Stokesley University of the Third Age-Walking Group

Stokesley and District U3A - the University of the Third Age

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Walking Group

walkers at Castleton

Welcome to Stokesley U3A’s Walking Groups. We are ideally placed to take advantage of some lovely countryside, and walking is a healthy and sociable activity enjoyed by many of our members.

To cater for a range of abilities and interests we currently run 3 different groups, described in more detail below. So you can choose a walk (and group!) compatible with your ability and experience to make sure you really enjoy your walk.

We organize Long Walks, Intermediate Walks and Short Walks.

Our leaders are experienced walkers and they will take every reasonable care to ensure your safety on the walks. Walking, like many activities, though, has potential hazards so you should be equipped to deal with these. Although our U3A walking groups are covered for Public Liability, the policy is not Personal Accident Insurance.

As a general guideline, for the intermediate and long walks, you can expect rough terrain, ascents and descents, stiles, and probably mud! On the short walks there can also be ascents and descents, stiles and mud. If you are new to walking, or are thinking of moving up a group, we recommend that you follow the links below, to the Ramblers website – they will give you essential information on walking safely and on the type of equipment you will need.

For more information on walking safely, take a look at

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/practical/safety

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/practical/gear

At the present time, we regret that dogs are not permitted on the walks. For the intermediate and long walks, you should bring a drink and a snack/meal, since refreshment facilities are generally not available on the routes. The short walks usually avail themselves of refreshments at a local hostelry or café .

It is essential to contact the leader before the walk so that we know what numbers we will have and can plan how best to handle the walk. Especially if the weather is bad, cancellations or changes may be needed. And, if we know you are expected, we are more likely to wait for you to arrive at the start if you get delayed. Because of pressure on parking, we suggest car-sharing if possible – and with the current cost of fuel, we think it makes good sense!

Short walks (up to 4 miles) take place on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, and are usually led by Bryn and Jackie. For safety reasons, walks are limited to 24 participants. If you would like to go, phone Bryn or Jackie (or whoever is leading) between 9 - 9.30 a.m. on the day of the walk to book your place. Once 24 people have booked, the walk will be closed to further participants.

Short walks start at 10.30 a.m. promptly, are usually 'circular', and often finish up near a pub or café where lunch can be taken if you wish to join us.


January 27	Meet at the Cross Keys Inn, between Nunthorpe and Guisborough, for a 2 hour circular walk. Option of pub lunch.

February 10	Meet at Saltburn for a 2 hour circular walk. Park in the car park at the bottom of Valley Gardens (over the river before the Ship Inn). Option of pub lunch.

February 24	Meet at Errington Wood Car Park (GR 618202) for a 2 hour circular walk. Traveling towards Saltburn on the A174, turn right at second roundabout after Kirkleatham Lane roundabout (which is at eastern end of Wilton site). Follow Grewgrass lane uphill past New Marske & turn left to picnic area, before 90° bend.

March 9	Meet at Wynyard Woodland Park Planetarium car park - situated outside Stockton on the A177 (Durham Road) near Thorpe Thewles, for a walk along the old railway line. Option of pub lunch.

March 23	Park at the top of Clay Bank for a 2 hour walk to the Wainstones. Option of pub lunch.

April 13	Park at North York Moors Visitor Centre at top of Sutton Bank, for a 2 hour circular walk. Option of café or pub lunch.

April 27	Volunteer leader required please.

May 11	Volunteer leader required please.

May 25	Volunteer leader required please.

Intermediate walks (5-7 miles) are aimed at bridging the gap between the short and long walks. Walks are on the second Thursday of the month. They will involve stiles and rough terrain, so are more strenuous than the short walks. Please bring a packed lunch and hot/cold drinks since there are often no establishments offering refreshments on our routes.

Long walks (usually 8+ miles) take place on the first Friday of each month, and on the third Friday if a leader can be found. Details of the walk are usually circulated by email a week or two before the walk. We take a packed lunch and hot/cold drinks so that we can stop at a convenient point for a break.

The next long walk on February 3rd will leave at 10 a.m. from Square Corner, on the road from Osmotherley to Hawnby. The walk goes from Square Corner, up to the Swanby shooting hut and then visits the Faber Stone before going on to the Snilesworth Estate. It is mostly on good tracks, but there are one or two sections that include stream crossings, so if the weather has been very wet, the route might have to be altered. This is ground that we rarely walk on, and it is very pleasant.

The Long walks group is now closed to new members, and anyone wishing to join should contact the leader to be put on the waiting list. We are looking at options with regard to setting up a second Long walks group. One option is that such a group would do the same walk as the first group, but at a different time. Setting up such a group is contingent on us finding a co-ordinator for the new group.

Here are some of the long walkers in Scugdale in December 2009.

Lunch stop!

Stokesley and District U3A

Registered Charity Number 1117650