Hi everyone,

I hope this doesn't come across as too rushed. For the second year running, I've forgotten that February is a short month. Last year I had to put some extra miles in to maintain my monthly target. Since I'm aiming to publish this newsletter on the last Sunday of each month, I realised I'd better get a move on. In this month's newsletter:

• The usual request for walk leaders, and a reminder about Meetup;
• Arrangements for this year's Pewsey Downsaround (PDA);
• The Bath Beat and Ridgeway 40;
• Two proposals for celebrating the LDWA's 50th Anniversary;
• A Capital Day Out with Jeanette Armstrong;and
• The usual round-up of Forthcoming Walks

Walk Leaders Needed / Meetup

Whilst searching for LDWA walks in the region, using the LDWA walks search engine, I noticed a gap on the map, i.e. Wiltshire was almost entirely visible, and not covered in mauve markers. Whilst there were plenty of walks in the Bristol & West, Dorset, Thames Valley and Wessex regions, there was a distinct absence of walks in our area. After a bit of investigation, it turned out that where walks don't have grid references for the start point, they won't appear. It seems obvious now, and has been rectified. That said things have begun to improve, with a handful of walk leaders coming forward with walk details, three of which will be midweek walks. However, we still need more leaders to come forward so we can offer a full programme of walks. Whilst we have aimed to run events on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and on the 3rd Thursday, members should feel free to offer events on any other days that may suit them.

I've added two walk of my own, with a third in reserve. I would like to commend Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/long-distance-walkers-association-wiltshire-group/) as a means of our publicising walks. As well as attracting wider audience of potential new members, Meetup users can receive alerts as soon as a walk is published and register their interest.Steve Carver will then ensure the walks are published on the LDWA website, since this remains the priority for attracting LDWA members nationwide.

Pewsey Downsaround (PDA)

Registration for this popular event has opened. At time of writing we have 186 entrants registered. The latest updates regarding the PDA are as follows:

• A comprehensive event plan has been written, including a risk assessment;
• The venues have been booked;
• The names of volunteers has been finalised and circulated; and
• Janette Armstrong has asked for volunteers to provide cakes for the event.

No doubt there will be further information forthcoming following our next committee meeting, after which the Pewsey Downsaround 2022 - Information page will be updated.

Bath Beat

The Bath Beat will take place the day before the PDA, on Saturday 23rd April, and entries are open to all. Please go to www.thebathbeat.co.uk/2020-entry/entry-form/ to enter.The prices this year will be:

• £15 for the 26.5 miles;
• £14 for the 21 miles;
• £13 for the 17 miles; and
• £12 for the 12.5 miles

For further information, please visit the website.

Ridgeway 40

Entries for this year's Ridgeway 40 event, which take place on Saturday 7th May, still open. This 40-mile linear walk from Avebury Sports and Social Club to Streatley Youth Hostel follows the ancient Ridgeway track & other paths across undulating chalk downland of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The key points to note are as follows:

• Start: SU102697 Avebury Sports and Social Club /Finish: SU591806 Streatley Youth Hostel, Reading Road, RG8 9JJ;
• No entries OTD with a limit of 400;
• Coaches to the start at Avebury leave Streatley Youth Hostel at 0645hrs prompt. If you are late you miss out!;
• There will be NO transport provided for retirees at checkpoints onward to the finish. Entrants should make their own arrangements for this situation using friends or family. This is a 40-mile walk in limited time and requires prior training and good health. We advise that you download the what3words app. If your family also use this app they will be able to navigate directly to your exact position;
• There will be an electronic certificate for finishers. Snack and drinks will be provided at most checkpoints, with a snack bag at finish. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUG!
• Entrants are to leave from Avebury Sports and Social Club between 0800hrs to 0830hrs, starting only when they have received their registration chip;
• For checkpoint closing times, please visit the website. Entrants will be retired if they miss these times;
• Accommodation is available at Streatley Youth Hostel if required;
• OS Landranger maps 173 & 174 or (electronic) equivalent are required; and
• A cloth badge will be available to purchase at the finish for £2;

All details on website www.ridgeway40.co.uk.

LDWA's 50th Anniversary

In addition to Bea Therin's proposal to walk the Diamond Way in June/July, Andy Todd has proposed a 50/50/50 event, i.e. a 50 mile walk for 50 people to celebrate the 50 years. As it implies, this will be a one-off, lightweight challenge walk for a maximum of 50 walkers, to take place in October. We'll publish details of both events just as soon as we have them.

A Capital Day Out

Despite this year's Capital Challenge filling up, and there now being a waiting list, you still have a chance to repeat last year's Capital Anytime Challenge on Sunday 3rd April. A handful of us are doing both, staying overnight in hotels close to Waterloo station.On the Sunday we will meet outside Waterloo Station at 9.00 (we can’t start any earlier as people won’t be able to get up to London for the day) and start walking. With the walk appearing on the LDWA's walks search facility, I would hope members of other groups will join us. That gives us only 5 weeks to practice our Dick van Dyke cockney accents! Cor blimey, Mary Poppins!

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.

This e-mail has been sent to 550+ 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
wiltshire.secretary@ldwa.org.uk