Ramblers' Association Andover Group

1:15pm Wednesday 11th June 2008

THE Andover Ramblers group has continued to enjoy a very varied programme of walks, in terms of distance, terrain and location, since the beginning of the year.

Walks have been organised as far afield as Abbotsbury, Oxford and the Cotswolds. A popular location amongst walk leaders so far this year has been the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and in particular the walks on and around the Wansdyke.

Their diverse walking programme has taken them to Bradford-on-Avon where they admired the Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts. They also walked on the civil war battlefield at Cheriton, and visited the site of a Roman villa near Chedworth, in Gloucestershire.

The group's programme of shorter walks, up to eight miles and closer to Andover than those mentioned, continues to be popular with their members.

A couple of walking weekends has also been organised, to Dartmoor and West Dorset. In both cases, walkers benefited from the excellent local knowledge of the walk leaders.

The Dartmoor weekend organised and led by John Ramsey, is an annual event, and is a popular as ever with members keen to explore this wonderful rugged landscape.

Jean Twigg and Bob Greenaway led an equally enjoyable weekend centred on Bridport. The group is now eagerly awaiting their next weekend away, to Cornwall in June.

A widely admired display appeared in the window of Andover library to coincide with the start of their spring walking programme.

There will be another opportunity to obtain more information about the Andover Ramblers group, and the work of the Ramblers' Association, including their walks programme, with another display in the library foyer. They also hope to attend the Andover Sports Fair on 5 July.

The Ramblers' Association encourages walking, protects rights of way, defends the beauty of the countryside and has campaigned for many years for the freedom to roam over uncultivated, open country.

Details of all the group's activities, including forthcoming walks, weekends away, and social events, can be found by visiting their award-winning website at www.andoverramblers.hampshire.org.uk or by phoning the group secretary, Nesta Baird, on 01264 336788. Copies of the walking programme are available from the library.