Whitwick & District U3A

Whitwick & District U3A - Striders

(Previously called Long Walks Group)

This group is for those interested in walks up to 9 or 10 miles. It has been agreed by the membership of this group that no dogs are allowed on the walks.

All those members who feel able will participate in leading walks.

You may also be interested in the Ramblers group, whose walks are up to 7 or 8 miles.

Please note that following Government advice re Covid 19, physical group meetings are currently suspended.

Memories of yesteryear - well 2019 anyway

January

A 9.5 mile walk starting from Ticknall and passing St Brides, Stanton by Bridge, Inglebury, Seven Spouts and Foremark.

Members leaning on a field gate
Morning break near Inglebury Toft

Chruch with gravestones
Lunch at Foremark Church

Line of walkers beside a hedge
On the way back to Ticknall

February

An 11 mile walk starting from Swannington to Whitwick, Cademan Woods, Poachers Corner, Blackbrook Aquaduct, Osgathorpe and Thringstone.

Memebrs climbing a steep bank
Approaching Whitwick the hard way.

Steep rocks with trees at the top
Cademan Rocks

Members seated on a bench and on the grass
Lunch at Osgathorpe Church

Four members crossing a style
In this area we are blessed with many footpaths but also many stiles. We crossed 26 on this walk.

March

Another 11 miles starting from Worthington then following the Cloud Trail to Tonge and on Diseworth, Belton and Osgathorpe

The high stony sides of the quarry
Cloud Hill Quarry

Walking along a slightly muddy path towards an arched bridge
On the Cloud Trail

Members walking at side of road, Breedon church in middle distance
About to cross the A42 with Breedon Church in the background.

Members walking at side of road, control tower in middle distance
The airport control tower is visible from miles around.

Members seated on bench with their bananas, control tower in the distance
Banana break at Diseworth with the airport still in view.

Members crossing large green fields
Wide open spaces heading to Belton.

Members standing in square in front of church
Belton Church.

Two inquisitive porkers
Looking for food (unsuccessfully).

April

A 10 mile figure of eight walk starting from Swepstone The first loop was to Normanton-Le-Heath and the second to Newton Burgoland and Shackerstone

Church with bare trees in foreground
Our starting point at Swepstone Church.

Walkers crossing field with a glint in the distance
Near Normanton-Le-Heath. What could be water on the left of the picture is a field of solar panels.

Members seated and standing alongside canal
Taking a break on the towpath of the Ashby Canal.

A narrow boat approaching with toe-path on the right
A narrow boat cruises on the Ashby Canal

A long line of narrow boats moored on a bend in the canal
Narrow boats moored near Shackerstone.

Venue

Various

Timing

3rd Monday of the month

Calendar

2020

Mon Jan 20th Led by Owen, starting from the car park next to St John's Church, Church Street, Donisthorpe, DE12 7PY at 09:30. It's a 10 mile walk on a lot of tracks, some roads and some fields. We go through Oakthorpe Village, Hicks Lodge, Shellthorpe, Blackfordby and back along the canal from Moira.

Mon Feb 17th CHANGED As a consequence of the heavy rain, the walk will now be around the Calke Estate starting from Ticknall Village Hall at 9.30 am. Approx 8 miles on (usually) solid surfaces.

Mon Mar 16th Led by Alison leaving the village car park in Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8RZ at 09:30. The route of 10½ miles takes in Beacon Hill Park, Ulverscroft Mill, Bradgate Park and Lingdale Golf Course on the whole on good paths but with some mud expected in a couple of places. Alison suggests taking a walking stick / pole if you have one.

Mon Apr 20th Led by Pearl

Mon May 18th Led by Brian

Mon Jun 15th

Mon Jul 20th

Mon Aug 17th Led by Penny

Mon Sep 21st

Mon Oct 19th

Mon Nov 16th

Pictures

Shown below are pictures from a recent walk. Pictures from other walks are available in the Gallery

Contact

Owen Bailey at

Please note that as an anti-spam measure e-mail addresses on this page are NOT links, but should be manually copied

An Exercise Walk

After two weeks of confinement we decided that we needed a walk. As the weather forecast for this morning was good we set off just before dawn. From home we walked to Hoo Ash Roundabout, through Swannington to the A512 and then Mill Lane. We paused at the Mill to watch the sunrise and have a cup of coffee then down to Limby Hall Lane and through fields passing Broomey Husk back to the A511 near Hoo Ash, a distance of just on five miles. The field paths are drying out well now, what a shame we can't make the most of them after all the wet and mud we endured through the winter. We heard a woodpecker hard at work in the copse where the Raper and Fenton mine used to be on Limby Hall Lane.
On the way home we saw the quarter to eight 29 bus. Usually going to Burton the route has evidently been cut back to Swadlincote. The only person on board was the driver. We arrived home by eight o'clock having only met a couple of dog walkers, a jogger and the bin men on Hough Hill. All were passed at distance and we felt safe.

Sunrise over a tree rimmed pond

Stone mill building and its reflection in pond

March's Walk

Field with sheep and a background of low hills
A view over Leicestershire.

Six members standing on or near play equipment - no bananas in sight!
Banana break at Beacon Hill.

Stone building covered in a mass of scaffolding
Renovations at Ulverscroft Priory.

Bootprints in wet and muddy ground
There were some muddy stretches.

A line of pollarded trees with masses of light pink blossom
Blossom near Newtown Linford.

Raised beds with daffodils and colourful primulas
Spring flowers in Bradgate Park.

Old John monument
A well known Leicestershire landmark.