WELCOME
TO THE WEBSITE OF THE CHELMER & BLACKWATER GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS'
ASSOCIATION
ABOUT
US
Our
Group started in 1986 to serve RA members living in the central region
of Essex, roughly defined by the Chelmer and Blackwater river valleys.
The 20 founder members came from the West Essex and Brentwood Groups,
with Kevin Ascott, our first chairman sent out on a 'mission' to organise
a new group. Since those early days, the C&B membership has grown
considerably.
WHEN
DOES ALL THIS WALKING TAKE PLACE?
We
organise 4 walks a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,
which makes us one of the most active groups in the Ramblers' Association
(RA).
We
walk mainly in the Essex area, but frequently go into neighbouring counties
to extend our range  of
walking interests. Usually we travel to walking venues by car, sharing
when we can. Coach trips are organised every month from Spring to Autumn
as well as week-end and week-long holidays as part of our social activities.
We also meet up with other local RA groups for Essex area joint events.
The
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday walks are for a full day, of length 10 to
12 miles starting at 10.15am. Saturdays are half-day walks of 5 to 6 miles
starting at 1.30pm.
On full day walks we nearly always stop at a pub at lunchtime! Walks are
usually circular but sometimes are figures of eight.
The
turnout on walks varies quite a bit. Some days there may be 5 or 6 people
out on a walk, other days it can be as many as 30. Whatever the numbers,
you can guarantee a very enjoyable walk led by experienced leaders. We
are a mixed bunch of characters from all 'walks' of life who enjoy each
others company and very much welcome new walkers to our Group.
WHAT
TO BRING ON A WALK
You will need boots, enough warm clothing and waterproofs. A suitably
sized rucksack is the best way to carry things. It is advisable to bring
food and drink for lunch and snack breaks during the day. Many of us choose
to have lunch at the pub, but it is not possible to eat your own food
on the pub premises unless special permission is given by the walk leader.
The main rule is that if you use pub facilities then at least buy a drink.
Dogs are not allowed on our walks.
For the Walks Program select the month from the link at the top of this
page and for further details of walks contact 01245 344636.
SO
HOW DO YOU JOIN THE CHELMER & BLACKWATER RAMBLERS?
We
fully support the RA in its objectives to promote walking and respect
for the countryside. If you have similar views and wish to join us on
walks, perhaps becoming new RA members, then why not click on this www.ramblers.org.uk/join
link which describes various joining options. On this site you will find
our Walks Programme for the next 4 months, with further links to maps
to help you find the start venues. There is also a Useful Information
page and even a Photo Gallery showing some of the many places we have
visited on foot!
Full
RA members of the C&B group receive a comprehensive, 4-monthly programme
and newsletter, which also includes details of all the social activities.
This programme may be received by e-mail or alternatively as a printed
copy.
RA walk leaders will always guide you safely and responsibly, but individuals
must behave sensibly and walk at their own risk.
WOULD
YOU LIKE TO POST SOME OF YOUR BEST WALKING PICTURES ON THIS SITE?
To
view an album in the Photo Gallery, hover the cursor over the Photo Gallery
link at the top of this page and select an album to view. Click on a thumbnail
image to see the full sized picture.
To
post some of your walking pictures on this site, e-mail them as jpeg attachments
to this address cb.website@btinternet.com
(it may be necessary to split them between 3 or 4 e-mails). Alternatively,
copy them to a CD-R as jpeg images and contact the website editor at the
above address to arrange for the disk to be sent or delivered. Please
limit the number of pictures per album to 15 in order to keep the site
a manageable size.
FOOTPATH MATTERS
You
might have noticed a new button at the top of this home page called ‘Footpath
Matters’. We are very aware that many walkers in our Essex countryside
frequently come across problems with footpaths. These can take many forms
e.g. broken stiles, fallen fingerposts, barbed wire across your right
of way.....the list is endless.
As
part of the RA’s campaign to keep paths open for all walkers, we
encourage you to make complaints to the Essex County Council, whenever
you come across footpath faults. It is very easy to make a complaint,
especially now that it can be done on-line. By clicking on ‘Footpath
Matters', you will see a simple guide written by the two C&B Footpath
Secretaries (John and Kevin) for Chelmsford and Maldon Districts, advising
how to report the problems you encounter. There is a click on the link
to the ECC Problems and Enquiry page and e-mail addresses for John and
Kevin, who will assist you in this process and liaise with the ECC to
help resolve your footpath problems.
Please
click on ‘Footpath Matters’ and make use of this guide.
WHAT'S
NEW ON THE SITE?
1.
A new link button named 'Footpath Matters' has been added to the top of
this page to link to a section of the website devoted to footpath problems.
For an explanation of this section see the paragraph above entitled "Footpath
Matters" and click on the link button to explore the section.
2. "Where's the Path?" is a "new kid on the mapping block".
This is a new, free mapping program showing an Ordnance Survey map together
with a satellite map of the same area and could become a powerful tool
for Walks Leaders and walkers alike in the design of walks and locating
of the start point. A full description of the program is given in the
Current Newsletter on this website together with links to the program
on the Walks Program pages and the Useful Information page. If you haven't
already tried it, give it a go!
3.
Sat-Nav users who want to find the start point of a walk can take the
Grid Reference from the Walks Program and convert to the Post Code using
StreetMap as described in the Newsletter.
4.
Chris K. has written a short report together with some photos of his small
group's successful Coast to Coast walk in June of this year. To see this
report, go to the Walks Report link at the top of this page.
The
Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered
in England and Wales.
Company Registration No. 4458492
Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1093577
This
newsletter and walks programme is the property of the Chelmer & Blackwater
Ramblers
and must not be reproduced or copied without written approval of the Chairman
Site last updated August, 2010
|
