Leader: Mike Dorrington, 01707 690127.
Please note that we are now collaborating with the Potters Bar U3A Walking Group. We are able to join their walks and do not have to be Associate Members of Potters Bar U3A. If you want to go on any of their walks, please contact the appropriate Walk Leader. Click here to access their walks programme.
We are now starting our fourth year as a Walking Group. We have had wet walks, dry walks, shortish walks, longish walks and some of us now have a pretty good knowledge of the countryside within a 10 mile radius of WGC. Or have we? Some walks are good to do again at different times of the year to see changing views.
So, lets try the following walks programme for April to June:-
THURSDAY 5th APRIL (NOT Tuesday 3rd April) - Amwell Reserve and Buntingford Line Walk. A new walk for us, with an opportunity to see how the development of the Amwell Nature Reserve is progressing and a walk along part of the old Buntingford to St Margarets railway line which was operational between 1863 and 1964. Approx 5 miles (2, 1/2 hours). Lots of refreshment places in Ware - nearest "The Navigator", just over the bridge. Park in Broadmeads Car Park, off Amwell End, Ware for a 10.30am start. This is a Pay and Display public car park. Charges £1-80 for 3 hours, £2-40 for 4 hours, or Long Term car park next door at £3-00. It would make sense to double up on cars, so please let me know if you want to attend and we can sort out transport arrangements. OS Explorer map 194. GR 358 141. Ware is next to Hertford and is probably as far as we would go eastwards for our walks but, hopefully, we should enjoy it.
THURSDAY 3rd MAY - Sandridge. A walk to include Nomansland Common and Hammonds farm. Approx 5 1/2 miles ( 2, 3/4 hours). Two pubs in Sandridge. Park in the free car park alongside the Village Hall in the main road for a 10.30am start. OS Explorer map 182 GR 170 105. Sandridge is on the B651 just north of St Albans.
TUESDAY 15th MAY - Knebworth Park (Lytton Arms). We have done this walk before. A circular walk through Knebworth Park and Graffidge Wood with, possibly, a chance to see some bluebells, you never know! Approx 4.3 miles ( 2, 1/4 hours). Please park sensibly along the road by the Lytton Arms pub in Old Knebworth for a 10.30am start. OS Explorer map 193 GR 228 202. Old Knebworth is to the west of Knebworth off the B197.
FRIDAY 15th JUNE - WHITWELL ( 2 pubs or Emily's Kitchen) OK, so I like Whitwell, but this walk includes Stagenhoe and Hitch Wood as well as St Pauls Walden. Approx 5 miles ( 2, 1/2 hours). Park in the Recreation Ground in Bradway Road which is off Horn Hill (B651) for a 10.30am start. OS Explorer map 193 GR 184 209. Whitwell is on the B651 just north od Kimpton.
THURSDAY 28th JUNE - AYOT ST LAWRENCE - I thought we could try again the walk to Kimpton, Rye End, Kimpton Mill and past the rather splendid Ayot House. Approx 5 miles ( 2 1/2 hours). Park in road near the old church in Ayot St Lawrence for a 10.30am start. OS Explorer map 182 GR 194 168. Please be careful on the country lanes. Ayot St Lawrence is north east of Wheathamstead.
Health and Safety
All walkers are advised to wear suitable boots and socks before attempting any of these walks, which are undertaken at your own risk. The weather is always unpredictable so good weatherproof clothing is also advised. In case of emergency it would be useful to carry contact details with you, including details of any medications that paramedics would need to make note of. Also. please carry this information where it can easily be found.
Some walkers do not have transport and would find it difficult to get to the more remote start points. Please let me know if you need a lift and I will try and arrange one for you. Since most of you are now regular Walkers, it would be nice to arrange car sharing so there are less cars at start points.
It would be very helpful if you could let me know if you are going to attend a walk. I should hate to leave anyone behind if they are slightly late.
My contact details are telephone 01707 690127, mobile 07796 198701. When you arrive at the start point of a walk, look out for my car which is a blue Ford Focus reg NL07XHA.
STOP PRESS - Some of you are anxious to do more walks than I can organise. We have agreed with Potters Bar U3A Walking Group to share details of each other's walks. You are able to attend the Potters Bar walks without needing to join their U3A as an Associate Member. They will also have the same opportunity to attend our walks. Potters Bar have walks every week, many of them in our own patch.
To get things started, a copy of this Newsletter will be sent to Vera Kellock, who is one of Potters Bar's Walks Leaders, and she will distribute the information to their Walkers. You can find out about the Potters Bar Walks by going on their website www.pottersbaru3a.org.uk and, in the first instance, make contact with Vera by email on verakellock@waitrose.com or telephone her on 01707 851822. If all goes well, we should be able to set up a more permanent contact system but, in the meantime, it is only courteous to let her know if you wish to attend one of their walks.
I am jealous in that there seems to be a whole army of Walk Leaders in Potters Bar, whereas here you all seem to rely on me. Perhaps this is a situation that needs addressing.
Happy walking.
Mike.