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NEWSLETTER – April 2015
Oadby Hillwalking Club
(www.oadbyhillwalkingclub.com)
The next Club Meeting will be the AGM on
Wednesday 22nd April 2015 (at 7:30pm) in the Front Lounge at
the Wigston Conservative Club, 38 Long Street, Wigston, LE18 2AH
There is a large Car Park to the rear
All members are invited to come along and have their say
on the organisation and running of the club.
Committee Members
There are six members on the committee each serving
three years, with two retiring each year at the AGM. The
aim is to allow fresh thinking to come into the organisation of the club. This year
Steve Sembay and Carol Birch will be retiring.
Volunteers are needed to fill the two vacancies for three years. We have had
interest shown in both of the vacancies.
The roles of committee members are open to negotiation each year as we try to
accommodate what members would like and are best able to do.
The club relies entirely on voluntary work of the committee to organise and run the
walks, and social programme. Member’s support is essential to continue with the
running of our very successful club. If any member can spare a few hours each
month to help as a Committee Member, we will be delighted to hear from you!
COMMITTEE 2014-15
Chairman:
Steve Sembay
Secretary/Newsletter:
Treasurer:
Mike Hinks
0116-259 2144
Jenny Fox
0116-291 1491
jennyfox126@gmail.com
John Bastow
0116-243 4176
Carol Birch
0116-279 2756
carol@betula.myzen.co.uk
Roy Batchen
0116-270 7628
Walks Co-ordinator:
Webmaster/Social:
M’bership Sec:
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0116-281 3041
sfs5@star.le.ac.uk
ohwcmail@gmail.com
johbas@talk21.com
rtb46@live.co.uk
Next monthly walk - Sunday 10th May – The Roaches
Coach departs Oadby Central car park at 8.00am and Ramshaw at 5.30pm. The
Bus will be parked in the Car Park of The Winking Man, Ramshaw, Nr Upper
Hulme (PC ST13 8UH & Grid Ref. SK 026 637)
Coach Route: M1, A50, A515, Ashbourne, A515 Buxton, A53 (South) to The Winking
Man pub, (or beyond if requested by a leader).
Boot stop:
Ashbourne
Maps:
OL24 The White Peak
Walk Leaders:
Long: Carol Birch
Medium: John Bastow, & Geoff Mattock
Short: Dave Judson
Walk Routes to: John Bastow by 20th April or earlier, e-mail johbas@talk21.com
Phone 0116-2434176 or post to: 14 Bramley Orchard, Bushby, Leicester, LE7 9RU.
Walk Route Map
Go onto the News section of the Club website, a few days before the monthly walk, to
see a map showing the walk routes. (www.oadbyhillwalkingclub.com)
Prospective walkers –please contact Carol Hinks to book a seat on the bus:
By e-mail to: c.hinks39@gmail.com You will receive a reply confirming the availability
or otherwise of a seat, or by telephone on 0116-2592144.
You will be contacted if and when seats become available should your name be
assigned to the waiting list.
Cancellations - members and guests - Cancellations up to Tuesday Midnight
before the Sunday walk - no penalty. Cancellations thereafter - full cost of
the bus fare due. (AGM 2011). Please send fare due to the Treasurer, Jenny
Fox, 126 Braunstone Close, Leicester, LE3 2GT
If you wish to be picked up at other than the Oadby Car Park, please mention
where when booking and please be aware that very occasionally another
Woods coach may go past before ours arrives.
Members can book for the next month’s walk on the return journey back to Oadby.
You don’t have to wait for the Club meeting or the Newsletter.
Boot/Toilet Stop
On the outward leg and on return if requested. Members are urged to keep the time
taken at the boot stop to a minimum. At the end of the walk members should change
their footwear and place dirty boots and rucksacks in the luggage locker before
getting onto the coach, thus avoiding any congestion and mud in the coach.
Those getting off the coach at Fosse Park and the Ring Road, may
alternatively, put your dirty kit into a “Bin Liner” and then take it onto the
coach; thus negating having to search for your kit in the luggage Locker.
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Safety Form and Emergency Personal Details
Please make sure that you are carrying your completed Club Safety Form in the top of
your rucksack - it could help you in a difficult situation. N.B. Don’t forget to keep the
form up to date. The form is available on the Club Website
(www.oadbyhillwalkingclub.com)
Essential Wear - N.B. Jeans and or trainers/sandals are NOT suitable
Members and guests must be suitably equipped and as a minimum this must include:
 suitable walking boots
 waterproof coat and over trousers
 warm clothing
 an appropriate rucksack.
 food and drink for the whole day
Almoner’s Report
If you know of any member that is poorly or unable to walk for any reason, please let
the Membership Secretary know.
Forthcoming Monthly Walks 2015 -16
Proposed programme below with returns at 5pm during GMT and 5.30pm during BST .
7 June –
Monsal Head
5 July –
Low Bradfield
2 August - Longnor
Mid Month Circular Walk – Sunday 19th April – Smeeton Westerby
Leaders: Mike & Lorna Rodber
Map: OS Explorer 233
Start at Kings Head, Smeeton Westerby, 09.00
Finish at Kings Head, Smeeton Westerby, 13.00
See Route Map on the club website www.oadbyhillwalkingclub.com
Marsden Walk Report – from Dave Judson
Despite an ominous weather report, our northbound journey to deepest West
Yorkshire proceeded smoothly. The new coaches Woods provide are very comfortable
indeed. We passed through Huddersfield town centre, with passport formalities in
place for non-Yorkshire born members. There were good views of classic 19th century
urban industrial scenery, with the remaining textile mills flanked by serried ranks of
workers terraces, all in the attractive Millstone Grit building stone. John’s party of 8
mid-length walkers got off the coach near Slaithwaite and we started walking along
the Colne Valley circular walk route. We then ascended past Hay Lathe Farm towards
Round and Hard Hills to enjoy fine views down to the heavily built up valley floor. By
now the clouds were building ominously and the wind picking up. We turned
southerly, along Binn Edge and above the Butterley Reservoir. A derelict farm house
provided shelter for lunch and in the distance I was sure we could hear Kate Bush
singing, Heathcliffe! It’s Kathy!
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Setting out once more, we turned due west at Wessendon Lodge below the parapet of
another reservoir. By now the wind was sweeping off the gaunt Pennine moorlands
ahead of us, driving the heavy rain painfully into our faces. After a fine preceding
week it seemed a bit unsporting of Nature to return us to what seemed a full winter
stormy day. But we'd had 3 hours of enjoyable walking before it really set in. We
gained the Pennine Way for the crossing of Blakely Clough and were grateful for the
flagstones, thus ensuring we were not soaked from below as well as above. At the
aptly named Black Moss, a right turn to northwest and shortly after to northeast onto
Standedge Trail finally put the wind onto our flanks and back. Those visiting the area
for the first time certainly had had the full Pennine experience.
Our party now split, with most choosing to descend towards Marsden and its very
appealing coffee shops, wine bars and pubs, whilst two hardy souls elected to loop
over the Standedge Tunnels and drop into the town from the north. The weather had
now eased to a thick drizzle and as a final bonus some of us made the worthwhile
stroll along the canal towpath to the entrance to Stanage Tunnel – Britain’s longest ,
highest and oldest canal tunnel (5 km) and its interesting visitor centre.
Thanks to John and Steph for a fine walk.
P.S. Several members of Jenny & Mike’s groups both called into the lovely Watersedge
Café at Tunnel End, where they partook of the very welcome hot drinks AND cakes!
Interested in being a Walk Leader?
Please speak to any Committee Member, who will gladly arrange this for you – or
better still come along to our open Club Meetings, which are on the Wednesday after
the Sunday walk, at The Fox Inn, Oadby at 7.30pm.
Weekend to Coniston in the Lake District - Friday 24th to Monday 27th April
2015
Book your own accommodation;
Camp sites include Coniston Hall and Park Coppice.
YHAs - Coniston Holly How & Coniston Copper Mines.
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There are many Hotels & B&Bs in or near Coniston.
The choice is yours!
Walks will probably include Coniston Old Man and the Langdale Fells.
We will travel by car. It should be possible to arrange car sharing and lifts if needed.
Organiser: John Bastow.
Please contact John as soon as possible if you’re interested. Phone: 0116 2434176
e-mail: johbas@talk21.com
Snowdonia Weekend – Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2015
Geoff Mattock is organising another visit to this popular area.
Camping in Wales at Dol Gam
3½ miles east of Capel Curig 3½
miles west of Betws-y-Coed
Please see their website:
www.dolgam-snowdonia.co.uk
The campsite is open all year, and the fees are £5.00 per person per night.
They also offer bed & breakfast in the farmhouse (£30 -£32 per person per night), so
if you want the home comforts of B&B, then you can all be catered for!
If interested, please contact Geoff Mattock: 0116 2395381:
babs.beattie@talktalk.net
Arrange your own transport.
The campsite is situated on the banks of the river Llugwy, under the majestic peak of
Moel Siabod, and caters for tents and dormobiles only. The facilities block now has
electric lights and include:

Flush toilets

Hot showers

Washing up area

Washbasins with H&C in cubicles

Drinking water
 Some Electric Hook-ups (at extra cost)
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March Mid-month walk report
Roy, Geoff, Lorna, Mike R, Carol and Mike H set off at 9.30 from the White Horse car
park in Seagrave. The weather was fine and dry, and we were soon striping off the
outer layers!
Our intended walk route took us past the old Wymeswold Airfield, however Roy took
us onto the airfield to see the UK's largest Solar Farm which has been built, at the site
of the former World War II airfield. The 34MW solar project was developed by Lark
Energy and the landowner Prestwold Estates, and was funded and is owned by Hazel
Capital. Consisting of some 130,000 solar panels positioned on land between the old
runways, and covering an area of c.150 acres, the project was built in less than 8
weeks and was connected and commissioned before changes to Feed-in Tariffs took
place at the end of March 2013.
Whilst at the airfield we strolled along the perimeter track to the old Control Tower,
which we entered and took in the views from the top.
.
As Lorna was still recovering from a sprained ankle,
she and Mike had decided to shorten their walk and
meet up with the rest of us further along the route;
however we hadn't taken into account the airfield
visit, which must have taken the best part of an hour.
So they carried on back
to Seagrave own their own with the remaining four
about an hour behind.
After the airfield visit our route took us past the
picturesque Prestwold Hall and then onto Walton on the
Wolds, finally back to the White Horse at Seagrave, where
we took refreshment.
Thanks Roy for an enjoyable and interesting morning’s adventure.
Mike Hinks
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John Oliver’s Antidote
Past member John Oliver was disappointed not to join the club’s latest trip to
Marsden.
In his own words:
“I've given the matter a good deal of thought and have decided not to come on
the Marsden trip. It's a case of the spirit still being willing, but the body not so.
It looks therefore that there won't be any comeback for me and that the 87
walks I led for the club will be my final total. A pity, but there you are, that's
it.
Actually, I've led 91 walks all told for the OHWC.
The figure of 87 covered 86 coach walks, plus the Silver Jubilee car walk to
Black Hill in July ‘98.
I also led 3 'foot and mouth' canal walks, April, May and June 2001
and of course my ex-Chairman’s walk from Cossington in December ‘01.
It would be interesting to know how many walks other members have led for
the club.
All the best and thanks”,
John
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