips; popular with bowlers, walkers Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and an idea •national Walk magazine and and golfers. The hotel boasts to build the car grew and became a walkTALK; three fresh water swimming reality, and the adventure started. •discounts from leading outdoor pools (right), indoor pool The car’s chassis was from an old suppliers (eg Cotswold; Blacks) and and jacuzzis, tennis courts Land Rover, which needed major Ramblers Worldwide Holidays; and bowling green facilities, maintenance to make it roadworthy, plus an Elixir Spa, gym and •support for an organisation and at considerable cost the car hairdressing salon. campaigning for greater access to the was fitted with racking and a roof. countryside. Paphos is a small, Disaster struck on the way to the Joining us couldn’t be easier. Just go to picturesque town situated on ferry port but the AA gave much- www.iowramblers.com and click on the the west coast. It is steeped in history and is included in UNESCO’s list of World needed help and support. A DAY IN mid-June saw a group of ramblers joining the Jennie M ferry at Cultural Heritage sites. The Paphos area has charming villages in its mountains, membership link. The journey through Europe, Iran, Trinity Wharf, Cowes for a journey to Warsash on the eastern side of the River with centuries-old monasteries nestling in them. Prices – which includes an Afghanistan and Malaysia brought Hamble. itinerary with two-three days walking per week – will be available shortly. administrative challenges. Eventually A three-mile riverside walk led to the Brickworks Museum heritage centre at Somerset... in Llandudno Nick and his wife made it to Australia Bursledon where two guides showed us both the handmade bricks and the This spring break will be based in and crossed the Outback to join 546 development towards automation of the process using steam driven machinery, Llandudno, north Wales (right) from family and friends – all on a budget some of it still operational. This is the only complete steam-driven brickworks in Total membership for Isle of Wight Ramblers 22nd to 28th April, 2017. of £15,000. Main Group 485; Wightsole 61 the UK. A welcome café provided our group with tea and cakes. We will be staying at the Somerset At the event – held at Arreton Hotel on the sea-front near the Our journey continued crossing the river to the western side of The Hamble Community Centre – the special Great Orme, with an excursion to and a picnic lunch stop in woodland at Mallards Moor. The weather forecast ride in Chitty was won by Rambler Snowdonia and Conwy. The price A warm welcome to new members had threatened heavy showers, and towards the end of the walk, it certainly did Margaret Buckett and her four is £299 per person for a standard rain, so the group dispersed, with some sheltering in local pubs where football grandchildren. Most people took Main Group room – unfortunately this holiday is was being shown. home Easter prizes in the extensive Natasha Gaskin Ryde currently fully subscribed, although raffle, whilst everyone enjoyed an Terry & Corrine White Shanklin A water taxi ferried the group back to Warsash to await the boat to Cowes. a waiting list has been started. Melanie Surry Ventnor excellent high tea. Many thanks to Jackie and Tim for providing an excellent day trip enjoyed by Walking the Wrekin Jane Dunkley Ryde Thanks go to Carol Henley for an everyone. We’re planning an autumn break to The Wrekin, Shropshire from 4th to 10th Jacqueline Fletcher Freshwater excellent event and to husband Bill September, 2017. Alison Logan Ventnor who led a short walk prior to the talk. Mr & Mrs Boddington Newport We will be staying at the three-star Buckatree Hall Hotel (below), set in scenic Chris Head Cowes gardens with a miniature lake, and surrounded by beautiful countryside and Susan Farringdon Switzerland spectacular views. It is situated at the foot of The Wrekin, near the market town of Annette Domoney Shanklin Wellington. The cost per person, based on twin share, is £489 (single supplement Charlotte Winter Sandown £55). Tony Richardson Ryde Some walks will be led by a Valerie Horne Ryde local Rambling Group with a Mrs J Johnson Sandown day or two in the Ironbridge Wightsole Gorge (five miles from the hotel) Mr & Mrs Steer Northwood Weston-SUPER-Mare walking along the River Severn, Stephen French Rookley THIS YEAR’S SPRING break to Weston- Ramblers. An excursion to Bristol was with an opportunity to visit Blists Mr & Mrs Freeman Newport Super-Mare was an enjoyable success. included and many of us took the Hill Victorian Town and some opportunity to visit SS Great Britain. of the many museums, such as Mr & Mrs Hopkins Shanklin Our group of 45 members travelled Shelagh Burton Ryde On our free day, Ed Filbrook led us Coalport China, Jackfield Tile with Dunwood Travel and stayed at the on a local walk from the hotel through and the Coalbrookdale Museum Birchfield Hotel. Weston Woods to Sand Point. of Iron. A group admission for The weather was a lot colder than The Birchfield was comfortable, served up to ten museums will cost last year – including a couple of good food, and provided the best approximately £20. snow flurries! – but we remained dry entertainment. Naturally, we took full for our Cheddar Gorge walk, led by advantage of the free drinks each To enquire about, or to book a place on any of these holidays, please contact Tony Strange from the West Mendip evening! Jackie or Tim Hough on 868517, or email [email protected] 2 walkTALK www.iowramblers.com www.iowramblers.com walkTALK 3 A new coastal trail Ruby wedding surprise for the Pettitt family ISLE OF WIGHT Ramblers has now received 150 donations Volunteers for gates to replace stiles across the Island, helping many at the more people to enjoy walking and access the countryside. heart Residents and visitors can see that this scheme is really the of all making a difference to people’s lives.