Guildford Ramblers Celebrates 30th Anniversary With A Festival Of Winter Walks

Published on: 10 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 10 Dec, 2018

The ever-popular Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks is back and has a special focus this year as Guildford Ramblers celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The festival, which runs from Saturday, December 22 to Saturday, January 5, provides an opportunity for non-members to walk with Guildford Ramblers.

The cold crisp days of winter are a magical time to go walking, with transformed scenery and spectacular early sunsets. It’s a great way to escape the demands of the festive season for a few hours, helps keep you fit and healthy and provides an opportunity to make new friends.

Examples of four of the walks taking place during the festival are:

Walk 1: Boxing Day. Start time: 10.15am. Distance: 6 miles / 9.7 kms. A Boxing Day leg-stretch at the Devil’s Punch Bowl: A scenic circular walk across moorland and through woodland and pretty villages. Starting point: Punch Bowl Lane car park, off Boundless Road, south of Thursley, GU8 6QJ.

Walk 2: Saturday, December 29. Start time: 10.15am. Distance: 7 miles /11.3 kms. A circular walk through Old Woking along the Wey Navigation to Walsham Lock and Pyrford. Starting point: Hoebridge Golf Club, GU22 8JH (orange gravel car park at the top of the hill).

Walk 3: New Year’s Day. Start time: 10am. Distance: 6 miles / 9.7 km. A brisk walk through the Chantries, Shalford and up St Martha’s Hill. Optional New Year’s drink at the end. Starting point: St Martha’s Hill car park, off Guildford Lane, Albury, GU5 9BQ

Walk 4: Saturday, January 5. Start time: 10.15am. Distance: 7.5 miles / 12.1 kms. A lovely walk through the ups and downs of the Surrey countryside around Wotton. Starting point: Village hall car park behind the Wotton Hatch public house, RH5 6QQ.

Guildford Ramblers’ full walks programme can be viewed at www.guildfordramblers.org.uk and click on the ‘walks’ tab.

The chairman of Guildford Ramblers, Lynne Davies, said: “Winter is a wonderful time to get outdoors and discover beautiful Surrey countryside you never knew existed. The festival of winter walks offers an easy way to head out for a winter wander with friends and family.

“And if you feel like you’ve over indulged on turkey and mince pies, it’s a great way to help you kick start those new year fitness resolutions too. Who knows, what starts out as a one-off Christmas or new year walk could lead to life-long friendships and a serious walking habit.”

All ramblers group walks during the festival are free to attend, but if you’re inspired to keep walking, why not join the Guildford Ramblers? Your membership will give you access to hundreds of group walks every year, an online library of over 2,500 Ramblers routes, as well as helping you keep fit, plus many other benefits, which makes Ramblers membership the perfect Christmas present.

For further information, email Richard Peters on richard.peters43@ntlworld.com or call him on 07967 496819.

Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/winter for details of hundreds of free group walks taking place across the country.