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75th Birthday Celebrations in the Sunshine
On a glorious day in June, 75 Ramblers from all corners of Oxfordshire converged on Shirburn Hill overlooking Watlington. Morning walks were arranged by six Oxfordshire groups, each starting from a different point and converging at lunchtime high on the Chilterns with wonderful views over the Oxford Plain. The Ramblers is 75 years old this year we celebrated with a picnic on access land. Pat Lonergan, Oxfordshire Area Chairman, welcomed the groups in turn and particularly thanked Henley & Goring Group, the main organisers of the occasion.  John Killick, who has been involved in the campaign to gain right of access to land in Oxfordshire, including Shirburn Hill, spoke about that campaign and some of the ironies involved. To put forward the case for access detailed reports on the land use had to be drawn up, but the owners’ barristers then claimed that the reports should not be admitted as evidence as the report writer must have trespassed on the land in order to write the report! Some fights were won, others lost. Luckily Shirburn Hill was one of the wins! Dr. Alan Bryden, Oxfordshire Ramblers President, welcomed the walkers and invited them to raise a glass to the next 75 years of walking and campaigning for the countryside. Birthday cakes, champagne and other drinks were passed round before walkers dispersed for short afternoon walks and the return to their own parts of the county.

Chiltern Challenge Walk, 6 June 2010
Over 200 hundred walkers took part in the Sue Ryder Annual Chiltern Challenge Walk and more than £5000 was raised for the Nettlebed hospice. Although the numbers walking were lower than last year, those who took part were very positive in their feedback about the walk. The superbly signed 13 miles walk to Fingest and Turville took in some of the most glorious Chilterns countryside. Checkpoints and water points were well placed and welcoming. Even the weather was kind; fine all day but not too hot for comfortable walking. Many people said that it was the best route they have ever had for the Chiltern Challenge. As a first time Chiltern Challenge walker, I can’t compare, but I can say that it was an excellent walk and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a must for next year’s diary!
Joan Clark

Cardigan, June 2010
Two spectacular cliff walks along the Pembroke and Ceridigion coastal paths and an exploration of the Teifi estuary were the highlights of a recent trip by 20 Henley & Goring Ramblers to historic Cardigan . The Ceridigion coastal path was only opened in 2008. We started with a tour of the town learning something of its colourful history from the battles between the Normans and the Welsh to the bustling 19th century port that was the second busiest in Wales.  Now Cardigan is a small pretty market town with a castle, a nature reserve and some great walking potential. Situated at the junction of the Pembroke and Ceridigion coastal paths, Cardigan offers a choice of estuary, river and cliff walks. We enjoyed all. We explored the Teifi estuary and wildlife reserve and the gorge like section leading to Cilgerran where we visited the romantic ruins of Cilgerran castle before returning to Cardigan via the paths and boardwalks across the estuary marshes of the wildlife reserve. The cliff walks provided dramatic scenery and the chance to spot seals and dolphins as well as a range of birds. We did not entirely escape the rain, although one heavy shower kindly confined itself to the time we were having lunch in the pub, another did not and a bedraggled group were very glad to see a cafe that was open after a wet cliff top walk. Still the sun came out in the afternoon and we all dried out. Some of the ladies spotted a charity knit-in notice, appealing for people to knit squares to make a giant cardigan depicting the land, river and townscapes of Cardigan. Knitting squares proved to be a popular way of relaxing between the end of a walk and dinner time. The finished products were handed over at the local Tourist office. This was a new area for our Group but everyone enjoyed the trip and we can certainly recommend the quality and variety of the walking in this part of Wales.

Skittles Evening, 14 May 2010
A skittles evening and pot luck supper held recently at the Salisbury Club, Queen Street, Henley proved to be a fun evening for members. We were divided into teams of four who competed to see who could thread the ball through the narrowest gap without knocking down any skittles. I don’t think that was what we were meant to be doing but it seemed that most people found it easier to miss than hit the skittles! As always the contributions to the pot luck supper were splendid. We have some excellent cooks in our Group! Raffle prizes were donated by members of the committee and the winning team was presented with bottles of wine.

A walk and afternoon tea in memory of Mavis Richardson, 14 April 2010
Mavis, who died in November, was one of the Group’s longest serving walk leaders. A large group met at Henley Town Hall at 10.30 for a 9 miles walk via Bix and Greys Court. Friends and fellow group members were asked to bring a packed lunch, as Mavis’s walks always featured a picnic rather than a pub lunch. At the end of the walk people went for tea in the Margaret Day Room with home made jam tarts cakes provided by members who have enjoyed the many cakes, tarts and pies Mavis made for Henley & Goring social occasions over the years. A small charge covered the cost of room hire and a donation was made to Cancer Research in memory of Mavis.

Get Walking Weekend in Henley, May 2010
What a difference the weather makes! Last year we sheltered shivering in our display tent in a rain swept empty Falaise Square. This year any sheltering was from the hot sun! Last year our most notable visitors were a group of bedraggled Duke of Edinburgh award walkers who took advantage of our offer of a few minutes shelter from the driving rain in our gazebo. This year Falaise Square was buzzing with activity and we had a steady stream of visitors with quite a few of these signing up to join. We are likely to get about 25 new members as a result of the day. The Square was buzzing with activity as we shared the space with the first Henley Festival of Flowers. Last year our intrepid walks leader and two others braved the cold and the rain for the Get Walking Day walk. This year 18 donned their sun hats for the guided walk. The walkers, a mix of new and existing members were taken on a tour of Henley’s historic buildings before heading into the countryside to Rotherfield Greys to see the impressive Knollys effigy tomb in the church there and learn something of stories of the families who owned Greys Court over the centuries.

Cotswold Way October 2009 to March 2010
Doing long distance linear walks in winter inevitably involves risks of bad weather. Undaunted Henley & Goring Ramblers completed the 100 miles plus of the Cotswold Way from Chipping Camden to Bath over five weekends between October and March. Winter linear walks are getting to be a regular feature of the Group programme. The South Downs, North Downs, Three Castles and Shakespeare Ways have all been walked and a 160 mile walk from Pewsey White Horse to Lyme Regis taking in parts of the Wiltshire White Horse circuit and the Wessex Way is being planned for winter 2010/2011.
What were the highlights of the Cotswold Way? They were many: five inches of perfect untrodden powder snow on the hills round Uley Bury and Wotton under Edge on the February stage; the glorious glowing colour of the Cotswold stone in the many picture postcard villages; the views over the Bristol Channel and the Severn bridges; tea in Sally Lunn’s in Bath at the end of the walk. One delightful group tradition reinforced each month on this trip, is pre-dinner champagne provided by whoever in the group has a birthday that month. Fortunately for me as there were 22 walkers on the February leg, two others also had birthdays that month!

Chantry House Lecture and social evening, January 2010
For the last six years, the end of January has brought an enjoyable and informative evening out for our members and friends: the annual Chantry House lecture. This year was no exception. Alan Copeland took us on a fast moving photographic tour of some of the curiosities of the Chilterns. His pictures of the odd, the rare and the unusual, together with his lively commentary provided fascinating insights into the history, customs and lifestyles of people in our area in times past. The delightful surroundings of Henley’s only grade 1 listed building, a glass of wine, light refreshments, the chance to chat to old friends and make new ones added to the enjoyment.

No Carols this Year: Snow Stops Service!
One of the most popular events in our programme is the annual Carol Service, Ramble and Lunch held just before Christmas. This year looked to be no exception with over 60 people booking a place for the carol service in Fingest Church, a walk in this lovely area of the Chilterns and lunch at the lChequers Inn. Sadly we were all disappointed! The snow came down in such quantities that there was no chance of getting up the hills to the church by car. The pub, while it might not have been the pub with no beer, had been snowed in and food deliveries had not got through. With great regret we had to cancel the whole event. This is the first time this has happened since we started the event a few years ago. Our members hope we won't have to do it again!

Walk Leaders and Helpers Festive Dinner, December 2009
We have had a Christmas Dinner for walk leaders for a number or years, but this year we decided to extend the invitation to the many people who help on a regular basis in a variety of ways. The invitation went out to setters-up, washers-up and clearers-up; to all the talented cooks who make delicious contributions to our suppers and picnics; to BBQ chefs and assistants and to all who help make our social events as well as our walking and trips programme so successful. The outcome was an enjoyable evening together at a Henley restaurant for almost 40 members. The food was good with a rage of options for those who did not feel like Turkey and Christmas Pud. Everyone enjoyed the evening; I think this is an innovation that we will continue in future years.

AGM and Supper, November 2009 Our AGMs have been well supported for a number of years, possibly because a good supper is provided afterwards! The 2009 meeting was no exception with over 60 members attending. The Chair, Susan Maguire, thanked the committee and the members for their contributions to the Group’s ongoing success. She gave a special thank you to three committee members who were standing down after at least 5 years: Carolyn and Brian Maunder and Tony Brown. Gill Heaven was unanimously approved as new Membership Secretary. The Treasurer, Alan Reeves, explained that groups had been asked to reduce their funding allocation from central office. Budgets have been adjusted to comply with this request. One consequence is that the Area Annual Report and our Group’s Update mailing, usually sent by post in January, will be sent by email only in order to reduce costs.

The committee for 2010 is

Chair: Susan Maguire
Secretary: Eileen Burroughs
Vice Chair: Eileen Burroughs
Treasurer: Alan Reeves
Footpaths: Robin Hanson
Publicity: Joan Clark
Membership: Gillian Heaven
Countryside: John Case
Trips: Peter Stone and Susan Maguire

A Powerpoint presentation, devised by Susan Maguire, showed highlights of the Group’s activities and trips in 2009, and those planned for 2010. The finale of the evening was a delicious supper organised by Tilley Smith with many dishes supplied by the members.
Our AGM and Supper was an enjoyable evening demonstrating the co-operation and friendship within the group.

The Lake District, September 2009
On a bright and sunny day in September, 22 members of the Henley & Goring Ramblers met up in Keswick for a 5-day break. This was the third holiday organised by the group in 2009, the earlier ones being to the French Alps and Devon.
The first day the whole group walked over nearby Latrigg Fell enjoying watching the paragliders. The following day the weather was not set so fair, and torrential rain and the forecast of gale force winds meant that the walks had to be curtailed. Some retail therapy in Keswick’s many equipment shops cheered up several members.
Two levels of walks were offered each day and the return of fine weather meant that all were able to take place, although the lower level walks close to the lakes were very muddy underfoot. The higher-level group had wonderful views from Helvellyn, seeing as far as the Solway Firth and the Scottish mountains. Blencathra proved an exhilarating climb too, particularly for those who ventured on Sharp Edge ridge.
A lower level circular walk from Keswick up to Walla Crag produced its own spectacular views, enhanced by the Air Ambulance landing just off the path on a training exercise.
Accommodation was in two comfortable B&Bs, and the evenings were extremely well organised, with meals in various restaurants and a visit to the Theatre on the Lake.
The holiday ended with a leisurely return via Coniston with a sail on the lake and a visit to John Ruskin’s house. It had been a friendly, challenging and enjoyable few days.

June 18th-25th - Verchaix in the French Alps
There aren’t many days when you can get a clear view of the magnificent Mont Blanc massif with all its needles and teeth, but the last day of Henley and Goring Ramblers’ recent trip to the French Alps was one of them. The Group had taken a “green” route using Euro star, TGV and hired cars for the final stretch from Lyon to Verchaix. Verchaix is a small village, between Chamonix and Geneva, some 60 m above the river Giffre in the Haute-Savoie on a south-facing slope. The hotel, La Terrasse de Verchaix, a small family owned and run hotel positioned well-above the valley floor, with clear views and a large terrace, was outstanding. The accommodation was excellent, as was the hotel food (which was local).
The patient attention of our hosts to personal needs and dietary idiosyncrasies could not be faulted. The picnics were tasty and sustaining, although eating them was a challenge to those of the group with aging chewing apparatus! Food and fellowship are important for a good holiday, and the group had those in abundance, but how about the walking, the ostensible purpose of the trip? The walks were very varied: easy and seriously hard; along streams and rivers; through woods and forests; across low and high pastures; steep ups and steep downs; but all wonderful! There were unexpected challenges to test the group’s mettle, which wasn’t always up to the test! For instance some were daunted by a very wobbly footbridge across a deep gorge, other by a bridge and part of a footpath that had been washed away by storms. There were fixed wire ropes in some of the more scary spots where there was severe exposure. At times people got very hot but at other times, above 2000 metres, they were freezing (even with woolly hats and gloves and winter jackets on). The experiences were challenging but hugely enjoyable.
Late June is clearly peak season for wildlife. Sheep and cattle, carrying bells, were on the high pastures, together with marmots, chamois, red squirrels, foxes, ibex and many birds. The pastures themselves were a sea of colour, with a great variety of wild flowers, some of them quite rare. On two days the group had an excellent local guide, Patrick, who was very knowledgeable about plants and animals, and especially the medicinal uses of plants. The trip proved to be a veritable feast for the senses and a really memorable experience.

Barn Dance, June 2009
On Saturday June 27th forty H&G members and friends met at Nettlebed Hall for a very succesful Barn Dance. Dancing to a live band, The Old Mole, the dancers were ably led through each dance by caller Ben Lobley who had flown back from New York that afternoon especially for the event. Everyone enjoyed a sumptious two course meal prepared and served by June Cross ably assisted by members. All agreed they had enjoyed an excellent evening out.

Hope Cove, South Devon, May 2009 - A Walk and a Devon Cream Tea Every Day
A picturesque fishing village on a secluded bay, a welcoming hotel with stunning views of the craggy coastline, a riot of wild flowers, the song of skylarks, lambs and calves in every field, dramatic coastal and inland walks - what more could the visiting 22 Henley & Goring Ramblers ask for? Oh, yes, cream teas at the end of the walks, splendid dinners and Alan’s quizzes and games. Walks started from the hotel and people could choose a short or a longer route. Sunny skies and sparkling turquoise seas enhanced the coastal path towards Salcombe. Hedgerows, fields and woods were ablaze with the pinks, blues, mauves and yellows of the abundant wild flowers. A walk in the Bantham hills was enlivened by the lovely views of the Devon countryside with fields of cows and sheep guarding their young and the heady smell of the white wild garlic flowers. A final day’s coastal walk ended with a stroll along a sandy beach and a paddle in the sea. Appetites honed by the exercise of the day, the group tucked into five course dinners, then exercised their brains with Alan’s quizzes and puzzles. The ingenuity of the answers provided great last night entertainment and much good-humoured banter between the two teams. Amazingly the result was a draw! This was a trip with the feel good factor. Many thanks to Tilley and Tony for introducing us to one of their favorite hotels and for organizing the trip so wonderfully.

Yorkshire dales in April 2009
Amazing hot sunshine, superb home cooking, wonderful walking, and excellent company sums up the Henley & Goring’s Easter trip to Yorkshire .Led by a true Yorkshire man, Bruce Gomersall, 14 group members were shown all that was good in Yorkshire. Based at a farmhouse near Pately Bridge in Nidderdale we enjoyed true Yorkshire  hospitality and real home cooking from hosts Mark and his Mum. Each day was spent walking up hills onto deserted moors, down dales and through idyllic villages surrounded by daffodils. Every walk culminated in either a cream tea or a beer sitting outside basking in the sunshine. Walks passed through places of historical interest. At Scar House Reservoir, built to supply water to Bradford, an historian told the fascinating story of the village built there to house the workers during the fifteen years it took to build thedam. At Middlesmore we visited a beautiful daffodil surrounded church with a dramatic view over the dale much admired by Ramblers’ Vice President, Janet Street Porter. The trip culminated with a walk in the grounds surrounding the imposing ruins of Fountains Abbey.