The Meningitis Now Five Valleys Walk Sunday 30 September 2018 Your Handbook Thank you for taking part in the Five Valleys Walk and helping us to beat meningitis with every step. www.fivevalleyswalk.com #fvw ©Meningitis Now 2018 Registered Charity Number 803016 (England & Wales) SC037790 (Scotland). Company Registration Number 2469130 On the day Welcome Arrive at the checkpoint you wish to start from and hand in your CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY LETTER, which is included in this pack. Please note there will also be walkers registering on the day, so make We’re delighted you have chosen to take part in the Meningitis Now sure you are in the ‘pre-registered walkers’ queue to save valuable Five Valleys Walk on Sunday 30 September. With your support, we can walking time. continue to fight meningitis together. Checkpoints open at 8.30am and close at 5.30pm. The Stroud Cricket Club will be open from 8.30am and close later in the evening. This handbook contains everything you need to know about the walk, Route maps including fundraising advice to help you raise as much as possible. Once registered, the checkpoint marshal will give you a route map containing detailed walking instructions. Please follow the directions carefully. If you’ve done the walk before, don’t rely on memory as there are some small changes to the route this year. Remember, if you get into any difficulties, the marshals at any of the checkpoints will be Contents able to help you. Do save our office number in your mobile phone too: 01453 768 000. NB: Our route is signposted in one direction only. You can walk the route in reverse but On the day ............................................................. 3 please be aware that we cannot be held responsible for unclear directions if you choose to do so. Plan your route ....................................................... 4 What to wear Frequently asked questions ..................................... 5 Please wear comfortable clothes and sensible footwear such as hiking boots or sturdy shoes/trainers. Be prepared for all kinds of weather – bring your sun hat, sun cream and Our checkpoints ....................................................... 6 – 7 your waterproofs! First aid Fundraising ............................................................ 8 – 11 St John Ambulance staff will be in attendance on the day to deal with any minor injuries or emergencies. Please alert a member of staff at any of the checkpoints if you encounter a Five Valleys Walk merchandise ................................. 12 problem. Raffle .................................................................... 13 Dogs You are more than welcome to bring your dogs, but please be aware that we cannot take Local advertisements .............................................. 14 – 15 responsibility for them. Please ensure you take the necessary precautions to keep them safe and under control, as we’ve had a number of dogs getting lost in previous years. Water bowls are available at each checkpoint. Please remember to clear up after your dog and Our sponsors ......................................................... 16 bring adequate poo bags. • Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs • Leave gates and property as you find them • Protect plants and animals and take your litter home • Keep dogs under control • Consider other people [email protected] • 01453 769017 • www.fivevalleyswalk.com • #5VW [email protected] • 01453 769017 • www.fivevalleyswalk.com • #5VW 3 Plan your route FAQs Do I have to complete the whole walk? Pitchcombe WC 7 No! The route is separated into eight checkpoints. You can walk as 6 Slad much of the route as you want and start and finish at any of the WC checkpoints. Our free shuttle bus will take you back to your starting point. Standish What time do the free shuttle buses run from? 8 Wood The buses circulate each route from 11.00am until 4.45pm. The last bus leaving the depot to return you to your starting point is at 4.45pm. Bus route maps will be WC 5 Lypiatt available at each checkpoint on the day. WC Where can I park my car? Stroud Cricket Club You are able to park your car at the Stroud Cricket Club or Nailsworth checkpoints. 1 Spaces are limited and the Nailsworth carpark will close at 6pm. Please note that there is no parking available at Slad or Lypiatt, and parking at Standish Woods is very limited. P WC Can I bring my dog? Key Brimscombe 4 YES! You are welcome to bring your dogs, but be aware that we cannot take Checkpoints WC responsibility for them. Please ensure you take the necessary precautions to keep FVW route FVW route which them safe and under control as there is livestock along parts of the route. Water overlaps cycle track bowls and poo bags are available at each checkpoint. Please remember to clean up Main roads after your dog. FVW route which FREE Stagecoach shuttle overlaps main roads buses are on hand to pick Nature trail 3 you and your tired feet up What happens if the weather is bad? FVW route suitable for Minchinhampton pushchairs & wheelchairs once you’ve finished your The event will still go ahead, please be prepared for all weather conditions. Common 2 walk. They will be available at checkpoints between How do I make a donation? Hot Food Nailsworth Fresh Tea Ice Cream Cake WC & Coffee 11am-4.45pm. For a map P WC You can donate via our Five Valleys Walk Just Giving page, please visit: P WC of their route, please visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/meningitisnow/fivevalleyswalk2018. Alcohol Picnic Spot Car Parking Toilets www.fivevalleyswalk.com Or you can donate over the phone, please call 01453 768 000. Finally, you can Free fruit and water Checkpoints at all checkpoints send us a cheque through the post. Please do not send cash in the post. 1. Stroud Cricket Club: along the A419 between Stonehouse and Stroud GL10 2LA 2. Nailsworth: Morrisons’ car park, centre of Nailsworth I have another question. How do I contact Meningitis Now? No parking at Slad or Lypiatt, 3. Minchinhampton: Corner of Minchinhampton Common, near the Parish Church and only very limited parking 4. Brimscombe: STB Engineering Ltd, Toadsmoor Road, Brimscombe Our offices are open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm at the following address, please at Standish Woods. We 5. Lypiatt: Round Elm crossroads, Stroud pop if you have a question: Fern House, Bath Road, Stroud, GL5 3TJ. Otherwise give suggest you park at Stroud 6. Slad: Bus shelter, opposite the war memorial on Slad Road Cricket Club or Nailsworth - us a call on 01453 768 000. follow the directions to our 7. Pitchcombe: North end of village, just off A4173 where A46 and A4173 split car parks. 8. Standish Woods: OS grid reference 832073 (Randwick end) A full list of FAQs can be found on our website. All checkpoints OPEN at 8.30am and CLOSE at 5.30pm, except The Cricket Club – open until late. 4 [email protected] partnership with: • 01453 769017www.facebook.com/MeningitisNow, • www.fivevalleyswalk.com • #5VW #5VW [email protected] • 01453 769017 • www.fivevalleyswalk.com • #5VW 5 Our checkpoints NEW FOR 2018 – remember to collect your FREE refillable water bottle from your starting FREE fruit and water will be available at every checkpoint, and checkpoint! We are committed to reducing our tasty snacks are available to buy to help keep you going. On top plastic waste from the Five Valleys Walk so of this (and our wonderful checkpoint staff who will motivate you won’t be offering plastic cups this year. It will to keep going!), in 2018 we have: also be a souvenir for you to keep to remember the day! Thank you to our friends at GiftPoint for Stroud Cricket Club supplying these. You can expect a tasty Hog Roast in the afternoon, with stuffing and apple sauce. Salt Bakehouse will be serving fresh pizza directly from their brand-new pizza Brimscombe ovens, and sweet treats such as cakes and ice cream from Lovington’s will be available. Why not wash it down with a well-deserved pint at the end of The Canteen will once again be serving tea, coffee, cakes and those tasty energy the day? The bar will be open all day and open until late, so please join us. flapjacks, alongside delicious hot soup for a lunchtime pick-me-up. Our friends at Don’t forget - if you collect a sticker at each of the eight checkpoints you’ll Wheatley Printers are sponsoring this checkpoint and will be on-hand for all your be entitled to a FREE pint of Stroud Brewery Ale at the Cricket Club**. printing needs There will be a nature trail between Stroud Cricket Club and Nailsworth, so Lypiatt remember to pick up your sheet. Phew – you’ve made it through Toadsmoor Woods! Space is limited at Lypiatt, but We will also be joined by School of Larks from 4pm, ready to entertain us all and our staff are on-hand to refill your water bottles and cheer you on as you descend teach us their magical circus skills! into the beautiful Slad Valley. Renishaw are also sponsoring this wonderful checkpoint, so be sure to say hello. Between the Lypiatt and Slad checkpoints, D & L Beverages Nailsworth will be on hand serving refreshments throughout the day. The Canteen will be joining us with a stall of refreshments, including tea, coffee Slad and yummy breakfast bacon baps. Our friends at Ecotricity are here with giant garden games to join in with, and don’t forget to collect your nature trail prize. You’ve made it to the picturesque Slad Valley, and our staff will be here once again to greet you. We’ll have chocolate and flapjacks ready to buy – a well needed Gloucestershire Constabulary will be here in the morning, joined by their big van energy boost! CEV, handing out free goodies for all.