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  • Walk from Chetnole: April 16, 2025
  • Walk from Trowbridge: May 31, 2025
  • Westbury - 30 years of walks: July 05, 2025
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Author Topic: Celebrating 30 years of Wessex Wanderers Railway Walks  (Read 14899 times)
grahame
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« on: March 20, 2025, 15:20:04 »

Lots of interesting walks - https://www.wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk ... and

Wessex Wanderers Thirtieth Anniversary Summer Get Together - Saturday 5 July 2025

Quote
Hi

As some of you already know, to mark the thirtieth year since Peter Gould organised the first of what was to become the Wessex Wanderers Railway Walks, we are planning to hold a Summer Get Together for Current & Past Leaders, Co-Leaders and Supporters, which will be on Saturday 5 July 2025.

Provisionally it’s going to be held at the Railway Inn, Westbury, which is sort of half way between Weymouth and Bristol and very close to the railway station.

It would be very helpful in planning it to get an idea of how many would like to join us, or indeed, will be unable to join us.

Once the plans have been finalised, full details will forwarded to those who have shown as interest.

Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Sylvia

I will add diary notes for just a couple of especial personal interest

Quote
Chetnole to Maiden Newton via Charing Cross
Wednesday, 16th April
A linear walk across varied terrain, starting with fields and farms, some of which are likely to be wet and muddy, with some woodland paths and streams to cross.  We  continue on a steady climb on a quiet lane to Gore Hill, to walk along the hilltop paths with stunning views across Dorset down land.  We then drop down into Sydling St Nicholas before the final ascent to cross the A37 and down into Maiden Newton.

Quote
A Wiltshire Ramble
Saturday, 31st May
A walk from Trowbridge to Bradford on Avon, via river and canal paths, followed by fields and moderate hills.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2025, 20:07:21 »

A Wiltshire Ramble
Saturday, 31st May
A walk from Trowbridge to Bradford on Avon, via river and canal paths, followed by fields and moderate hills.

That looks like one I would like to do - I love canals.  See you there, grahame?

CfN (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum). Wink
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
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« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2025, 20:33:42 »

A Wiltshire Ramble
Saturday, 31st May
A walk from Trowbridge to Bradford on Avon, via river and canal paths, followed by fields and moderate hills.

That looks like one I would like to do - I love canals.  See you there, grahame?

CfN (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum). Wink

Err - no - Lisa and I will be in Italy / France.   Do we need to check diaries?
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2025, 20:45:51 »

No: I was being mischievous.  Grin Grin Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
bobm
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« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2025, 20:47:31 »

Graham wouldn't like it anyway - only assistance dogs are allowed on that one and not your average pooch.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2025, 21:55:11 »

No: I was being mischievous.  Grin Grin Grin

Rather more seriously, though, I will probably join that particular walk: I'll be in Wiltshire, so it would be rude not to. Wink

I may even take a few pictures, for use in a possible future quiz here on the Coffee Shop forum.  Lips sealed

CfN (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum)Smiley
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
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« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2025, 07:25:27 »

Graham wouldn't like it anyway - only assistance dogs are allowed on that one and not your average pooch.

We do not have average pooches these days - we have greyhounds  Grin



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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2025, 07:35:23 »

Lots of interesting walks - https://www.wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk ...

Quote
Chetnole to Maiden Newton via Charing Cross
Wednesday, 16th April
A linear walk across varied terrain, starting with fields and farms, some of which are likely to be wet and muddy, with some woodland paths and streams to cross.  We  continue on a steady climb on a quiet lane to Gore Hill, to walk along the hilltop paths with stunning views across Dorset down land.  We then drop down into Sydling St Nicholas before the final ascent to cross the A37 and down into Maiden Newton.

I have been in touch with the organiser who advises
Quote
The walk on the 16th is long and strenuous. I set quite a brisk pace and we walk as a group so there is an expectation that everyone is able to keep the pace. This walk is quite remote in the sense that it is in deep countryside with no places at which you could turn back or give up. The terrain is rough in parts, very different from town walking. So regrettably I think it might be a step too far for you at this stage
... well, I did ask  Sad ... I'll find something else for my daily mile ...
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grahame
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« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2025, 16:27:31 »

Lots of interesting walks - https://www.wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk ...

Quote
Chetnole to Maiden Newton via Charing Cross
Wednesday, 16th April
A linear walk across varied terrain, starting with fields and farms, some of which are likely to be wet and muddy, with some woodland paths and streams to cross.  We  continue on a steady climb on a quiet lane to Gore Hill, to walk along the hilltop paths with stunning views across Dorset down land.  We then drop down into Sydling St Nicholas before the final ascent to cross the A37 and down into Maiden Newton.

I have been in touch with the organiser who advises
Quote
The walk on the 16th is long and strenuous. I set quite a brisk pace and we walk as a group so there is an expectation that everyone is able to keep the pace. This walk is quite remote in the sense that it is in deep countryside with no places at which you could turn back or give up. The terrain is rough in parts, very different from town walking. So regrettably I think it might be a step too far for you at this stage
... well, I did ask  Sad ... I'll find something else for my daily mile ...

Having researched further, there is an easier route from Chetnole to Maiden Newton which I may tackle tomorrow (8th May) ... and which I can do at my own pace. And if I can't keep up with myself I know there will be should be another train 2 hours later.
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« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2025, 18:20:59 »

Yonks ago, and not helpful for your walk, with a friend who was on an educational placement in the area, we were exploring on bikes rather than by train. About a couple of miles east of Chetnole and just south of the village of Leigh, we visited Miz Maze, of which there was not much trace even then and possibly rather less now - perhaps ground resistance measurements would reveal it - but the day was lovely and later on we saw a purple emperor butterly.

Mark
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grahame
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« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2025, 05:55:19 »

Having researched further, there is an easier route from Chetnole to Maiden Newton which I may tackle tomorrow (8th May) ... and which I can do at my own pace. And if I can't keep up with myself I know there will be should be another train 2 hours later.

Quote
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:09 will be diverted between Chippenham and Trowbridge.
It will no longer call at Melksham.
It will be delayed due to the diversion and is expected to be 7 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.

AGAIN ;-)??

That aborts my day out then ...  07:45 walk start from Chetnole is out ... GWR (Great Western Railway) booking engine now suggests 11:45 which is about the time I would be completing my 8 hour walk!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2025, 17:29:23 »


That aborts my day out then ...  07:45 walk start from Chetnole is out ... GWR (Great Western Railway) booking engine now suggests 11:45 which is about the time I would be completing my 8 hour walk!

8 miles, not 8 hours, surely?  Shocked
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
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« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2025, 17:48:05 »


That aborts my day out then ...  07:45 walk start from Chetnole is out ... GWR (Great Western Railway) booking engine now suggests 11:45 which is about the time I would be completing my 8 hour walk!

8 miles, not 8 hours, surely?  Shocked


Yes - I should have said 8 half-hour walk to the pub in Maiden Newton ready perhaps for the 1 p.m. train home.
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« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2025, 19:02:27 »

I plan to rise early again tomorrow and give it another go. Somewhat prophetically, I had decided to only buy my ticket once I knew the train had passed onto the single line on tine; same again in the morning.   It's a more expensive train / ticket than I like as it's not "Off Peak". A rather strange definition of "Off Peak" because both of the trains load very thinly and so in colloquial terms the are NOT peak services.  Weather forecast looks OK for th walk too.
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« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2025, 20:34:14 »

Thirty years ago Marion and I researched these walks for the partnership, who then finished off the design and printed them.
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