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Whitwick & District U3A

Registered Charity No. 1181238

Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Tuesday, 19 Mar 2024

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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 intersted in the 5 milers Group which is a small friendly group who go for a leisurely local walk of up to 5 miles, or the Strollers group who go for 3 to 4 mile walks taking under 2 hrs.

Venue

Various

Timing

The 4th Thursday of the month at 11 am.

Next walk Thu Mar 28th

2024

UPDATED

No walk in January

Thu Feb 22nd Led by Sue & Ian; Moira - Walk cancelled due to weather. Lunch was had at the Greyhound Inn at Boundary.

Thu Mar 28th Led by Mark & Mell. This walk will be round Sence Valley Forest Park, with lunch at the Robin Hood in Swannington.

Thu Apr 25th Led by Ray & Jane; tba

Thu May 23rd Led by Keith & Jill; tba

Thu Jun 27th Led by Linda & Lynda; tba

Thu Jul 25th Led by tba; tba

Thu Aug 22nd Led by Phil & Lorraine; tba

Thu Sep 26th Led by Tony; tba

Thu Oct 24th Led by Sue & Ian: Moira - re-arranged walk from February

Thu Nov 28th Led by tba; tba

 

Contact

David on swans at whitwick u3a dot org dot uk

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

Pictures

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

2023

SWANS - October's and November's Walks - 2023

These two walks were both rearranged due to the wet weather creating very wet conditions under foot.

The October walk was led by Fran and Lyn and was due to be through Swithland Woods. It finished up as a short there-and-back walk along the solid path in Bradgate Park from Hallgates car park, which included the new Memorial Wood. We had lunch at the Bradgate Arms pub.

Walkers on path in wet weather

Walkers viewing artefacts in wood

Life-size model stag in wood

Walkers viewing artefacts in wood

November's walk was led by Linda and Lynda and was originally to be at Hough Mill. It was rearranged as a walk round Peggs Green with Bis joining us to provide some of the interesting history of the area, including that of the old Griffydam School in the last picture. We had lunch at the Bull's Head in Thringstone........

Walkers on path in wet weather

Walkers viewing artefacts in wood

Life-size model stag in wood

SWANS - September's Walk - 2023

This walk at Snibston Colliery Park was led by Jane and Ray. We had lunch afterwards at the Bull's Head, Thringstone.

Walkers on path
Off we go.

A view through a large wheel
The Century Theatre through the wheel.

Walkers near lake
One of us has some bread.

walkers on grass path.
Not far now!!.

SWANS - August's Walk - 2023

This walk at Beacon Hill was led by Linda and Lynda. We had lunch afterwards at the Thringstone Members' Club, which it is understood, everyone enjoyed.

Walkers resting in wood
Having a breather.

Walkers group posing for camera
Posing!!

Walkers with distant view
View towards Loughborough.

view of trees in wood.
Interesting picture.

Walkers resting in woods.
Another breather.

SWANS - July's Walk - 2023

Steve & Christine led this 2-mile SWANS walk round Spring Cottage. We had lunch at the Greyhound Inn, Boundary.

Walkers approaching lakes
Approaching the fishing lakes

Walkers in single file along path near woods
En route.

4 ducks in a row on water
4 ducks in a row.

Lily pads
Lily pads.

SWANS - June's Walk - 2023

27 SWANS joined this walk, led by David and Helena. It started at The Staff of Life pub car park and included the Tramway tunnel and the Ticknall Limeyards. Lunch was at the pub.

Two ladies observing a group of cows looking at us
Sorry, but you can't join us today - it's a Swan's walk.

Walkers in single file across field

Walkers pause for a chat
A pause at the Limeyards

Two walkers at distance in woods
Yes, we're waiting!!.

Picture of a stile  Picture of a stile  Picture of a stile
A forbidden stile (no, we didn't), a path we joined but didn't venture on, and The Limeyards

SWANS - May's Walk - 2023

23 SWANS joined this walk, led by Jane and Ray, mainly along the East Midlands Airport perimeter at Castle Donington. It was a lovely sunny summer's day with views over Castle Donington and clear views as far as Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station. Lunch aftwerwards was at The Nag's Head.

Walkers on grassy path

View across green field of village and church
View of Castle Donington

Walkers on green field alonside bank of tall trees

23 walkers posing for group picture

SWANS - February's Walk - 2023

31 SWANS joined this 2.4 mile walk from Moira Furnace, along part of the Ashby Canal and back along part of the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail. It was a lovely sunny winter's day and 28 SWANS enjoyed a very interesting lunch at the Greyhound Inn at Boundary.

Walkers in woods near pond

Walkers on canal towpath

2022

SWANS - October's Walk - 2022

This was a short walk around the grounds of Ulverscroft Manor, led by Andrew and Anna. It broke all records on numbers with 36 walkers and 27 eating lunch at The Copt Oak Pub. The walk included round the deer park, into the Kazakhstan Yurt and round the pond. This first picture is of the walkers...........



Before the walk we listened to a bit of very interesting history regarding Ulverscroft Manor, seen on the right.

 
Andrew provided some food for the deer. BUT oh dear! - no deer?

No worries - here they are.......

 

 


Entering the Yurt.


Walking round the pond.

 
Two of the fungi seen on the walk.


After the walk the walkers split into two groups for The Copt Oak. Here's Group 2, while Group 1 was on its way to the pub.

SWANS - September's Walk - 2022

A 2 mile walk round Sence Valley Park, led by Jane & Ray. At the end of the walk fun was had feeding the wildlife, as the following pictures show. Lunch afterwards was at The Queen's Head in Heather.




SWANS - August's Walk - 2022

A 2 mile walk round the Staunton Harold Coach Road circular, led by Mell & Mark. Lunch afterwards was at The George in Coleorton.


The walkers, with Staunton Harold Church in the background.

SWANS - June's Walk - 2022

A 2 mile walk round Whitwick and Whitwick Lake, led by Janet. Lunch afterwards was at The Bull's Head in Thringstone..


Geese on Whitwick Lake


SWANS - May's Walk - 2022

A 2 and a half mile walk at Beacon Hill, led by Linda and Lynda. Lunch afterwards was at The Bull's Head, Abbotts Oak.

 


Mell and Mark going nowhere fast.


The walkers


The Rhododendrons giving a wonderful display.


Into The Labyrinth


Will we find our way out?


I wouldn't bank on it if I was you!!


Helena's found a friend.

SWANS - April's Walk - 2022

A 2.5 mile walk round Market Bosworth Country Park, organised by Fran and led by David. A pleasant day for walking with lunch at Ye Olde Red Lion in Market Bosworth.


The lake in the park


A male mandarin on the lake in the park


The 23 walkers near the lake in the park


The walkers at the wood carvings...........

 

SWANS - February's Walk - 2022

A 2.5 mile walk from Bosworth Battlefield, led by David. Although the weather stayed dry and bright for the walk the recent rain had created quite a challenge with the mud. However, the 20 walkers survived and enjoyed a lunch at the Gate Inn.


The battlefield flags flying high


At Sutton Wharf


.......Over the Ashby Canal......



Just some of the mud.


In Ambion Wood...

.....and at the cairn marking the well where King Richard III drank during the battle....


2021

SWANS - November's Walk - 2021

A walk round Thornton Reservoir led by Mell and Mark, on a wonderfully bright November day, with lunch at the Bricklayer's Arms.


Heading towards the reservoir



Resting a while in the bright sunshine


Looking over the reservoir towards St. Peter's Church in Thornton


....and below are some of the reservoir and St. Peter's Church taken by Lynda.....

 


SWANS - October's Walk - 2021

A walk round Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood led by Christine and Steve, with lunch at the Sunnyside Garden Centre Cafe.




SWANS - September's Walk - 2021

A walk round Albert Village Lake led by Garry with lunch afterwards at the Greyhound, Boundary.



SWANS - August's Walk - 2021

A walk round Hicks Lodge led by David with lunch at the Halfway House in Donisthorpe.


............and there was time for a swing.......


SWANS - July's Walk - 2021

A quickly re-arranged walk due to road re-surfacing preventing access to Hough Mill. Bis took us on a short walk down Swannington Incline, giving us the interesting history of the Incline, on a very hot day. Lunch was as arranged at the Robin Hood pub.


At the wheel


At the Incline Engine House


Under Pudding Lane Bridge

SWANS - June's Walk - 2021

Here we are again - where we left off pre-pandemic. You will see below that in February 2020 our last walk prior to the lockdowns was from Donisthorpe. Here in June 2021 we are doing the same walk, but in the opposite direction. It is also led by David and Helena and we also ate at the Halfway House. Let's pretend the lockdowns never happened!! Here's a couple of pictures - 19 SWANS at Moira Furnace and 18 along the Ashby Canal (one was taking the picture).



SWANS - February's Walk - 2020

A 2.7 mile walk from Donisthorpe led by David and Helena, along the Ashby Canal to the Moira Furnace, and back along the Ashby Wolds Heritage Trail. We were very lucky with a perfect day for walking. Lunch was at the Halfway House.

Walkers waiting on a bridge looking back at other walkers approaching
Waiting for "catch-ups"

Walkers alonside the canal
Alongside the Ashby Canal

Page content updated 23-2-24