The Ramblers’ Association Working for walkers Norfolk Area Newsletter & Walks Programme August — November 2006 AREA OFFICE: Derek Goddard is acting as Area Secretary in a temporary capacity. During this period, the address for area correspondence is 49 Lindford Drive, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 6LR. The phone number is (01603) 612644 and the email address is [email protected] Correspondence re footpath matters, including the reporting of footpath problems should be send to the Footpath Co-ordinator, Alan Bowell, 3 Bensley Close, Acle, Norwich, NR13 3RD Telephone 01493 750560 The Area News Editor: Richard May, 24 Swanton Avenue, Dereham, NR19 2HJ. Telephone 01362 851547, email address is [email protected] All RA members are invited to take part in any walk in the Area programme. Non-members are welcome to participate and are invited to join the RA if they so desire once they have sampled the variety of walks on offer. You can join by visiting the RA web site www.ramblers.org.uk or by contacting the Norfolk Area Office or by contacting a Group Secretary. Dates for your diary: The next deadline for copy for the newsletter is 14 October 2006 The deadline for copy for the following newsletter will be 17 February 2007 The next Executive Committee meeting will be held at the Village Hall, Honingham, on Tuesday 8th August at19:30. The following meeting will be on Saturday 25th November at 10:00 RA CENTRAL OFFICE The address of the Ramblers’ Association Central Office is: 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87—90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Tel: 020 7339 8500, Fax: 020 7339 8501 Index of Walks Programmes email [email protected] FAKENHAM 10 - 11 SHERINGHAM 14 - 15 Web http://www/ramblers.org.uk GREAT YARMOUTH 18 - 19 SHORT LEISURELY 24 - 25 Norfolk Area website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bcmoore/NorfolkRA KING’S LYNN 6 - 10 SOUTHERN NORFOLK 26 - 27 MID NORFOLK 12 - 13 WENSUM 22 - 23 The Norfolk Area, Ramblers’ Association, is part of The Ramblers’ Association, a registered charity NORWICH 20 - 21 LEG STRETCHERS 25 (number 1093577), and a company limited by guarantee (registration number 4458492) The Ramblers’ Association Norfolk Area Newsletter & Walks Programme August — November 2006 From The Area Secretary (Acting) After serving a number of years as an efficient and valued Area Secretary Eleanor Martin stood down at the AGM in March. However, all the enthusiasm and dedication she brought to being the AS she now brings to footpath matters, where she will be a great asset. A very big thank you, then, goes to Eleanor, together with our best wishes. Regrettably no volunteer stepped forward to fill the resulting vacancy and I have therefore taken it on in a strictly temporary capacity, as has the new Minutes Secretary (Gillian Kent). Neither of these posts is desperately onerous. They are in fact interesting and rewarding, so will some willing members kindly offer their services, please. In what has become known as “The Dorset Case” the “20 year principal” was overturned, putting all footpath claims in jeopardy. Maintaining that principal as the status quo is vital to the interests of all ramblers and, naturally, the RA is fighting the judgement hard. It has now won leave to appeal to the House of Lords, a first for the Association and one that is historically significant. Litigation is of course very costly and following an appeal your Executive Committee has decided to contribute £5,000 towards the costs. For its part Norwich Group has also contributed £500 and it is understood that other Areas/Groups are doing likewise. The appeal in the Lords is expected to be heard sometime later this year, watch this space and “Walk” magazine. Derek Goddard: Area Secretary (Acting) From The Area News Editor Just after Easter this year, I had the pleasure, along with Eleanor Martin, of attending the Rambers Association General Council. This was a fascinating experience, and gave me a greater understanding of what the RA does nationally. One particularly interesting conversation that I had, was regarding the national idea of a 20’s and 30’s group. It would appear that Norfolk is one of the few counties that hasn’t yet formed such a group. As a member of that age range myself, I joined the fringe meeting and was greatly encouraged to hear the experiences of members of 20’s and 30’s groups in other counties, and to realise what such a group could do for Norfolk. I am now keen, with support from Central Office, to assist in creating a group in Norfolk. If you are interested, or have any comments, then please email me at [email protected], or phone me on 01362 851547. Richard May: Area News Editor 2 31 The Ramblers’ Association Norfolk Area Newsletter & Walks Programme August — November 2006 Keep Back Please! Walks leaders have to manage many things – the route and terrain, timings and stops, changeable weather, and varying ability among the walkers. They should not need to continually watch for people pushing ahead. It can be embarrassing to have to call walkers back, annoying if they miss turnings, and worrying if there are known hazards ahead. The leader has recce'd the route and is carefully setting the pace – please don't try to force it. Also, walkers ahead of the leader aren't covered by RA's insurance. Basically, forging ahead is just bad manners. If the walk is too slow for you, perhaps it's the wrong walk? So please, stay with or behind the leader, and let him or her do the leading. Patrick Bonham, Chairman, Sheringham Group Use Your Paths Challenge Have you heard about the Ramblers Association “Use Your Paths Challenge?” This is a nationwide challenge to check over every path across the UK. It can be done by individuals, or groups. All you need to do is pick one or more grid squares from an OS map, and walk every public right of way within that square. If you come across any problems (obstructions, missing signposts etc) you should report them to Norfolk County Council on 01603 222143 or you can report them online at http://tinyurl.com/o8amp . Once you have completed this, you can record the squares which you have done, via the challenge website, and they will be marked on the map so that other people can see that the square has been checked. Also, if any squares have no public rights of way at all, then this can be recorded on the map too! Looking at the progress map for Norfolk, I notice that we have quite a way to go yet! The are some squares marked as no public rights of way along the north coast and further inland in the Wells-next-the-Sea area. Sheringham has obviously been busy with over 40 squares marked as fully checked! Beyond that, there are 7 squares marked in the Catton area, seven squares near Tacolneston and a lot of squares marked (mainly as no paths) in the Thetford area. As I am sure you can work out from the above status report, this leaves a great deal of Norfolk unchecked. The challenge runs until September 2007, so why not take this chance to pick a few squares and check them out. The website is at www.useyourpaths.info and is full of useful information as well as the map of results. However, if you want to take part but don’t have Internet access then Richard May has offered to help out. Give him a ring on (01362) 851547 to check that the squares you are proposing to walk haven’t already been done, and then let him know afterwards and he will record your results online. 30 3 The Ramblers’ Association Norfolk Area Newsletter & Walks Programme August — November 2006 Path Changes from the Footpath Co-ordinator Walking in the Dordogne Beautiful 18c Perigordine house centrally located Room price per day based on a week stay Beighton FP3 & 4 Diversion (Confirmed 29/03/06) TG 398.075. [2nd diversion to accommodate including Breakfast & Packed lunch (all rooms in the beautiful Dordogne Valley in France extension to Nursery site. The gaps in the hedge are on the original definitive line. Due to the revised have en-suite facilities) offering individual or group accommodation for • cultivation of the field beyond the nursery the former curving grass path of FP3 has been partially £33—Single ramblers. B&B plus packed lunch, emo. • £41—Double ploughed out creating a cross-field section.] • Euro 23.50 for four course evening meal Brettenham BOAT 4 / Bridgham BOAT 7 & 8 (Confirmed 01/06/06) Starts from Bridgham Road at TL930.836, runs across fields to Brettenham Heath at TL930.853, then across the heath to the Email Sara for more details of this fantastic offer on Peddars Way at TL933.867. Bridgham BOAT 8 was formerly the northern part of Bridgham FP4 Le Chevrefeuille (Peddars Way) You will not find this route on the OS maps, this was a 'Lost ways project' last in use [email protected] www.lechevrefeuille.com around the 1930's Tel +33 05 53 59 4797 Dickleburgh BR21 (Lonely Road). (Confirmed 02/06/06) Starts from TM177.832 and runs to TM197.830 on Airstation Lane. [The middle section of this route crosses agricultural land and may be subject to a diversion. Lonely Road fell out of use when the military closed it during the First World War to facilitate Airship manoeuvres around the mooring mast. The most famous one being the R101.] Thinking about getting Broadband? Eaton (Norwich)BR4 (Confirmed 28/06/06) This well used path is now registered.