Stoke Lodge Ramblers is a walking and social club based in Stoke Bishop and its surrounding areas in Bristol. We walk on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the year and hold a number of social and non-walking activities to cater for all abilities of the club members. We now have approximately 120 members but we always welcome newcomers to what is and always has been a very friendly walking club.
"A" walkers taking a break during their walk on the South Downs Way near Winchester on club's Annual Outing - July 3rd 2011 (photo taken by John Goulding)
Dick Dennett's C Walk Group on the South Downs Way near Winchester on the recent summer outing in July 2011
HISTORY OF CLUB from DON WALTER – walks organiser and one of the club’s founder members
The club was founded in 1983 after a post-card was placed on the notice board of the Stoke Lodge Adult Education Institute advertising a room to use for the first meeting for a group of friends who were all interested in walking. The first walk took place on the 17th April 1983 when we walked the “Alternative Southern ending of the Cotswold Way”. Walks in the early days were monthly and alternated between Saturdays and Sundays. Until fairly recently we met outside Stoke Lodge to share cars etc before walks and hence the name of the club. The club has grown significantly from these early days and now has a membership of nearly 120 people. There is no longer any direct link to Stoke Lodge other than the name of the club!
The club aims to provide a varied range of walks that will suit all levels of walking abilities and also holds a number of social events throughout the year. Details of the current programme for the period covering July to December 2011 can be found by clicking on the Walks Progamme tab above.
The Objectives of the Club are as defined by the Constitution and Rules.
These are:
a) To hold regular organised walks for the enjoyment of the club members;
b) To help members to understand the area in which they are walking and the environment generally.
It was felt by the founding members of the club that the walks should be more than merely covering the miles, and information about places or things of interest should be passed on if possible. Similarly if something of interest crops up e.g. an unusual plant or site of interest, we should stop and have a look at it. We feel that this strand of the club’s original idea is still valid today.
Further information about the Club.
The programme gives details of the 3 levels of walks:
SUNDAY WALKS 8-11 miles
THURSDAY WALKS:-
MEDIUM WALKS 5-7 miles
SHORT WALKS 4 miles max
(can be over any terrain but at a gentler pace)
The meeting place for all walks and events is Cross Elms Lane, Stoke Bishop unless advised otherwise in the Programme or Newsletter.
Sunday walks start at 09.30 am and Thursday walks at 10.00am. Please advise the walk leader(s) if you plan to go straight to the start of the walk.
Car sharing is important for parking and environmental reasons. The club committee recommends that passengers collectively contribute towards the driver’s expenses. We don’t want the drivers to be “out of pocket” so although it is always at the drivers discretion as to how much he or she charges-the committee recommends that passengers should be prepared to pay up to 10P/mile/person
The Walks Programme will indicate if there is to be a pub lunch included and non-walkers are welcome to join in these , but please advise the walk leader in advance so that the correct numbers can be given when the lunch is booked.
The Club issues a Newsletter about 3 times a year giving Club members information about upcoming events and activities – see the News Update tab above for extracts from the latest one plus other news information and photographs.
The Links tab above gives information about other Rambling Clubs and Associations in the Bristol area.
See the Photo Gallery tab for photos of club members on their recent walks -if members want to publish any of their photos please send them to Neville Brewis at nfbrewis@yahoo.co.uk.
If you are interested in joining us or just coming along for a trial walk as our guest please contact us!
Please contact Neville Brewis, nfbrewis@yahoo.co.uk or Margaret Ruse, margaret.ruse@btinternet.com for more details.
Or download the following application form, complete it and and send it with your cheque to our Secretary Margaret Ruse: Application Form
The Contacts List tab above gives the names of the current committee members and their emails.
