UERSA - Walking Group

CONTACT DETAILS FOR THIS GROUP:

Trevor Preist

email: preist.exeter@gmail.com

Walking Group October - December 2019

The Oct/Dec programme is finally out thanks to the efforts of the leaders who have test driven the routes in readiness. I thank them warmly on your behalf.

After a gap of three years I am reinstating the Annual lunch walk in late November. It will be preceded by a short easy walk ending at the Ruffwell Inn, Thorverton. I do hope that some of our members from earlier years who no longer walk will join us for lunch to meet and chat with old friends.

October 2019

Trevor

The Newsletter as a pdf file on this link.

Please see the Walking Group section on the Newsletters and Archives page for an archive of previous newsletters.

Forthcoming Meetings

10:30 Wednesday 2nd October

Lustleigh Cleave - 7 miles

Packed lunch required.

The walk will start from Lustleigh Church in the village. Parking is usually available on adjacent roads but car sharing is advisable where possible. [Tom has promised (?) to get back in time to enjoy the delights of the Primrose Tea Rooms.....]

Tom

10:30 Wednesday 16th October

Killerton - 6-7 miles

Packed lunch required

Start from Killerton car park, free if member of NT

We would start by walking to Budlake and crossing the M5 to walk through Ashclyst Forest. Return towards Killerton and through to Columbjohn Wood followed by Killerton clump. Refreshments available at Killerton at the end.

Ed Maunder

10:30 Monday 4th November

Neadon Cleave - 8.5 easy miles

Packed lunch required.

I would like to offer a walk out of Holne Brake car park (edge of Yarner Woods and at the back of Parke Estate; OL28, SX 78294 79415)

8.5 miles in total and a lot of that is through woodland. There is quite a lot of bracken over the top of Hunters Tor.

Jan

10:30 Wednesday 13th November

Woodbury Common - 7 miles

Packed lunch required

Meet at Four Firs car park, Woodbury Common (GR 031864) with packed lunch. Easy walking on tracks, paths and the odd road. Could be a bit muddy in odd places. No serious hills.

Judy

10:00 Monday 25th November

Ruffwell - 2-3 miles

UERSA lunch

This will reinstate the Annual lunch walk, to the Ruffwell Inn, Thorverton Turn on this occasion. They will offer the carvery, fish and chips or their lunch menu.

The walk will be 2-3 miles from Stoke Canon.

Start options:

a) Drive to Ruffwell arriving by 10.15, parking in the area of the car park furthest from the pub. We will catch the 10.31 bus from the Ruffwell to Stoke Canon (10.37). ( Bring your BUS pass )

b) Catch 55 bus from Exeter (Paris St, stop 16) at 10.30 getting off at Stoke Canon (10.41)

The walk will depend on the ground conditions possibly across fields to Brampforde Speke and then quiet roads to The Ruffwell.

The Ruffwell offers a Carvery, Fish & Chips and the Lunch menu.

I plan to ask (about 4 days before) those who plan to lunch whether they want the Carvery, Fish & Chips or their choice from the menu ( www.theruffwellinn.co.uk )

This will help the staff & reduce waiting time.

I do hope that former walkers will come for lunch with us on this occasion (12.15).

Trevor

10:15 Tuesday 10th December

A Plymouth walk - 7 miles

Packed lunch or café

A gentle walk in Plymouth – bring packed lunch or lunch in Saltram House café.

a) Meet at 9:30 at Coypool Park and Ride car park, edge of Plymouth to catch bus into Plymouth

b) at 10:15 outside St Andrew's church (Royal Parade near Guildhall) if coming by train (convenient one 8:44 Exeter St David's - arr Plymouth 9:34)

Walk to the Hoe, along the waterfront, through Barbican area to follow South West Coast Path through Cattedown; Cross Laira Bridge and walk along east bank of Plym and walk through the park to Saltram House. Lunch there - either picnic or buy at the cafe. Saltram House will be decorated for Christmas so people may choose to stop and see that. Coypool car park is a further mile, easy walk and rail passengers can use the park and ride bus back to the centre of Plymouth.

There is a Falcon coach due into the coach station at 10:15am - if anyone is using that, please contact David ( davidandtina@endfield.org.uk ) so that we can wait for you.

David & Tina

Reports - 2019

May Day 2019 – Avon Estuary Walk

Nine of us gathered at Bantham for a walk along the Avon Valley led by David and Tina Smith. The forecast was mixed but at 10 am the scene was idyllic. Everything was still, with sunshine through the haze and a few sailors loitering outside the Sailing Club at low tide (waiting for opening time?).
The ferryman (part-time) arrived to take us across to the Bigbury side and the view of Burgh Island - he could only carry five at a time so a second trip was necessary,
The path took us up the side of the valley, steep in parts, and eventually we were above the meandering river with stunning views towards Aveton Gifford., our halfway point and the first bridge across the river. The sides of the valley had some, but not much, cultivation. Not many signs of habitation either other than the itinerant golfers on the long thin course.

Avon Valley

We dropped towards the river and then climbed back up to the reassuring news from David that there was only one more (less steep) climb. Judy & Nigel, keen naturalists were quick to point out interesting moths, butterflies and beetles and the absence of livestock (apart from one field with a lot of calves) meant that we saw plenty of wild orchids.
The return on the other side involved an initial steady climb but then it was a more direct contour route back, high above the river, which now covered all the previously exposed sand banks.
Back at Bantham beach which has retained its natural state with the only concession to consumerism a Gastro-bus (happily open) and later in the season a pop-up Surf Shop hiring boards and giving lessons. After refreshing tea & coffee we were on our way home meeting the first rain of the day.
Many thanks to David and Tina for such a wonderful walk and day out. They had researched the walk last year and full details and photographs are available on http://www.geograph.org.uk/geotrips/1378
Trevor

Quantocks Walk - 11th June

Five members braved the elements and joined the walk of 8-9 miles in the Quantocks from Lydeard Hill. The weather forecast had threatened heavy rain, but all that we encountered was mist and light drizzle, with gusty winds. The walk followed moorland tracks and forest paths and access roads, returning via the Drove Road, which dates back centuries - it was probably used by King Alfred's army. A Bronze Age monolith suggests it was a very ancient trackway. The rhododendrons and foxgloves were prolific, Occasionally the mist cleared giving us views east to the estuary of the River Parrett or to the broad valley to the west and the edge of Exmoor. The walk was notable for a picnic area with tables (and flushing loos) and for the company of a stray dog, Eric, whose energy put the walkers to shame. One of us sacrificed his trouser belt to restrain Eric until his distraught owner arrived.