Special Walks
   
  What has been happening
   

Christmas walk

 

 On a beautiful, crisp morning we met at Milton Heath car park and were welcomed with pre-walk coffee, mince pies and other goodies provided by Betty and Derek (donations to Parkinsons amounted to £100), followed by some carol singing led by our cornet-playing Ray. The walk around Dorking was enhanced by the hoar- frost. An optional route across the River Mole by stepping stones was undertaken by the Brave Ones. The Rialto provided us with good meals at very reasonable costs. It was great to see non-walking Ramblers at the restaurant enjoying the lunch too. Thanks to Betty and Derek for another seasonal ramble to remember.  Jan Cope
   
Festival of Winter Walks

In spite of the wet weather and poor conditions under foot, walkers were able to enjoy the countryside, social contact and mixing with members who normally walked on different days of the week. Although the attendance was down on last year, there were good turn-outs of forty-three at Puttenham, thirty-three at Shere and twenty on Boxing Day, when the weather was kinder to us. Several new people came on the more pleasant days and it is expected that some will join our group. Thanks are due to all the leaders who prepared a nice selection of walks and made everyone feel most welcome.  Damian Wheeler
   
   
  What is being planned
   
Friday Evening Walks

The popular season of Friday evening walks starts at 6:30 pm on 26 April with a walk from Hascombe.  There will then be a walk every Friday evening until the end of June and continuing in the next programme. There are two six-mile walks scheduled for the 31 May and 21 June and both these will start at 6:30 pm. I hope the season will be drier than last year. Happy walking.  Damian Wheeler
   
Coach Trips 2013

There will be an overnight coach trip to Lyme Regis on Tuesday 30 April to Wednesday 1 May comprising two days of walks with a short and longer option each day and also plenty to do for non-walkers. If you want further information about this trip contact Heather Dillon (details below) before 28 February. On Mon. 19, Tue. 20 and Wed. 21 August there will be three separate days of coach trips. Put these dates in your diary now. Locations and further details are currently being developed but provisional plans (which could change) are:

·         Brian Gray leading walks along the Thames Path from Lechdale, Oxfordshire

·         Andy Piercey leading walks along part of the Greensand Way, Kent

·         Jenny Winter planning a trip to the Test Valley, Hampshire

Further details of the August trips and the opportunity to book will be in the next newsletter. Heather Dillon  heatherdillon94@gmail.com or telephone: 01483 531122
   
Woolbeding Gardens As booking for the Woolbeding gardens is essential, I need to be advised of numbers. The date of the walk is 9 May 2013 and I need to know by 22 April latest. My email address is annharmes@googlemail.com. I have checked the website for 2013 and the entrance price for non-members is £7.20. If anyone has a second person on their membership, perhaps they could 'pair up' with a non member? Please contact me if you require any further information.  Ann Harmes
London Blind Ramblers Walk Come and join us on Sunday 2 June for our annual walk with the London Blind Ramblers. Lots of helpers are key to the success of this walk and G & H have given excellent support in the past. We start from Maplehatch Close, Godalming, The LBRs arrive at Godalming Station on the 10:51 from Waterloo. Arrangements for cars to pick up and transfer to Maplehatch Close will be made nearer the time. If you are not on station duty please meet at Maplehatch Close at 11:00. We will use the public right of way through Winkworth Arboretum, but if you are a National Trust member bring your card along. The LBRs prefer to bring a picnic lunch and it is our custom to join them. Liquid refreshments are available from the NT tearooms. Muriel and Don Clark are kindly hosting afternoon tea in their garden at the end of the walk. If you can provide a garden chair it will be most welcome. Donations of cakes to Jean or Muriel gratefully accepted.  For more information please contact Jean Harker on 01483 276680, jeanincranleigh@talktalk.net Jean Harker
   
Isle of Wight Walk, Saturday 22 June 2013. Starts 10:10 am, Lake Railway Station

This year we plan to visit the NE of the island, using the Island Railway from Ryde Pier. We start from Lake Station which is near the coast path. The route takes us to Sandown (10:30 for a 30 min. seaside refreshment stop), Culver Down, Foreland, Bembridge Harbour and Brading with some beach walking.

We will stop for lunch (13:30) at the Lifeboat View Café, Bembridge, or picnic on the adjacent lawn or beach. As usual there is the option of ”Fish’n’ Chips” at the Long John Eatery in Ryde on the return journey (17:20).

Travel details:-  

  • The fast train is 08:04 Guildford, 08:21 Haslemere, arrives Portsmouth Harbour 09:07.
  • Connecting train is 07:59 Farncombe, 08:02 Godalming, 08:06 Milford, 08:10 Witley.  Change to fast train at Haslemere 08:17.
  • FastCat Portsmouth Harbour 09:15 arr. Ryde Pier 09:37. (Ferry Time as per rail timetable)
  • Island Railway from Ryde Pier 09:49 arr. Lake 10:10.

It's essential to book your return ticket from your home station to Lake IOW - there is not enough time to buy separate ferry tickets at Portsmouth Harbour where frequently there are large queues. It may be cheapest to travel in a group of four, but the four must be travelling together at all times. Please allow ample time for buying tickets - particularly at those stations with ticket operated barriers.

Leaving Ryde in your own time: e.g., Ferry at 18:47, (after Fish’n’Chips) expect to be back at Haslemere 20:00 or Guildford 20:15. (Later for intermediate stations). 

Ferry Times for June show ferries as 17:10, 17:47, 18:10, 18:47, 19:47, 20:47, 21:47

You MUST please check all trains and ferry times and the G&H website near to the date of travel.  Don Clark