Whitwick & District U3A

Whitwick & District U3A - SWANS

We have a programme called SWANS - short walks and no stiles. This will be an easy walk of 2 to 3 miles taken at a leisurely pace. It will be mainly on pathways and tracks with no muddy fields, or stiles or hills to climb. The walk will be followed by refreshments at a nearby pub. Suggestions for walk locations are always welcome. We regret that we are unable to allow dogs to come along on these walks.

You may also be interested in the 5 milers Group which is a small friendly group who go for a leisurely local walk of up to 5 miles.

Venue

Various

Timing

The 4th Thursday of the month at 11 am.

Next walk Thu Nov 26th

2026

Thu Jan 22nd Led by Sue & Ian; Location - Leisure Centres Old & New.

Thu Feb 26th Led by Phil & Lorraine; Location Grace Dieu.

Thu Mar 26th Led by Freda & Pat; Location Bawdon Lodge.

Thu May 28th Led by Keith & Jill; Location TBA.

Thu Jun 25th Led by Sue & Tracey; starting from Moira furnace.

Thu Jul 23rd Led by Ann & Tony; Bradgate Park.

Thu Aug 27th This will be the one that was cancelled in June and will be led by Sue and Tracey from Moira Furnace.

Thu Sep 24th Led by Irene & Anne; Location TBA.

Thu Oct 22nd Led by Steve & Christine; round the edge of Conkers.

Thu Nov 26th Led by Fran & Carol; Location TBA.

No walk in December

Contact

David on

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Pictures

Below are pictures from recent SWANS walks. More pictures are in the gallery.

2026

SWANS - February walk - 2026

The SWANS February walk was 2.5 miles round Grace Dieu Wood and adjacent estates led by Lorraine and Phil. The walk also included Grace Dieu Priory ruins. The original planned route was changed somewhat due to the level of mud on the path. Optional lunch was had at the Bulls Head Thringstone.

Walkers onpath at the side of road
The walkers on Loughborough Road soon after leaving the Bulls Head car park.

Walkers in graveyard next to church Gravestone of Charles Booth
Phil talking to the group near the grave of Charles Booth at St. Andrew's Church.

Walkers on path in wood avoiding muddy patch
We did manage to avoid the worst of the mud.

Walkers next to old railway bridge Walkers near a viaduct
Decision time!! Under the bridge back to the pub or under the Grace Dieu viaduct and on to the Priory ruins.

Everyone chose the ruins……..

Group of walkers posing for camera near priory ruins

2025

SWANS - November walk - 2025

November's walk was led by Lorraine and Phil and was round Albert Village Lake, with lunch afterwards at the Greyhound Inn

The walkers less one - the photographer Lorraine

SWANS - October walk - 2025

Our October walk was led by Irene and Anne around the Calke Estate. The weather was unpredictable with rain and winds forecast so members could decide if they wanted to walk or not. As it happens the weather proved ideal for walking with the sun appearing at one point. About half of the "walkers" decided to walk but we all had a very good lunch at the Staff of Life in Ticknall after an excellent walk.

Walkers on path through a wood
The start of the walk.