Gay Outdoor Club: Shropshire & Mid-Wales Walks 2008

Contact details for Shropshire & Mid-Wales Group

Sunday 13 January. Six mile circular walk between The Wrekin and River Severn south of Shrewsbury. Meet at the Horseshoe Pub on the B5061 (old A5) between Atcham and Wellington close to the village of Uckington. We can use the pub car park and then retire for refreshment at the end of the walk.

Sunday 10 February. A walk of about 7¾ miles through pleasant rural landscape, attractive woodland and along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal. Meet near the derelict Wheatsheaf public house, Soudley, 5 miles south-east of Market Drayton off the A529. Please bring a packed lunch as there are no suitable places to purchase food or drink on the route.

Sunday 9 March. Meet on the B4555 next to the Severn Valley Railway line 3 miles south of Bridgnorth. Bring a packed lunch. About 8 miles and it may be muddy in places.

Sunday 6 April. Meet for a joint walk (with West Midlands) starting from the Secret Hills Centre at Craven Arms (situated alongside the A49 at the south end of the town). A 9-mile undulating walk offering great views of the S. Shropshire hills and into Wales. Some parts of the route could still be muddy. Bring a packed lunch, although food and drink should be available at the refurbished visitor centre due to reopen at Easter.

Sunday 4 May. Joint walk with North Wales. Meet at Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant main car park (on right side of B4580 as you leave the village travelling towards Oswestry). As this may be a well-attended walk we may have to overspill to other parking spaces in the centre of the village. This is a linear walk of about 7 miles with some good views of the highest points of the Berwyn range. We will leave most of the cars at Llanrhaeadr-ym-mochnant and travel by car to the start of the walk at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and cakes at the end of the walk.

Sunday 8 June. Walk from the centre of Bishop's Castle, about 8 miles. Meet alongside the church in the centre of town. Please bring a packed lunch.

Sunday 13 July. Meet in the village hall car park (or park nicely in the village) at Culmington, some 5 miles north of Ludlow on the B4365, or about 4 miles east of Craven Arms. Our walk goes east past Camp Ring and up into the hills through The Devil's Mouthpiece and Hayton's Bent. Pack your rations as there is just lots of countryside for the 10 miles of this walk.

Sunday 10 August. An 8 mile walk from Shifnal to Ryton and back again along the lovely valley of the Wesley Brook. Meet outside the Post Office in Bradford Street/Cheapside, Shifnal centre (opposite the Co-op, which should be open for last minute purchases). There is parking behind the Post Office and in Aston Street. Bring a packed lunch.

Sunday 14 September. Circular walk along part of Offa's Dyke Path to the top of Long Mountain with panoramic views across Mid Wales. Walk also includes the woodlands of the Leighton Estate and finishes with tea and cakes in Welshpool. Meet at entrance to Offa's Dyke Enterprise Park on B4388 which is just off the A458 at Buttington. Please bring a picnic lunch.

Friday 19 - Sunday 21 September. Cadair Idris is King! Everyone is welcome... We will have the sole use of Kings Youth Hostel near Dolgellau in a beautiful woodland setting by a stream between the mountains and the sea in Southern Snowdonia. As in previous years we will self-cater and have a communal meal on Saturday night. Country and mountain walks are planned for both days. Good area for cycling and mountain biking, volunteer co-ordinators please step forward. £25.00 deposit for the weekend ... It should be a cracking time! Want to join us during the day on Saturday? Great but please get in touch in advance as there's no mobile signal at the YH.

Sunday 21 September. Part of the All Wales Weekend. Dolgellau and the Mawddach estuary. A delightful walk along the Mawddach estuary ending at Barmouth where there will be time for afternoon tea before returning by bus. An easy, flat walk of about 8 miles, bring packed lunch. Meet at the car park at Penmaenpool, by the George III hotel on the A493 Dolgellau to Tywyn road.

Sunday 12 October. (Joint with West Midlands). Glyndwr's Way and Offa's Dyke from Knighton (with a fragment of the Jack Mytton Way too). Come to the Welsh borders for a fairly strenuous walk amid beautiful scenery. We'll go through woodland, along easy quiet lanes, across pastures and over high tracks with extensive views. Bring plenty of refreshments. Commanding viewpoint for a picnic lunch. Pub option (drinks and crisps, or carvery bookable in advance - contact co-ordinator). 11¾ miles, 2550ft of ascent, 14 stiles. Park free at the Offa's Dyke Information Centre, West Street, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1EN. Toilets and hot drinks available in the centre. Walk starts there.

Sunday 9 November. Walk on Brown Clee (tbc)

Sunday 14 December. Shrewsbury town walk


For further information see the GOC Outdoors magazine.