Newsletter - July 2022


Hi everyone,

As we begin another month of walking, please spare a thought for those fellow members and friends who are having a tough time of it at present, either through bereavement, illness or injury. Despite you not being out on walks, you are always in our thoughts, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

For those of us who have been able to walk regularly with the group it's been a fun and busy time. Not least our trip up north (or in Lesley's case, down south) to run Checkpoint 3 on the LDWA's Trans-Pennine 100, where we had a great time looking after the needs of the 400+ participants. Other than the one person who who staggered in, sat down for a bit and staggered out again, I think everyone else emerged from the barn at Bird's Edge with full bellies and smiles on their faces ... although I suspect a trip to one of the two portaloos probably wiped their smiles back off fairly quickly!

Here are a few photographs from the day. The remainder can be found by visiting Photos > 2022 LDWA Trans-Pennine 100 on our website. Hopefully we'll get featured in the next edition of Strider.

 

A shout out too, to the Heart of England group for organising a splendid Malvern Midsummer Marathon yesterday (25/6). I thoroughly enjoyed the 14-mile route with Roger Swift. Hopefully we'll shortly discover how Janette Armstrong and John Walker got on on the 26-mile course.

In this month's newsletter:

  • Walk Leaders needed;
  • Trans-Pennine 100;
  • Pewsey Downsaround (PDA) Results;
  • 50:50:50;
  • In Case of Emergency (ICE); and
  • The usual round-up of Forthcoming Walks

 


 

Walk Leaders Needed

 

From Andy Todd;

"As a group we only walk if people lead walks, and as such there is only one 'small' ask we have of people that walk with us regularly, and that is to, at least occasionally, lead a walk.

Leading walks is not difficult (honest). However, if you are not sure what to do, then the best thing is to ask. Talk on a walk (I know you can all do that), and someone will be more than happy to help/offer an opinion. There are many forms of help. For example, if you want someone to pre-walk a route with you then someone will. If you have a route with a nasty section, then there is probably someone that knows an alternative. If you feel more confident having a specific 'back marker', then someone will do that for you.

Pre-walking with someone can be helpful. One of the most useful things of a pre-walk is to give you confidence as to the route, you know where gates are (and how to open them), and where to stop for coffee/lunch. Pre-walking is also a good way to get to know more about an area, and the footpaths in those areas, by giving you an extra excuse to explore a bit.

Walks can be as difficult, easy, short, long, fast or slow (As the leader you have the advantage of being able to decide this). All that is asked is if you can be reasonably accurate in your description of the walk so people can judge if it is for them.

One thing that has been said to me is that people are nervous about having too many people on a walk. Please use the functionality of Meetup, and just list a walk with a maximum number of people that you are happy with.

We have had a good set of walks for the first half of this year, so please keep walking."

 

 


 

Trans-Pennine 100

 

From Lesley Bellis:

"I have just had a lovely chat with Sarah, one of the committee members for the Trans-Pennine 100 who rang to formally thank us for all or efforts on Checkpoint 3 (at Bird's Edge). She reports that the entrants didn't want to move on as they were having such a good time enjoying the scones (?) and being able to sit in the sun and being looked after by a lovely friendly and helpful group."

Our thanks go to Lesley for leading us, as well as to the following:

  • Jeanette Armstrong, Bea Therin and Jan Williams (Dorset) for preparing the food;
  • On hot drinks were Chris Stockton (Heart of England) assisted by Tim;
  • Serving cold drinks were Clare Staff and Dave Myers;
  • Not being entrusted with any of the above, Jan Cox and I handled the front of house and registration; and
  • Andy Todd was monitoring the whereabouts of arrivals and liaising with Stuart and Mike from RayNet.

Next month I'll give a shout out to those group members who took part.

 

 


 

Pewsey Downsaround (PDA) Results

 

The timings for this year's PDA are now available by clicking HERE.

 

 


 

50:50:50

 

From Andy Todd:

"As I am hopefully sure you are all aware the LDWA is 50 this year, and that Wilts really ought to do something to mark this. So we are planning a lightweight 50-mile challenge walk for a maximum of 50 walkers on the 8th October. (50 Miles, 50 walkers, for a 50th)

The route will start from Bratton Camp, initially head north to Bratton, before heading south through Westbury and Warminster to cross Cold Kitchen Hill and lunch in Deverills. After lunch the route heads south over White Sheet Hill to Mere before heading east to Hindon (and evening meal). Finally back north, to Scratchbury and the Imber Range Path back to the finish.

There will be 5 checkpoints on the route, 3 outdoors, 2 indoors. To keep costs down the start/finish is just a car park, so no facilities. The time limit will be 24 hours.

This really is an ideal opportunity for those of you that would like to try a longer distance, and I encourage you all to to give it a go. The plan is to ask for those of you with a bit of experience at longer distances to agree to support those with less experience to achieve the walk, but not as one big group.

The group is subsidising the cost for primary members of the Wiltshire group at £5. Anyone not a primary member of the Wiltshire group it will be £20.

We will need a small number of people to help look after the checkpoints. Anyone that can volunteer please contact me."

 

 


 

In Case of Emergency (ICE)

A reminder that emergency situations can develop anywhere and for anyone, so the simple act of carrying your emergency contact information in a convenient manner makes sense for everyone. Walkers are therefore encouraged to carry up to date ICE cards in an accessible place, e.g. a top rucksack pocket, so that if something should happen on a walk, the walk leader or emergency services know about any medical conditions and who to contact.

 

 


 

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
Sun 3rd Jul 2022 Oooooh Matron Group 18 miles Wessex
Sun 3rd Jul 2022 Rock to Rock - Event Details Updated Group 21.5 miles Dorset
Sun 3rd Jul 2022 Willsbridge and Wick - Event Details Updated Group 16 miles Wiltshire
Fri 15th Jul 2022 In the Gloaming Group 7.4 miles Dorset
Sun 17th Jul 2022 Cake at the Church Group 15.9 miles Thames Valley
Thu 21st Jul 2022 Horses for Courses Group 15 miles Wiltshire
Sat 23rd Jul 2022 Railway History Group 16 miles Bristol & West
Sun 24th Jul 2022 Martin Down Canter - Event Postponed Group c20 miles Wessex
Sat 30th Jul 2022 A Way in Gloucestershire Group 20 miles Heart of England
Sun 31st Jul 2022 Wiltshire Downs (and ups) Group 17 miles Dorset

 

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