No April fools here just news of a great Shropshire Away weekend and some walks for everyone to look forward to. We’ve changed our clocks and we’re now hoping we can soon put away our hefty boots for lighter shoes to enjoy walking into the longer evenings.

Firstly our Away weekend which we’re all really grateful that Lizzie Bridge arranged for us, keeping us all on track and ensuring all went smoothly with the Longmynd hf house. She led us on a warm up circular walk on the Friday taking in Little Stretton, where we managed in 5.5 miles to clock up nearly 1,000 ft of ascent, reminding us that “Little Switzerland” (a nickname from the Victorian era because of the distinctive hilly scenery) is very different to the flatlands of Essex & Herts. Back at the house we officially opened the weekend with a glass of fizz and after a hearty dinner Lizzie tested our grey matter with a short general knowledge quiz accompanied by dingbats and cartoon character picture rounds.

On Saturday Richard Haynes led us along Wenlock Edge to Much Wenlock past Wenlock Priory along the Shropshire Way and Cross Britain Way to Ironbridge where we stopped for lunch and back via Benthall Hall – there was an option of a shorter walk with some of the group joining us part way along the Edge. We were lucky with the weather for a second day and came back with glowing faces.  We headed to bed early that night as we knew we were losing an hour and we had a “Red grade – Challenging” walk on the Sunday.

Sunday’s walk was led by Rob Peacey from the local Marches LDWA group. Rob along with 6 others from the Marches group welcomed us and put us all through our paces. It was a cloudy, windy cool start to the day and a wet and very windy afternoon for those still out on the hills. The “short” walk was nearly 11 miles and involved nearly 2,300 ft of elevation as we all climbed up onto the Long Mynd massif via the golf course. Taking in the Bodbury Ring and the Carding Mill valley we climbed via the reservoir and Lightspout up onto Pole Bank and took a break at the Pole Cottage walkers shelter. After a descent into Little Stretton goodbyes were said to those opting for the shorter route who headed back to the house whilst the rest climbed Ragleth hill, Hope Bowdler Hill, Battlerocks and Caer Caradoc clocking up nearly 19 miles and 4,548ft of ascent by the time they got back to the house.  Some finished the evening with “Killer Skittles”, joining other hf guests, with Mark Newell taking first prize.

On the Monday morning we had a final walk for those not needing to rush back with Peter Tremain leading a 7.6 mile walk around All Stretton.  We again climbed up, this time to the Portway and were rewarded with great views and sunshine across the Batch valley and the Gogbatch valley as we came back via Woolstaston.

A big thank you to Lizzie for such a fantastic weekend and to Lizzie, Richard and Peter for leading walks and Shu Foster and Elaine Oddie for being willing and great back markers. We thanked Rob for leading Sunday’s walk with some gifts including an Essex & Herts neck warmer! You can read a report and see photos on our 2026 Church Stretton Weekend Away webpage.

Our next social walk is on Good Friday and we have two others in April and new walks are being added to the Future Walks List so keep an eye on this. 

Fri 3rd Apr 2026 Linda’s Good Friday Walk
Group Walk - 15ml. 9am From Victoria Road CP Postcode SS6 8EL Grid ref LR 178 TQ 813 913. (GR TQ813913). Taking in Hockley Woods, Blounts Wood, Beckney Woods. Bring your own lunch. C: Linda Fordham T: 07773 122276. E:linfordham@googlemail.com

Thu 16th Apr 2026 Chelmer Chug
Group Walk - 17.5ml. 9.30am Littley Green CM3 1BU Parking on spaces opposite the Compasses PH car park close to footpath sign at top end. ///lousy.pastime.notebook. (GR TL699172). Crossing, then turning north following, by and above, the River Chelmer to meet the Flitch Way at Brook Street. After a 4 mile chug along the disused railway line, we reach the lunch stop at Rayne Station, then return to Littley Green via Great Notley Country Park, Chelmsford City Racecourse, and Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve. Lunch stop 10.5miles at The Booking Hall Café Rayne Station. Toilets, picnic benches, also a railway carriage if raining. Yes to well trained dogs. C: Peter Tremain Tel: 07427 857003 E: peter.tremain@live.co.uk

Sun 19th Apr 2026 Spot the Benches – a Memorial walk for Francoise
Group Walk - 17ml. 9am Baldock Tesco REAR c.p. Turn into Tesco’s at the London Road/High Street roundabout & follow the signs to ‘Click & Collect’ ((///jams.bless.sprint). (GR TL247333). A joint BBN & E&H walk taking in many of the Weston Walkabout benches. The lunch stop will be at Graveley where there are two pubs & a couple of benches by the village pond. Well behaved dogs on leads only. What better way to remember our dear lovely friend Francoise than to enjoy yet again one of the wonderful walks she led for us in June 2024. C: Jackie Burnett & Dee Brockway Tel: 07845 969826 / 07742433951 E: Jackiecburnett92@gmail.com

The April 2026 edition of “Strider” should be with you now where we have a 3 page spread marking our 50th year (pages 73 -75), some of our members being recognised in the Annual Volunteer Awards (page 3) and a photo of Lizzie getting her award on page 11. Details of our 2026 Herts Hobble challenge event (page 106) and 2026 Essex Walker challenge event (page 109) and 2027 25th Stansted Stagger (page 109) are also included.

In closing I’d like to add a plea again for volunteers to help on the Essex & Herts checkpoint on the Hunnypot 100 23rd – 25th May 2026. We’re supporting Checkpoint 4 in Cowden, Chantlers Mead  TN8 7HU at 30.4 miles which will be open from Saturday 5.30pm - 11pm. The 100 mile challenge is great event to be part of but relies on volunteers support to the participants. Tracy / I would love to tell you more about it and what’s involved if you are able to help – no prior experience is necessary – so please contact us at essexandherts@ldwa.org.uk.

Hope you can enjoy some walking over the coming Bank Holiday weekend

Sue

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