Sunday 19th April 2015 - Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

This month our walks are based on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.  The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt and there will be a toilet/boot-up stop enroute at Keele services. The coach needs to leave the M6 at J15 to take the A51 to Wolseley Bridge where the B+ walk starts. We then continue on the A513 to Milford where the other walks start. All walks finish at Milford where there are toilets etc (see note on B walk for more details).  We plan to leave at 5.30 pm to be back in Formby about 7.30 pm

The cost of travel will be £10.00 for members, £13.00 for non-members and £5.00 for Leaders, children and students in full time education. Please make your cheque payable to Range Walking Club and ensure it is signed as it is inconvenient for the Treasurer to chase up such omissions.

Please send in your return to the Treasurer before 9th April; places will be booked on the coach by the treasurer on a first come first served basis.

Cancellations: if you need to cancel or make a late booking, please contact the Treasurer on 01704 809287 who will endeavour to substitute your booking from the waiting list.  If you cancel after 9th April and it is not possible to fill your place on the coach, regrettably, we will not be able to give you a refund as coaches will have been booked on initial returns.

Leaders Meeting: Monday 27th April 8pm the Pinewoods Formby. I do hope all Leaders will be able to attend the meeting; the papers will be circulated shortly. 

Club Weekend 2015: 5th-7th June
The Club Weekend on the 5th-7th June 2015 will based in St David’s on the Pembrokeshire Coast.  We are staying in separate hotels and guest houses but the Grove Hotel on the High Street will be our meeting point throughout the weekend.   A booking has been made for a group meal on Saturday 6th June in the Grove Hotel, High Street St David’s SA62 6SB 01437 720341.
To enable us to confirm the numbers for the meal and to plan the walks please will those planning to come on the weekend complete the final section of the reply slip  

‘A’ Walk Distance: 13-14 miles Ascent: 1,400 ft Leaders: Gordon Spence John Hughes	From Milford the walk begins through woodland on the Heart of England Way.  At Mere Pits there is a detour to join the Staffordshire Way and view the stepping stones in a beautiful setting near Devil's Dumble. Back on the Heart of England way, now open heathland, the path passes a small glacial boulder and continues south to the Katyn memorial to 20,000 Poles massacred by Russians in WW2.  Soon afterwards we will also visit the atmospheric German war cemetery. The return leg begins with the scenic woodland of Abraham's valley.  After crossing the river there are more changes of scenery, firstly along the towpath of the Trent Mersey canal, and then through the grounds of Shugborough Hall on the return to Miford. Don't be deterred by the distance - the route is easy going, mainly on good gravel paths without any steep gradients, a stile count of zero, and interest all the way.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 12 miles Ascent: 850 ft Leaders: Lynn Smith Claire Lyons	A pleasant and serene walk through the forest of Cannock Chase. We start our walk at the Wolseley Centre in Wolseley Bridge, where there are beautiful gardens, plenty of wild birds, ducks and a few interesting sculptures to see. Walking south, we pass Wolseley Park House, the former home of the historic Wolseley family. After Wolseley Park House we  take some of the forest tracks and head towards a short stretch of water, where we have our morning coffee. We will have time to visit one or two of the War memorials which are in the forest.  We then head back towards Milford along the pretty Sherbrook Valley, where there is a mixture of woodland and open heathland.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 9.5 miles Ascent: 800 ft Leaders: Trevor Ludlow Steve Wright	Starting in Milford we head east up and over Satnall Hill, which is 250 ft of “steepish” ascent.  A short road and lane walk passes Shugborough Hall to take us to the river Trent, which we cross over on a substantial stone footbridge. We then follow the canal tow path to Little Haywood. At this point we head south onto Cannock Chase proper.  We head up Abraham’s Valley on an immaculate wide “chatter” track, no issue here with feet watching, plenty of time for heads up conversation!  At the end of the valley we have ascended 400 feet without even noticing it.  From this point we emerge onto the open scrubland heading towards the Glacial Boulder, blink and you may miss it!   Our final leg is a gentle descent, within woodland, along the Heart of England Way to Milford. The only hostelry here is the Barley Mow Pub restaurant, where for just £1 extra you can have a tray bake cake with your hot drink or alternatively the more potent liquid.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 8 miles Ascent: 700 ft Leaders: Denise Nunn David Willis	A circular walk around Cannock Chase, covering heathland and wooded areas, mostly on good tracks.  The gentle climb within the first 20 minutes to the top of Oat Hill is about the limit of climbing for the day.  After a break at a picnic spot alongside a stream we follow Sherbrook Valley and eventually make our way to the Katyn war memorial.  A café/toilet stop shortly afterwards is planned before we pick up the Heart of England Way to head back towards Milford, passing the glacier boulder (pebble?), with good views (usual proviso!).   Distance:        8 miles                                                            Ascent:          700 ft Leaders:         Linda Trollope/Denise Nunn and David Willis