Newsletter - August 2018


For the first time in my life, I have returned home from holidaying abroad, to find this country warmer than the one I left! With little sign of this heatwave abating I'd therefore like to start this newsletter by reminding you all to bring plenty of water and sun protection with you on walks. Hopefully the heat won't stop you enjoying the walks we have to offer this month.

In this month's newsletter:

  • Shipton Star;
  • Walk Details;
  • 25th Anniversary Ceilidh;
  • A Wiltshire 50 - The Deverill's Rings;
  • Proposed Weekend Away 2019;
  • Annual General Meeting;
  • Members' Photo Galleries
  • Recommended Reading: The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and
  • This month's walks in and around the county.

 


 

Shipton Star

 

From Jenny Mills:

"The Shipton Star celebrates the very best of the Wiltshire scenery, including views over the less-visited parts of this lovely county, woods and wild flowers. I don't think the description in Strider does it justice. Being a mid-week event, it is quiet and very relaxed. There are four rings, each about 10k, each with a 5k option if preferred. The routes are colour coded and waymarked. Entrants can mix and match them as they see fit. Refreshments are available all day at the HQ - a village hall with all the mod cons - or you can bring your own. There is plenty of parking. I absolutely love it and it would be great to see some of the Wiltshire group there. This year's event takes place on Wednesday 15th August. Please click HERE for details of the event and how to enter"

 


 

Walk Details

 

From Andy Todd:

"By now you should have received your August copy of Strider. That means as walks secretary it will soon be time for me to ask for details from those of you who have volunteered to lead a walk in January, February, March and April. Thank you to those that have volunteered, particularly those that have filled the gaps in the programme. I will be in contact, but am happy to take details from you at any time.

I already have some volunteers for May onwards in 2019. At the AGM the traditional lists will be circulated, however if anyone has designs on a particular date then please contact me to reserve your spot.

If you attend group walks then please think about contributing something back into the group by leading a walk. I and others will always be happy to give advice/support.

The committee is keen to support walks that could not otherwise happen without group support. If you have an idea then please get in touch and we will see if we can make it work. This applies to Thursday walks as well as weekend walks.

Please e-mail walk details to me at andy@andytodd.org.uk."

 


 

25th Anniversary Ceilidh

 

From Lesley Bellis:

"The arrangements for our 25th Anniversary ceilidh are as follows:

  •  Date and Time: 7th September 2018 at 7pm
  •  Venue: Selwyn Hall, Box, SN13 8NT
  •  Cost: £10

We have a ceilidh band and caller booked and tickets can be purchased shortly via a link on our web page. Please bring what you would like to drink and a dish to share and of course yourselves, partners and friends, as we want this to be a wonderful celebration of 25 years of walking. Please let me know whether you will be bringing a sweet or savoury dish to share. There will be a cake. I suggest you wear light clothes and flat shoes as you will get hot.

 

Tickets are now available to purchase by clicking HERE

 

I will also be selling tickets on all social walks until the end of August. If anyone wishes to buy tickets, please see me at the start or finish of our walks. For those who have bought tickets on line, I will issue you a ticket when next I see you."

 


 

A Wiltshire 50 - The Deverill's Rings

 

From Andy Todd:

"This 50-mile group walk takes place on the 13th/14th October and is based in the Upper Deverills. The route consists of 3 different, roughly equal rings looping out from and back to the base location, so you can do 1, 2 or 3 rings.

This is an ideal opportunity for people to try a longer walk, or a night walk. This will be a group walk, however if individuals want to go at their own pace then that is not a problem, setting their own start times to match the opening hours of the hall. A .gpx file will be available.

We have booked the hall in the village and will be operating a 'simple' level of catering. There will be a charge to cover the hall and food, and numbers will be limited. For more information and to book a space, please contact me at andy@andytodd.org.uk."

 


 

Proposed Weekend Away 2019

 

Adrian Crocker is looking to organise a weekend away at HF Holidays Longmynd House, Shropshire for 18th - 21st October 2019. Before committing to a deposit the committee would like to gauge interest in this weekend first. If you are interested please email Carol Holmes at carolholmes77@hotmailcom.com.

 


 

Annual General Meeting

 

This year's xmas meal and AGM will take place on 2nd December at the Seven Stars, Winsley. Details will be included in future newsletters as well as on our website.

 


 

Members' Photo Galleries

 

If you want to see what you've been missing out on by not attending one of our popular group social walks, then please visit the Members' Photo Galleries page on our website. Thanks go to Andy Todd, who has almost singlehandedly been responsible for populating the page ... though, personally, I'm not sure I like the 360 degree shots!

On the subject of photographs, you make like to view my images from a recent holiday to Iceland. It wasn't a walking holiday, but it may whet your appetite for a visit to this amazing country sometime in the future. Please click HERE.

 


 

Recommended Reading: The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

 

Cotswolds AONB

 

 

This lovely, illustrated hardback book commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"This book - captivatingly photographed, exquisitely designed and sensitively written - celebrates what makes the Cotswolds so special, coaxing out its secrets and inviting you to look again and again at this much-loved, precious landscape."

It costs £14.99 and can be ordered online from www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.




 


 

Forthcoming Walks


Finally, here's the usual look ahead to all the group walks and challenge events that are taking place this month within a 50-mile radius of the geographical centre of Wiltshire.

 

Date Name Type Mileage   Organiser
Wed 1st Aug Dyrham - Evening Walk Group  6 miles   Wiltshire
Wed 1st Aug Sculptures and Tall Trees Group  16 miles   Bristol & West
Sat 4th Aug A walk from the Tickley area Group  20 miles   Wessex
Sat 4th Aug Hidden Heart of the Wye Group  24 miles   South Wales
Sun 5th Aug Stroud 5 Valleys Walk Group  21 miles   Wiltshire
Sun 5th Aug Two Rings of Cheselbourne Group  16 miles   Dorset
Sat 11th Aug In the Steps of The Wessex 100 Group  18 miles   Surrey
Sun 12th Aug Poet's and Trains Group  17 miles   Bristol & West
Wed 15th Aug Shipton Star Challenge 25, 21, 18, 15 or 12 miles   (Non LDWA)
Thu 16th Aug Hills around Old Wardour Castle Group  16 miles   Wiltshire
Sun 19th Aug Bottoms and Downs Group  18 miles   Wiltshire
Sun 19th Aug The Big Trees Walk Group  20 miles   Wessex
Wed 22nd Aug Rainbow Ramble - Event Details Updated Group  15 miles   Thames Valley
Fri 24th Aug Down By The Seaside Group  50 miles   South Wales
Sat 25th Aug Down By The Seaside continued Group  26 miles   South Wales
Sat 25th Aug Humps and Hillocks Group  19 miles   Bristol & West
Sun 26th Aug A journey of scientific discovery Group  20 miles   Thames Valley

 


 

This e-mail has been sent to all Primary and Associate group members. If you wish to opt out of receiving e-mails from us, you will need to change your e-mail preferences by logging onto the LDWA website.

That's it for another newsletter. All our newsletters are available via the Wiltshire LDWA website. If you have anything to contribute to future editions, please can you get it to me by the 20th of each month. I look forward to seeing you out on our group walks this month.

Warmest regards

 

Clive

Secretary of the Wiltshire LDWA
WiltshireLDWA@outlook.com