We will pick up the Pewsey Vale Circular Walk (https://www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk/pewsey-vale-circular-walk/) northwards, brief leaving it at Chisbury (https://www.royalarchinst.org/sites/royalarchinst.org/files/2023-05/SMR_Wiltshire_Chisbury.pdf) in order to visit the 13th century chapel (https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chisbury-chapel/).

Rejoining the the Pewsey Vale Circular Walk, we follow it westwards until we hit the Winchester–Cirencester Roman road which we will follow into Savernake Forest (https://www.forestryengland.uk/savernake-forest). Our route around the forest is a bit of a zigzag as the intention is to see as many of Savernake’s ancient oaks as possible (https://www.mightyfineoaks.com/giant-oaks-of-the-savernake). We are talking ancient here: one of them was a sapling when Alfred the Great was king!

On leaving the forest, we climb up onto the North Wessex Downs and follow the scarp as far as Giant’s Grave (https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=35070) and then descend to pick up the White Horse Trail into Pewsey.

Trains from Pewsey into London are direct but infrequent. There is a 17:06, but if we miss that the next one is at 19:23. The journey takes just over an hour. There are pubs to help pass the time.

Total distance is a little over 15 miles; total ascent 1000 ft. Chalk underfoot but with a chance of mud in places. You’ll need to be happy with a pace 2.5 to 3 mph. Weather forecast is cloudy; maximum temperature 17 degrees; 30% chance of rain in the afternoon.Bring a packed lunch and plenty of water. 

Meeting Point: Manningtree station (main entrance) at 10.30 am - moving off thereafter

Getting There: Catch the 9.30 Greater Anglia train service from Liverpool Street station (destined for Norwich), stopping at Stratford 9.37 and arriving at Manningtree 10.25

Getting Back: Aiming for the 17.57 service from Manningtree back to Liverpool Street (arriving 18.47) - stops at Stratford 18.39

Lunch: Bring your own munchies for a picnic stop - planning a pub stop later in the afternoon in Dedham

Route: A walk uphill takes us out of Dedham Vale to St Mary's church (dating from 13th C) serving the expanding metropolis of Lawford. South of the village brings us to the wide plateau with its incredibly fertile soil - a patchwork of open arable fields where root vegetables and leafy greens are grown - plus rather too many rapeseed fields (the speed of growth this year has been awesome). The open skies give a feeling of space - you can see the cranes of Felixstowe port on the horizon - whilst in the middle of this sea of crops stands the lonely church of St Mary's, once serving the parish of Little Bromley (now Churches Conservation Trust). Also in the distance, you'll see the sinister mast of station CH24, constructed in the late 1930s as part of the pioneering Chain Home system for Radio Detection and Ranging (later called radar ...). Our way turns west, eventually leaving the open fields for the quiet country lanes that thread their way to Burnt Heath with market gardening in abundance (think strawberries). We reach the village of Ardleigh after 6 miles - time for a lunch stop at their Millennium Green (toilets available).

Afterwards, we pass a few olde worlde buildings plus St Mary's church (dating from 15th C) before heading northwards towards Dedham Heath into more fields (uh oh, more rapeseed) and nurseries. And then downhill, back into Dedham Vale and the Stour Valley, guided by the tower of Dedham church (St Mary yet again) and where John Constable set up his easel. Time then for a pub stop and a walk through the pretty village before the final leg of 3 miles beckons us across the flat bucolic landscape (expect docile cattle) back to Manningtree station.

Moderate yet relaxed pace with stops to see the views (say 2 miles per hour-ish). Terrain is mostly flat with a couple of minor slopes (is 35 metres high ?)

Cheers, Nick

Moderate pace.

Weather forecast: 50-60% light rain at the moment

Starting from Basingstoke, we make our way through the residential areas and gradually enter a more rural bit of countryside.

We start by navigating the quiet back roads and houses of Basingstoke on easy terrain, then join the countryside, mostly following well-marked gravel paths. We will cross some fields & the odd narrow path that may be muddy (so sensible footwear is advised). The terrain is generally flat throughout. We enter the woods and approach the back entrance of The Vyne. We will spend approximately two hours or so here with time to see the house, garden and have lunch. There is a tea room - The Brewhouse, a shop & secondhand bookshop within the house. The entrance to The Vyne house is free to National Trust members or £18 for non-members. But is Free to enter the park and visit the garden and shops.

On our return walk after we leave The Vyne, we will retrace our steps before arriving back at Basingstoke. We can stop for drinks in The Queens Arms pub before returning to the station.

 Travel: change a Woking

Travel: Take the 9.30am from London Waterloo (Clapham Junction 9.37). Arrive at Woking at 9:56 .Change at Woking at 10:10 arrive at Basingstoke at 10.55am. There are toilets at the station at Basingstoke. Meet outside the central entrance of the station.

Buy a return ticket to Basingstoke. 

Return trains leave Basingstoke to London Waterloo or Paddington: 16:47, 5.15, 5.29, 5.47, 6.15, 6.29.  We should arrive back in Basingstoke by 4.30pm.

No booking required

This is an estimate only and will be dependent on a number of factors, including the weather, the speed at which the group walks and how long we spend at The Vyne. 

Francesca 

Meet at St James Park tube station eastern (55 Broadway) entrance at 6.30pm. 

3-4 miles. We will finish in a pub.

More details to follow.

Rhian Jones
Anne Young 

All members are welcome to attend committee meetings. Alternatively if you have a matter that you would like the committee to raise please contact the Chair, chair.clog@membermojo.co.uk or the Secretary, secretary.clog@membermojo.co.uk.

Contact the Secretary for the address of the meeting.

We have booked accommodation for 20 people in a hostel. There are also local hotels and b&bs. Ballintoy is in the UK; you can take domestic flights to either Belfast City or Derry airport, then train from Belfast and a bus to the village, or direct buses from Belfast or Derry. You could extend your stay in Belfast to explore the city or other parts of Ireland - this would mean making your own arrangements at additional cost.

The cost of the Ballintoy hostel accommodation, including food for breakfasts and packed lunches, will be around £195 for 5 nights. You should also budget for flights, which cost around £120 return, plus trains, buses and evening meals.  

This trip has opened for booking - see email for further details.

Leaders EB and CC 

Details to follow.

Sue Sinton Smith 

All members are welcome to attend committee meetings. Alternatively if you have a matter that you would like the committee to raise please contact the Chair, chair.clog@membermojo.co.uk or the Secretary, secretary.clog@membermojo.co.uk.

Contact the Secretary for the address of the meeting.

This is a week in the Lake District walking a long distance route from the south coast to Borrowdale in the Central Lake District.

Lots of great scenery, and mostly walking at lower levels on rough paths up to 300 meters.

Sometimes the route will coincide with the Cumbria Way but I will not stick to that path all the time.

Local Buses and ferries will be used to access walks on successive days.

There will be a lot of bus travel, but you don't need to back pack, as we will stay in cottages in a central location, probably Ambleside.

The longest walk will be about 13 miles, the shortest walk about 5 miles.

If we get a day of very good weather, I may combine 2 short legs: 
eg a 5 mile walk + a 7 mile walk will give 12 miles in one day.

The next day it may be pouring with rain and we can have a day off !

People do need to be fit for walking up to 13 miles on rough paths if they are to do the whole route.

However, I welcome walk leaders who can lead the shorter sections too, 5 miles in the valleys.

On a really good day, I may do an alternative high level walk, Eg Walking the Langdale Pikes instead of the Great Landale valley. 

See CLOG emails for further details.

Organiser:  Ralph

The plan is to spend two days walking and the trip can be extended directly with the campsite for those who would like to stay longer. The area is hilly with views to Corfe Castle and lovely coastal walks.  There is a shop on site and pubs within walking distance. 

The campsite is a short walk from a bus stop to Wareham train station and Swanage in the other direction, with a regular service. It is hoped that most campers will travel by public transport. 

This trip has opened for booking. See email to members for further details and the booking form.