A walk, a talk, fresh air, physical exercise and fun is what you can expect if you join the Newtown U3A Walking Group.
We occasionally pass along ancient byways, and see history in its original setting. It provides the perfect way to do what U3A members do; sharing interests and information. We are fortunate to be able to do that in some of the most spectacular scenery around, learning from each other more about the countryside we pass through.
As the programme and photographs show the walks are also a social event. Members having found a liking for pub lunches or afternoon tea means walk leaders are pressed to look for suitable venues enroute.
Walks vary in length, from about 3 to 7 miles. If you like what you have read why not come and join us? New members are most welcome.
Ruth who has run this group for many years has now decided to stand down. We all offer her our sincere thanks for all her efforts and now it will be a member led group.
Sheena has now taken over from Judi in the role of coordinator.
Next Walk: 19th Nov meet at Newtown car park as above to car share and travel to Cornden junction above Priest Weston and walk to Mitchell’s fold and Stapeley hill. This can be developed into 5 mile or 2 mile walk according to requirements. This will be lead by Nick.
WALKS FROM NEWTOWN: Mike and Paula, two of our walkers, have found interesting walks starting from Newtown. Link to WALKING NEWTOWN website
Photo’s & Walk Reports:
Local Newtown walk, December 10th, 2021
This walk, led by Paula and Mike, was an easy walk around parts of north Newtown including some interesting passages behind houses and some good views. Everyone found some new bits of Newtown to enjoy. The walk was a total of 3 miles with plenty of easy opportunities to shorten the walk but none of the seven participants did this. We only got a little bit wet on the walk, great for this time of year and ended up in town for coffee and food.
newtown
Mitchells Fold walk, November 19th, 2021
This delightful walk with only 6 participants was led by Nick. It started and ended at Mitchells Fold near Corndon and included a number of ups and downs with changing views. Weather was cloudy and windy but no rain so we all enjoyed a good morning out. The total length of the walk was only 3 miles but for most of us this was our first post-Covid visit to the hills.
Gregynog walk, November 15th, 2019.
This walk started and ended at Gregynog and was led by May and Jenny (and Alun) around parts of the wooded estate. The weather was overcast with a few splashes of rain and the ground was extremely soggy but we all had a good time. There were 2 very exuberant dogs with us on this walk and they really enjoyed it, including dips in the ice cold lake. The total walk length was 3.5 miles with a moving average of 1.5 hours. We all had a very enjoyable lunch in the Gregynog cafe.
Llanbrynmair walk, October 18th, 2019.
This walk was led by Sheena (our new walking group coordinator) and the weather was generally cooperative.
Newtown Heritage trail and river walk, September 20th 2019.
This walk was led by Moyra, ably assisted by the welcome temporary return of Ruth. It started with a partial walking of the Heritage Trail developed by Moyra for the recent Walking Festival, see details at Walking Newtowns web site, Town Trail 1.
After this we walked out along the river to the Mochdre Brook and wildlife area to return through the estate and then on to the paved path along the playing fields.
Weather was great and some of the participants had lunch afterwards in the Newtown Market.
Cader Idris walk, August 23rd, 2019
This walk was led by Dale and was much longer and more challenging than our usual walks. A small group met in the car park at Dol Idris and set off up the mountain trail in heavy cloud and light rain.
This weather remained the same for the whole of the ascent and the first part of the descent so we just had to imagine the magnificent views. The ascent was a long, steep climb up rough steps and alternating rocky and boggy sections.
At the top we had lunch, still in the cloud then took the more direct descent over very difficult terrain, gradually seeing the views as the sun shone through.
This walk which is listed at 5 hours took some of the group nearly 9 hours. The total distance walked was 6.6 miles and we all ended up with aching joints and muscles.
Bont Dolgadfan walk, July 12th, 2019
This walk was led by local resident, Sheena, and was a lovely, varied walk through fields, woods, along streams and rivers and up quite a steep hill. We had a 16 people who all thoroughly enjoyed the day, made special by excellent refreshments towards the end of the walk, provided by friend and neighbour, Rosie. The total walk was 5.8 miles and showed most of us a delightful part of the country that we had not previously seen.
Walk up Roundton Hill, June 17th, 2019
This was a combined visit to Hurdley Hall with the garden group. After visiting the garden and sampling the home made cakes and scones we set off up the Hill. Weather was mostly dry but windy as you will see from one of the photos taken at the top. The views were spectacular and the groves of foxgloves impressive. We had a picnic at the top, sheltering from the wind. We were a small group but a happy one.
Walk to Fachwen Pool, May 24th, 2109.
This was a lovely walk led by Nick on a great day for walking. It is Walk 3 of the Walking Newtown circular walks from Newtown. This was the first time that we used the modified route which continues along the Severn Way for a short distance past the lake, since permission to use the route along the lake has now been withdrawn.
The advantage of this change is that we climbed the hill after the lake and got some great views while having our lunch. We had a few guests walking with us who are going to lead this walk during our Walking Festival on June 1st and 2nd.
The total distance walked was 6.1 miles.
Walk up Earl’s Hill starting at Pontesbury, April 26th, 2019.
Walk around Kerry, March 30th, 2019
This walk was led by Tilde and started at the car park in Kerry. It was a little cool to start but we soon warmed up as we went up the hill behind Kerry headed towards the Kerry Ridgeway. The first part was through an old wood and Tilde told us a lot of interesting facts about the many types of moss growing in the wood. By the time we got to the top of the hill the sun came out and we all enjoyed the views down over the Kerry Vale and across to the Ridgeway. An excellent, diverse walk took us to a lunch spot by a babbling brook, still in sunshine, then the return by a different route to Kerry. The whole walk was 6.8 miles and we celebrated with a drink in the Herbert Arms.
Thanks to Tilde for a lovely new walk.
Freestone Lock and Fron Dolfor, February 2019
This walk was led by Mike and Paula and is about 4.5 miles long and is Walking Newtown’s Walk 7a. The weather was kind, dry, sunny and unseasonally warm for February. A large group of 18 members took part in this walk which included a diversion through the Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve. The walk was the first of those to be led by members since Ruth, who has run this group for 17 years, has decided that it was time to stand down from this role. The group finished the walk with lunch at the Black Boy pub and thanked Ruth for all her sterling efforts by presenting her with a bouquet and our heartfelt thanks.
