Walk Diary

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Clothing & Footwear
Country Code
Basics of footpath law
Dogs
Gradings
Guests
Maps & Navigation
Refreshments
Rendezvous
Subscriptions
Toilet Facilities
Travel Arrangements
Weather Conditions

Clothing & Footwear   First time walkers are recommended to wear what is comfortable for them before outlaying a considerable sum of money for specialist clothing.

The most important purchase is likely to be footwear. Before spending any money, check what other walkers wear. Ask them for advice.
Boots should have cleated treads and provide firm ankle support - they are essential for longer walks. Aldi have occasional offers that represent outstanding value - I am still wearing a pair of boots that cost just £17.99 - at that price they are a giveaway!
Whatever choice of clothing, avoid denim jeans at all costs - they are dreadfully uncomfortable to wear when wet as they take ages to dry out - if it is cold and wet, they are doubly uncomfortable! By the way, it is not just the rain that makes wet denims so uncomfortable - it's the wet undergrowth or field grasses. You have been warned!

Talking of wet weather, make sure you carry a waterproof (a mac or raincoat will do at a push) as the English climate is so unpredictable. I am still teased with reminders of my first club walk - in the Black Mountains of all places - it chucked it down and you-know-who got soaked!

A backpack is also necessary on longer walks to carry Refreshments and the 1,001 other things that walkers tend to collect.

To top it all, don't forget to wear a hat - especially those of us who are follically-challenged!
Top of Page

Country Code   Club members and guests are expected to observe the Country Code at all time. Briefly, the requirements are as follows:

• Respect the environment
• Leave gates as you find them
• Don't worry livestock; especially don't walk between a cow and her calves
• Don't pick wild flowers
• Take you litter home with you
• Park cars responsibly - don't obstruct gates or field access
• If you must smoke, ensure that you do not leave burning butt ends
• Share transport whenever possible

Basics of footpath law. The following is information that has been derived from a publication developed by the Ramblers Association of which the Stourbridge HF Rambling Club is affiliated. The following is included on their website address http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/britain/footpathlaw.html

This document gives a summary of the basic law on public rights of way in England and Wales, with some notes about Scotland where the legal situation is very different.

 There are 28 subjective items of information that are offered by the Ramblers Association in their publication of which all are useful to the Stourbridge HF Rambling Club. They range from ‘What is a right of way’ to ‘How can I help the Ramblers association deal with path problems’

 Item 1  What is a right of way – states

A right of way is a path that anyone has the legal right to use on foot, and sometimes using other modes of transport.

· Public footpaths are open only to walkers.

· Public bridleways are open to walkers, horse-riders and pedal cyclists.

· Restrictive byways are open to walkers, horse-riders, and drivers/riders of non- mechanically propelled vehicles (such as horse-drawn carriages and pedal cycles).

· Byways Open to all Traffic ( BOATS ) are open to all classes of traffic including motor vehicles, though they may not be maintained to the same standard as ordinary roads.

 Item 18  Is it illegal to plough up or disturb the surface of a path so as to make it inconvenient to use.

Yes, unless the path is a footpath or bridleway running across a field as opposed to running alongside the field boundary. In this case the land owner can plough or otherwise disturb the path surface provided it is not reasonably convenient to avoid doing so. The path must be restored within 24 hours of the disturbance, or within two weeks if this is the first such disturbance for a particular crop. The restored path must be reasonably convenient to use, have a minimum width of 1m for a footpath or 2m for a bridleway, or the legal width if known, and its line must be clearly apparent on the ground.

 Should any information on Rights of Way be required, then we would advise a discussion in the first instance with our Rights of Way Officer.

Dogs Due top farming and wildlife considerations, we regret we cannot permit dogs or other pets to be brought on walks under any circumstances.

Gradings  The club assesses all walks in terms of 'A' ( Challenging ), 'B' ( Moderate ) or 'C' ( Easy ) gradings.

The addition of a '+' sign serves to increase the severity - the use of a '-' symbol somewhat eases the difficulty. In practice, the most common modifications will be B+ and C+.

Unfortunately, no two people can agree as to what constitutes a specific grade. It really is a case of " one person's 'B' is another person's 'C'.

Guests  The club welcomes new people on all walks. However, due to the popularity of the Wednesday half-day walks, a waiting list may soon have to be introduced. Guests are permitted three free walks before deciding if they wish to join. Visitors (guests) will be asked to provide their name and address on each of the three walks. Thererafter, guests will be expected to apply for membership.

Maps & Navigation  It is not necessary to purchase maps, but you may derive more enjoyment if you do. All members are encouraged and given assistance to lead walks. Please inform your walk leader or any experienced member if you wish to lead a future walk or would like further information.

Refreshments The number and length of refreshment breaks will vary according to the length and severity of the walk plus weather conditions.

All day walks include a lunch stop - on Sundays this will be a packed lunch usually enjoyed at a scenic location, buy not always a sheltered spot, despite the best endeavours of the leader!.
All-day walks on Wednesday may stop for lunch at a pub or have a picnic lunch - details will be stated on the membership programme.
In addition, walkers should carry suitable refreshments for a mid-morning break (a flask and a snack) and perhaps rations for an afternoon stop also.
On shorter routes, walkers should bring a flask or cool drink together with snacks of your choice.

As if that isn't enough, walkers should also carry a supply of water - it's not just hot weather that causes dehydration. Regular fluid intake is important. Note that tea and coffee are diuretics - they make you pee more! Hot chocolate may be the answer!

Please remember that as responsible walkers, everyone must carry out all excess food and drink plus litter and packaging for disposal in the proper manner.

Rendezvous  The meeting place for walks is the venue for the walk.  Sunday all day walkers usually assemble at Mary Stevens Park carpark at the time shown in brackets.
The walk commences promptly at the time shown on the programme.

Please email for further details.

Subscriptions  The membership subsciption amount is £6 yearly - payable by the end of December for the following year. There is no reduction for persons joining in mid-year (at this price,you've got to be joking!) An initial fee of £6 is payable on enrolment and also in the event of a lapse in membership continuity. We defy anyone to find a club offering better value.

Toilet Facilities  We walk in the country where toilets are noticeable by their absence.

Travel Arrangements  We encourage members to share cars (drivers to be reimbursed milage costs at the rate shown on the programme), but no guarantee of availability is implied.

Weather Conditions  We are ahardy lot and tend to walk whatever the weather! Hardy we maybe, but we are not foolhardy.

If the conditions are really atrocious, we may be forced to cancel a walk. However, the prospect of inclement weather should not necessarily imply cancellation. "There is no such thing as bad weather - simply a poor choice of clothing!"

Besides carrying or wearing proper clothing for the actual and / or anticipated conditions, walkers must remember to bring sun protection (creams and hat) - and not in just sunny or hot weather.

Walk Reports  

Tuesday Walk  Wombourne,  Staffs  B4½  miles

A Change of Direction

 Our Tuesday walk was to be along an old railway track from Wombourne Railway Station to Penn and return along the Staffs-Worcs canal. For John Mees and I the tow path “walk” was an impressive 4 mph by canal boat. John, our leader, had had a bad dizzy turn as we crossed to the canal. What should we do? Our dilemma was solved by a passing canal boat which had just dropped from the sky and was gliding gently passed. The two on board stopped at our request and took John and I along with them.
 
So we left the group to struggle with compass, map and GPS and find their tortuous way back to Bratch locks while the two of us gentlemen of leisure, sat on the bows of the boat viewing the passing world with regal serenity. “This is a real bonus”, said John. “It certainly is the way to walk canals” I said. Except, of course, for the nagging disquiet about his dizziness.
Thank you, thank you gentlemen of Nantwich for coming so willingly to our rescue.
  Words by Richard Aldred

Walk Reports

Views of and from Thors     Cave in the  Peak District                                                                         Pics by Colin  Buswell

 On a beautiful day on Sunday 15^th June 10 members made our way to Ilam in the White Peak of the Peak District. With the walk starting at a steady pace into the Manifold valley, we turned into Munsden wood for the long steady climb until we reached Slade House and the wonderful view looking down into Soles Hollow. Arriving at the Manifold Way track we then turned for Grindon and followed the long steady and up hill grassy path until we reach the church of Grindon where we decided to take lunch in this locality.

Following lunch and direction to Wetton Mill we arrived there at a busy time when our journey until now had been quite solitary. Following the track where we arrived at the bottom of Thors Cave we gained height to the entrance of the cave itself when several of us decided to explore its inner parts. Following this inspection we then moved onto the top of this rocky out crop where we could view the splendid and wonderful panorama of the hills and valleys, some of which had been walked by us that day. After this climb and subsequent rest we continued onto Wetton village, where we turned for our direction to Ilam.

On a dismal November 5th morning we set out for our Wednesday half day group walk at Bobbington led by Brian Worrell and Anne Sherwell. Brian wearing his high visibility jacket was at the front of the group and Anne bring up the rear in her luminous yellow jacket. 31 Club members enjoyed an Autumnal walk in and around the fields of Bobbington with the leader and back marker being easily identifiable even when the group was spread over two fields.

The yellow "stars" became quite a talking point with the ramblers agreeing that the high visibility theme was beneficial especially in the subdued light of a winters day.

Top of Page

   This page update on 7th November 2008