Stepping forward January – June 2019 ‘ It’s the people who make it very enjoyable’ Walker, Sodbury, Yate & Dodington group ‘I’ve met some fantastic people on these walks. A group of us go out for the ‘I like getting out in the day once a month, we’ve countryside, finding places walked to the highest that you didn’t even know point of the Mendips.’ existed.’ Sam, Walker - various groups Rosalind, Walker - Sodbury, Yate & Dodington Group For further information visit: www.southglos.gov.uk/walking Please see the front of this leaflet for theWalking for Health programme of shorter walks. www.southglos.gov.uk Welcome to our January – June 2019 Stepping Forward Programme I’ve enjoyed taking part in Stepping Forward walks recently and having a good old chat with walkers and leaders. It’s great that Stepping Forward walks not only keep people walking but also keep people healthy - socially and mentally. You can read some of their stories on the cover. Our Stepping Forward walk leaders are all trained to be aware of hazards Please don’t walk if and to keep an eye on the pace and you are feeling unwell. needs of the whole group, but please be aware that you walk at your own risk. These walks are perfect for people Please note all walks are at the who prefer something slightly longer leaders’ discretion on the day. and more strenuous than our Walking for Health walks. Most of the walks are between three and four miles and take Getting to the walks between ninety minutes and two hours. No specialist equipment is needed apart Please try to travel to the walks by from sturdy footwear and rainwear. public transport whenever possible. Please remember a hat and water, You can plan your journey here: especially in warmer weather. travelwest.info/bus/timetables Happy walking Brian -and-journey-planning Brian Gardner, Active Lifestyles Team Leader, South Gloucestershire Council Two of the groups have a mobile phone for you to contact to check if a walk is still happening despite adverse weather or if you require more details. There’s no need to let organisers know if you can’t make it. FPS SYD Filton/Patchway/Stokes 07724 627107 Sodbury/Yate/Dodington 07724 627104 For information about the symbols, please see the front of our Walking for Health programme. This will tell you about each group and whether to expect stiles, muddy ground or inclines, for instance. There is usually somewhere to go for refreshments after the walk. Dogs are welcome unless otherwise stated, but please keep them on a lead and be mindful of walkers who are less keen on dogs. 2 T SYD Friday 4 January Friday 11 January Alveston Shire Way 4 miles 3-4 miles 11am 10.30am Outside The Ship Inn, Thornbury Rd, Shire Way Community Centre, Alveston BS35 3LL Shire Way, Yate BS37 8YS P Parking available in pub car park. Centre has its own car park. toilets and refreshments available after Please remove muddy shoes after the walk. walk as the hall is carpeted. FPS T Monday 7 January Friday 11 January Severn Beach Tytherington 4 miles 4 miles 11am 11am Shops on Beach Road, Severn Beach The Swan Inn at Tytherington, BS35 4PQ Duck Street GL12 8QB Refreshments available after the walk. FC FPS Tuesday 8 January Ram Hill Lanes and Lake Monday 14 January 3.5 miles Stoke Gifford 10.30am 3.5 miles Miners Village Hall, Badminton Rd, 11am Coalpit Heath BS36 2QB Sainsbury’s superstore car park, P Park on right in car park or side Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8SS road if not using hall. Pretty paths, country lanes and Dramway. Buggy diversion to avoid stile. 3 SYD FC Friday 18 January Wed 23 January Chipping Sodbury RFC Walk Frome Valley & Algars Manor 3-4 miles 3 miles 10.30am 10.30am Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club, St Peter's Church, Church Rd, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6BH Frampton Cotterell BS36 2AB P Park in Mill Lane T (when full, use pub car park). Delightful river scenery, woods & fields. Coffee & cake: suggested Friday 18 January minimum donation £1.50 Thornbury T 4 miles 11am Thornbury Leisure Centre Car Park, Alveston Hill BS35 3JB Friday 25 January Alveston FPS 4 miles 11am Outside The Ship Inn, Thornbury Rd, Monday 21 January Alveston BS35 3LL Snuff Mills P Parking available in pub car park. 3 miles Refreshments available after the walk. 11am Snuff Mills Car Park, River View, FPS off Broomhill Road, Stapleton BS16 1DL Monday 28 January Stoke Gifford 3.5 miles 11am Sainsbury’s superstore car park, Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8SS 4 SYD SYD Friday 1 February Friday 8 February The Fox Brimsham Park 3-4 miles 3-4 miles 10.30am 10.30am The Fox, Broad Lane, Yate BS37 7LD Brimsham Park Pub, Lark Rise, Yate BS37 7PJ T T Friday 1 February Oldbury on Severn Friday 8 February 4 miles Thornbury 11am 4 miles The Anchor Inn, Church Road, 11am Oldbury on Severn BS35 1QA Thornbury Leisure Centre Car Park, Alveston Hill BS35 3JB Refreshments available after the walk. FPS FPS Monday 4 February Monday 11 February Bradley Stoke Almondsbury 3 miles 3.5 miles 11am 11am Lower Knowle Farmyard, Monmouth Hill, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Lower Almondsbury BS32 4ES Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9BS The farmyard is easy to miss but is close to some large conifers on the right. 5 FC SYD Tuesday 12 February Friday 22 February Crocuses & Blackberry Brake Westerleigh 3.1 miles 3-4 miles 10.30am 10.30am Miners Village Hall, Badminton Rd, Westerleigh Village Hall, Shorthill Road, Coalpit Heath BS36 2QB. Westerleigh BS37 8QN P Park on right in car park or side road if not using hall. T Attractive fields, pretty ponds, country lanes. Friday 22 February T Old Down 4 miles 11am Friday 15 February Old Down Cricket Club, Olveston Sports Alveston and Social Club, Alveston Road, 4 miles Old Down BS32 4PH 11am Outside The Ship Inn, Thornbury Rd, FPS Alveston BS35 3LL P Parking available in pub car park. Refreshments available after the walk Monday 25 February Lockleaze FPS 3.5 miles 11am Top of Lindsay Road, Lockleaze BS7 9NN Monday 18 February Winterbourne 3.5 miles 11am The Shops at Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1JY 6 FC FPS Tuesday 26 February Monday 4 March Window Art Trail Easter Compton 3 miles 4.4 miles 10.30am 11am Opposite Ginger Bread Man Café, Easter Compton Farm Shop, Church Rd, Frampton Cotterell Main Road, Easter Compton BS35 5RE BS36 2JX P Park in side road T Fascinating meander in historical Frampton village with a chance to find beautifully decorated windows. Expect Friday 8 March to take longer to gaze & photograph. Oldbury on Severn 4 miles SYD 11am The Anchor Inn, Church Road, Oldbury on Severn BS35 1QA Friday 1 March Refreshments available after the walk The Rose and Crown 3-4 miles FPS 10.30am The Rose and Crown, Wotton Road, Rangeworthy BS37 7NB Monday 11 March Snuff Mills T 3.5 miles 11am Snuff Mills Car Park, River View, Friday 1 March off Broomhill Road, Stapleton BS16 1DL Thornbury 4 miles 11am Thornbury Leisure Centre Car Park, Alveston Hill, BS35 3JB 7 FC FPS Wednesday 13 March Monday 18 March Tubb's Bottom Stoke Gifford 4 miles 3.5 miles 10.30am 11am Opposite Gingerbread Man Café, Sainsbury’s superstore car park, Church Road, Frampton Cotterell Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8SS BS36 2JX P Park in side road SYD Delightful walk, includes fields and River Frome beside Chill Wood Friday 22 March SYD The Codrington Arms 3-4 miles 10.30am Friday 15 March The Codrington Arms, 261 North Road, Chipping Sodbury RFC Walk Yate BS37 7LG 3-4 miles 10.30am T Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6BH Friday 22 March T Thornbury 4 miles 11am Friday 15 March Thornbury Leisure Centre Car Park, Alveston Alveston Hill BS35 3JB 4 miles 11am Outside The Ship Inn, Thornbury Rd, Alveston, BS35 3LL. P Parking available in pub car park. Refreshments available after the walk. 8 FPS T Monday 25 March Friday 29 March Filton Old Down 3 miles 4 miles 11am 11am Filton Leisure Centre, Elm Park, Filton Old Down Cricket Club, BS34 7PS Olveston Sports and Social Club, Alveston Road, Old Down BS32 4PH FC FPS Tuesday 26 March Daffodils beside the Frome Monday 1 April 3.5 miles Patchway 10.30am 3.5 miles St Peter's Church, Church Rd, 11am Frampton Cotterell BS36 2AB Coniston Community Centre, P Park in Mill Lane (when full, use pub Coniston Road BS34 5LP car park). Enjoyable Frome Valley Walkway. T Mostly flat. Coffee & Cake: suggested minimum donation £1.50 Friday 5 April Tytherington SYD 4 miles 11am The Swan Inn at Tytherington, Friday 29 March Duck Street, GL12 8QB Chipping Sodbury RFC Walk Refreshments available after the walk 3-4 miles 10.30am Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6BH 9 FPS T Monday 8 April Friday 12 April Bradley Stoke Alveston 4 miles 4 miles 11am 11am Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Outside The Ship Inn, Thornbury Rd, Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke BS32 9BS Alveston BS35 3LL P Parking available in pub car park. FC Refreshments available after the walk FPS Wednesday 10 April Nightingale to Huckford 4 miles Monday 15 April 10.30am Stoke Gifford Live & Let Live, Park Lane, 4.6 miles Frampton Cotterell BS36 2EF 11am Popular section of Frome Valley Sainsbury’s superstore car park, Walkway. Steep steps.