m eBoot – January 2019 This month’s edition includes: • Exmoor weekend, June 2019 • Committee meeting • Maps and route planner • Notices ! • Books for walkers • Forthcoming walks • Commercial corner • Some more poems Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/bristolramblersgroup/ Exmoor Weekend 21st to 24th June 2019 This is a reminder that walks are being organised for a long weekend based in Exmoor. So far there are 16 people who have said they will or may come. The intention is that a full B walk will be offered en route on the Friday, probably in the Brendon Hills. Full and shorter walks will be offered on Saturday and Sunday, with a shorter walk in the Quantock Hills on the way home on Monday. People are booking their own accommodation in Lynmouth or Lynton, where there is ample provision if booked in good time. A breakaway group will camp at Exford, high on the moor with pubs where refuge may be sought. It should be pointed out that these two venues are 1/2 hour apart by car so early planning of your preferred walk may be necessary! A couple of walk leaders have offered their services, but another to lead or be on standby would be welcome. It would be helpful if you would let Chris Sanders know as and when you decide you'd like to come (or lead a walk) ([email protected]). All are welcome, but we'll need to keep an eye on lift availability. Committee meeting, 4th December The latest meeting of the Group’s Committee had a packed agenda. Among the items discussed were: • the meeting point for Sunday A walks. As from the start of the next Walks Programme, this will be Priory Road, a more central location than the Downs; • the Flickr site. Members submitting photos of walks have increasingly used Facebook rather than Flickr. Flickr have also indicated that they will start charging in January. As a result, it was decided to close the Flickr site. Advice is provided on how to set up albums on the Group’s !1 Facebook account. You don’t have to be a Facebook member to see Bristol Ramblers photos: there is a link under Photos on the homepage of the Group’s website; • the walks programme. Apart from Sunday walks, there is a shortage of walks coming forward for the next programme. The Avon Area are exploring the possibility of using a new walk leader training package from the national Ramblers. If you would be interested, please contact [email protected]; • Bristol Walk Fest 2019. Although the call for walks has not yet been received, we are assured that preparations are on course. So if you have ideas for a walk in May, be prepared! Maps and route planner There is now a page on our website on which you can plot a route on a map. The display includes the total mileage and the feet of ascent. This a valuable aid to planning walks. It is available under Walks>Map and Route Planner, on bristolramblers.org.uk. Notices Avon Area AGM The Avon Area AGM will take place on 16th February at the Redland Green Bowls Club. There will be a walk at 10am, a buffet lunch at 12:30pm, and the AGM itself will start at 1:30. One of the national Trustees will speak, as will the Programme Manager for the national ‘Don’t lose your way’ project. HF Holidays The Bristol Ramblers Group is now a member of HF. Chris Sanders has purchased group membership of HF as part of the Group’s booking for an HF holiday this summer. This has certain benefits for Bristol Ramblers members wishing to book a group holiday with HF. If you are interested in booking such a holiday please contact Chris ([email protected]) to discuss the procedure and the benefits. Your Path Awaits - please write to your MP to support this crucial campaign The national Ramblers write: as you are aware, the Agriculture Bill has been making its way through Parliament and is set to go back to the House of Commons for a full debate of MPs over the coming weeks. We have been working to ensure that the Bill protects and enhances access to the countryside, and this latest debate gives us a new opportunity to push for changes to achieve this. We were pleased to see the first draft of the Bill recognise the importance of public access, but we believe that it can, and should, be more aspirational. Over the past month we have secured the support of two MPs, Caroline Lucas and Angela Smith, to table amendments which can strengthen the bill. You can find out more about the amendments on our website. Now that the amendments have been tabled we need the support of as many MPs as possible. We know how busy you all our at this time of year but we would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to write to your MP today and ask them to support a more ambitious Agriculture Bill that not only protects, but enhances, our !2 access to the countryside. If you have any questions on the Bill or on our campaign please email [email protected]. Our Don’t Lose Your Way project The Ramblers believe that there are over 10,000 miles of historic paths missing from the map. The project officer will speak at the Avon Area AGM in February. If you would like to become involved, you can find out about the three steps to finding lost rights of way in your area by downloading the national Ramblers guide. If you think you have found a historic right of way and are not sure what to do next, or you would like to get involved in this project via your local area, please email [email protected]. Books for walkers The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Paula Cannings writes: This is a beautiful book, with gorgeous illustrations. It is a large format, coffee table book to dip into and enjoy. The words and pictures combine to produce a magical effect, conjuring a variety of plants, birds and animals in natural settings. From a double page, vibrant picture of kingfishers to a poem about the humble dandelion, turn the pages to discover fresh delights. I'm sure many Ramblers would enjoy this book and it would be a great gift idea for young people. Robert Macfarlane has written several best-selling books, including The Wild Places, The Old Ways, Holloway and Landmarks. He is a compelling and lyrical writer. Jackie Morris has written and illustrated many books, including The Song of the Golden Hare and The Wild Swans. If you would like to write about a book that you think has some relevance for walkers, please contact [email protected]. Our 2018 feature, Poems for Walkers, has unearthed examples of local creativity. See the end of this eBoot for a couple of extra poems. Some forthcoming walks Full details of the walks programme are in the published programme and on our website and also on the national Ramblers Walkfinder. If you would like to see walks in future programmes, you can see the spreadsheets on our website (walks>led walks>walks for future programme). If you would like to add a walk to one of the spreadsheets, contact the appropriate Walk Coordinator. 1st January - Crook Peak (B walk, 11 miles) Note that the 2019 New Year’s Day walk will now be led by Chris Sanders, with a different starting point. It will now start from the car park at King’s Wood, south of Sidcot on the A38 (ST421560 on Exp141). This is because the pub we were going to will be closed on the day. We will now be visiting the Star at Star. 2nd January - Pensford (Wednesday walk, 5.5 miles) !3 This is an addition to the published programme. Meet at 10.15pm at Pensford Bridge. 6th January - Toll Free Wye Valley Walk (A/B walk, 12 miles) This is a joint A and B walk to celebrate the demise of the Severn Bridge Toll. It begins in Chepstow and completes a loop of the lower Wye valley, taking in bits of the Gloucestershire Way, Offa's Dyke and the Wye Valley Walk, and offering lovely views as we go. Lunch will be in Tintern, with several pub options. This should be a fun outing helped by there being no less than four leaders guiding the group through the different sections. Note that the meeting point will be the Water Tower for an 8:30 departure. 12th January - Burrington Ham and Black Down (Saturday walk, 6 miles) This is an addition to the published programme. Meet at 10pm at the first Burrington Combe car park. 13th January - Backwell to Wrington (B and shorter B walk, 11/8 miles) This walk replaces the advertised Strawberry Line walk, as First Bus are no longer offering a Cheddar to Weston Sunday service. Our walk starts from the village of Backwell and climbs gently, 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 the village of 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 good tracks and well drained limestone bridal ways.