Walks-Challenging
The Challenging Walks Group meets on the LAST Thursday of each month for a 10 mile, or so, walk.
The Challenging Walks group was created in January 2017 in response to some walkers wanting to do longer distances than the Long Walks group walks, and a desire for some to walk The National Forest Way. The Glenfield U3A Challenging Walks Group had walked the NFW and there was a writeup of their experience in the National U3A magazine in 2016. I contacted the Glenfield walk coordinator, John Alton, who was extremely helpful in providing details of the route stages he had planned. A Big Thank You to John for helping me get started!
You should be aware that the "Challenge" is to walk the Way's, in Stages, from start to finish, and not to climb a mountain (although that would be a good challenge as well).
In the challenging walks group so far we have walked the National Forest Way, The Ivanhoe Way, the Manifold Way, The Way for the Millenium and The Bonnie Prince Charlie Walk (BPC), The Derwent Valley Heritage Way, The Derby Nomad Way, The Erewash Valley Trail as well as several 10-12 mile circular walks including an extension of the BPC Walk down to Nailstone where Charlie rode to Elm Tree Farm (in Nailstone, now Elmside Farm) to see the Knowles family to ascertain what support to expect from the area. We have also completed the following National Forest Circular Walks, The Birthday Walk (launched in 2005 for the 10th anniversary of the National Forest Company) and Coal Tips to Country Parks walk which is self-explanatory, The Needwood Circular Walk, The Hartington-Alstonefield Circular, The Branston-Jacksons Bank Circular Walk and the Staunton Harald to Caulke Abbey Bluebelle walk.
I should also thank John Pritchard-Jones and John Bradley who jointly created the BPC Walk to celebrate the 60th anniversary (1995) of the formation of the Ramblers' Association, now called The Ramblers. They were both very helpful with stories and walk details and were grateful to hear that their work is still being recognised by walkers, and that it is on the OS Map. As we passed by Mickleover on Stage 2 of the walk John Bradley came out to meet us, which was very kind of him.
Each stage will include car sharing, (to shuttle walkers between the beginning and end of each stage), or public transport, and a break near the halfway point for a picnic or a cafe/pub lunch. All plans are open for input from the walkers who attend.
We sometimes meet to arrange carpools, either at the Newton Road Carpark between the Trent Bridge and The Sump, (park in the main carpark where there are toilets available), or at the Rolleston Club car park (at the back near the bowls green). (links below)
Of late I have started using public transport for the walk stages, where possible. We walked all 5 stages of The Derwent Valley Heritage Way, all 5 stages of The Derby Nomad Way, and all 3 three stages of the Erewash Valley Trail solely using public transport. The Senior Bus Pass and The Derbyshire Wayfarer Pass are great assets to make use of.
Newton Road Carpark
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Burton+Canoe+Club/@52.810043,-1.6184827,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487a0265fa130547:0x8449a59a11bc6ac3!8m2!3d52.810043!4d-1.616294
Rolleston Club
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rolleston+Club/@52.8459312,-1.652835,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x487a02df50a048a9:0x1582d2236d831211!8m2!3d52.8459312!4d-1.6502601!16s%2Fg%2F1tqt95x4?entry=ttu
I will need all walkers to confirm your intent to participate "prior to each stage" so that things run as smoothly as possible. I will send an email, and post on U3A webpage, details of each stage in plenty of time for you to be able to make a commitment to attend. It would be appreciated if you would do that asap. I will need to know the exact number of walkers attending to ensure that we have enough cars to shuttle walkers from end to start and reverse. ie: we will need to plan for one car for every 2 walkers as half of the cars will be left at the stage end and half at the stage beginning in order to do the shuffle. When possible we have used public transport for the shuttle.
If you are interested in more info or in joining this group please contact the Group Coordinator Herb Croken via the "Click to Send a Message" link provided above.
Thank you and Happy Hiking!
Herb