As we head out of what has a very mixed summer in terms of walking weather we now prepare for the onset of Autumn and the clocks going back. In rambling it is key to our beliefs that the positive physical and mental health benefits extend across the year. This brings to my mind two wise sayings that we associate with. Firstly that there is “No such thing as bad weather only bad clothing” and secondly “If you wait for the weather then you wait forever”. Those essential health benefits will continue if we all keep our routine mileage ticking over whatever the season.
In the New Year we will be hoping to build on the successful club holiday that thirty or so members enjoyed at the Patterdale Hotel in the Lake District in March and to offer a different and equally exciting destination to appeal to all grades of walker, we will share details in the coming months via our website and Facebook page.
In August we promoted what was our first midweek coach ramble for many years and we were indeed sold out for our visit to Winchcombe in the Southern Cotswolds. Walks of 6, 9 and 11 miles were enjoyed and many of the party enjoyed the magnificent view from the Cotswolds highest point, Cleeve Hill, with a sweeping vista that included The Malvern Hills and the Forest of Dean.
We continue to listen to member requests for further walking opportunities. On the back of the recently innovated four mile walk offering and car free walks accessing the starting point by either train or bus now comes a new proposal! We are now considering the introduction of an ad hoc eight to ten mile series of rambles to bridge the gap between morning and all day walks.
Finally a huge congratulations to one of our keenest weekend walkers, John Hancock. Earlier this summer John completed his third set of climbing all the recognised 214 “Wainwrights”. These are the Lakeland fells catalogued and recorded by Alfred Wainwright. John has now over 650 fells “bagged” as he continues to enjoy his rambles in this beautiful corner of the kingdom, from all of us in Leicester Ramblers, John, well done!