MK U3A Countryside Ramblers Prog
Please note that walks start at 10 a.m. and usually last until 2 p.m. (but sometimes a little later).
Walkers should bring a packed lunch with them.
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MKU3A Countryside Ramblers
Rambling Programme for July - December 2024
Thursday 21st November 2024
Phil Catterall Woburn Sands about 8 miles
Meet at the top end of the car park in Woburn Sands. (Car park entrance: Grid ref. SP 930 358, W3W /// latitudes.harmony.polygraph, nearest post code MK17 8QX) . The car park is behind the High Street, accessible via Russel Street.
Thursday 5th December 2024
Sue Fisher Tattenhoe about 6 miles
Meet in the car park next to the Windmill Hill Allotments, Rosemullion Avenue, Tattenhoe (Grid Ref=SP841340, W3W///admits.boot.plans , nearest postcode=MK4 2BU). The car park is off Tattenhoe Street V2, quite close to Windmill Hill roundabout on the junction with Standing Way H8. The walk will pass through Tattenhoe Valley Park, Kingsmead, Shenley Brook End and Howe Park Wood, mainly on made-up paths. There will be a stop for coffee and snacks (bring your own!), but no lunch break.
Thursday 12th December 2024 Christmas walk and lunch
Phil and Barbara Potts Olney About 5 miles
Meet at the Rugby Club car park for a 5 mile stroll via Emberton Park (Car Park Grid Ref=SP890516, W3W///careful.giants.reckons, nearest post code=MK46 4DZ).
Followed by Christmas Lunch at the Swan Inn, Olney (pre-booking essential).
2nd January 2025
Phil and Barbara Potts Dunstable Downs 7.5 miles
Meet in the National Trust car park at the top of Dunstable Downs (please note the there is a charge for non-NT members) (Grid Ref= TL008194, W3W/// tuned.curl.trees, nearest postcode= LU6 2GY). The car park is off the B4541 (Whipsnade Road) closest to the National Trust visitors centre and is marked by a brown ‘Dustable Downs’ sign. The walk takes in Whipsnade tree cathedral and Kensworth.
16th January 2025
Rory Kearns Hanslope about 8 miles
This walk starts at Hanslope Village Hall (Grid Ref SP805468, W3W///trousers.champions.factories, nearest post code=MK19 7NZ).
30th January 2025
Boyd Fisher Woolstone 5.25 miles
5¼ miles circular walk in Ouzel Valley Park, the most beautiful of the linear parks in Milton Keynes. Park at The Barge Inn, Newport Road, Woolstone, Milton Keynes, MK15 0AE. There are 2 car parks adjacent to the pub. Use the car park that is further away from the pub (Grid reference SP873792; W3W/// organs.proves.mammal).
There will be no need to bring a packed lunch because the walk will finish by 12:30pm. Boyd intends to book a table for lunch at The Barge Inn for 12:45pm. If you would also like to eat there, please make your own arrangements.
13th February 2025
Alan MacMillan
Details to follow.
27th February 2025
Phil and BarbaraPotts Ampthill about 8 miles
Meet in the car park at Ampthill Park (Grid Ref TL024381, W3W/// fire.slimming.proven, nearest post code= MK45 2HX). This is the car park furthest away from Ampthill, close to the junction between Woburn Road (B530) and the A507.
13th March 2025
Phil Catterall
Details to follow.
27th March 2025
Robin Smith
Details to follow.
10th April 2025
Derek Beaumont
Details to follow.
24th April 2025
Marilyn and Bill Ridsdale
Details to follow.
8th May 2025
Kate Watters Roade 7.25 miles
Meet at Roade Village Hall, Bailey Brooks Lane, Roade. NN7 2LS (w3w///signed.split.saga, Grid Ref SP753520). We are asked to turn left as we enter the car park and park at the end, near the tennis courts. Thursdays are a busy day for the Hall. The walk is a three village circuit.
22nd May 2025
Richard Tearle
Details to follow.
5th June 2025
Dave and Val Hall
Details to follow.
19th June 2025
Phil and Barbara Potts Little Crawley 6 miles
Please park with consideration on the verge adjacent to The Stones (Grid Ref= SP922453, W3W/// growl.tanks.overpower, nearest postcode=MK16 9LT). A 6 mile stroll round North and Little Crawley will be followed by a bring and share lunch in the garden.
3rd July 2025
Frank Parisi
Details to follow.
17th July 2025
Ros Ford Sherington 7.5 miles
Details to follow.
31st July 2025
Keith Lloyd Stony Stratford 8 miles
The starting point for this walk is Ostlers Lane car park, Stony Stratford (Grid Ref= SP788408, W3W/// science.permit.forces, nearest postcode=MK11 1PN). Ostlers Lane is on the South side of Queen Eleanor Street and the car park is adjacent to Stony Stratford Cricket Club.
Information for leaders of walks
- Walk leaders volunteer to lead walks of typically ‘about’ 8 miles mainly along countryside footpaths in the area surrounding Milton Keynes.
- Walks started at 10 a.m. every other Thursday and usually finish at about 2 p.m. (but sometimes a little later).
- Walks normally start and finish at the same meeting point and leaders are asked to ensure that suitable and safe car parking is available there for participants (Occasionally walks have involved travel by train and walking between suitable railway stations).
- Leaders are asked to take a register of those participating in the walk.
- Leaders are asked to ensure that they are familiar with the route of their walk, normally by undertaking a recent recce and to undertake a brief introduction at the beginning of the walk, especially briefing participants on any hazards and safety precautions.
- If there are new members joining the walk, consider inviting all participants to introduce themselves as part of the briefing.
- Often walks include a brief ‘pit stop’ coffee break about an hour into the walk and a lunch break about two thirds of the way round. It is best to avoid stops in fields occupied by animals to avoid the risk of ticks.
- Please consider providing your mobile phone number for inclusion in the walk details to allow emergency contact.
- It is highly desirable for walk leaders to have the What3Words app (https://what3words.com) on their mobile phones to allow exact location details to be provided to emergency services in case of an accident.
- If the walking route includes a significant distance along a public road especially with no pavement, leaders are asked to wear bright clothing or a fluorescent jacket and to ensure that the rules of the Highway Code are followed, as outlined in the next section.
Highway Code – Rules for pedestrians
Rule 1 Pavements (including any path along the side of a road) should be used if provided. Where possible, avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first. Always show due care and consideration for others.
Rule 2 If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and
- be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light
- keep close to the side of the road.
It may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. Cross back after the bend.
Rule 3 Help other road users to see you. Wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions.
Rule 5 Organised walks. Large groups of people walking together should use a pavement if available; if one is not, they should keep to the left. Look-outs should be positioned at the front and back of the group, and they should wear fluorescent clothes in daylight.
Thunderstorms
- If caught outside in a thunderstorm, find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles.
- If your skin tingles and hair stands on end, lightning is about to strike.
- Crouch down immediately, balancing on the balls of your feet, placing hands on knees with head between them.
- When doing so, it is preferable to stand on insulating material (e.g., a seating mat), to discard metal items (e.g., a walking pole) and to disperse from other walkers.
- This makes you into the smallest target possible, minimises contact with the ground and minimises the risk of several members of the group being affected.
Note that real time lightning tracker apps are available for mobile phones (e.g., ‘My Lightning Tracker’). If there is a risk of a thunderstorm, these provide a map showing current occurrences of lightning strikes.
Hot weather.
Wear suitable loose clothes, a wide brimmed hat, sun glasses and factor 30+ sun lotion on any exposed skin. Bring extra water and drink regularly to keep hydrated.
Guidance on heat exhaustion
If you suspect someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:
- Move them to a cool place.
- Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
- Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.
Stay with them until they're better. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.
If symptoms persist or get worse, contact 111 for advice or call the emergency services.
Walking through fields of cows and other animals
- Wait until everyone has caught up and walk through the field as one large group.
- Avoid cows if necessary by deviating from the footpath and avoid splitting the herd if possible.
- Keep away from calves and never try to pet animals.
- Walk calmly through the field, facing the animals.
- Never run with your back to the animals.
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