The Gower (2010) revisited (2023) and Dylan Thomas House added

 

Gower and Dylan Thomas Day Out 13^th Sept. 2023

07.45 MEET Bristol Parkway downstairs in concourse outside ticket office to check tickets with me, matching to your RAILCARD

Then go to platform (2) for Train to Swansea.

Tickets in envelope: Bristol Pkway – Swansea (advance single on 08.04) and Swansea – Bristol Pkway on 17.23) AND match to your RAILCARD

0804 Train for Swansea

Booked seats in Carriage C

09.33 At Swansea station.

09.40 walking 5 mins

For Taxis to the Gower – either Parkmill (Three Cliffs Bay) OR direct to Oxwich.

10.15 approx Arrival in Gower – Parkgate or Oxwich

10.15-12.45 Walking, swimming, coffee etc.

12.45 LUNCH TABLES BOOKED IN OXWICH HOTEL

14.00 TAXIS to Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea – Dylan Thomas’s Birth place

14.45 Tour followed by tea and Welsh Cakes

16.30 Bus or walk to station

17.23 Booked train Swansea to Bristol Pkway

Booked seats in Carriage B

arrive 19.00.

Wotton-Under-Edge - Tyndale Monument - North Nibley 29th July 2021

 

David and Jane's Tyndale Monument stroll started when we met up in Wotton-Under-Edge to walk (part of  ) the Cotswold Way. Sadly Jane could not join us.

After the steep climb up, we enjoyed stunning views across the town, Cotswolds and Severn flatlands.

and followed the Way through the beech woods until we broke out into the open at the 19th Century Monument

to the first translator of the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek, martyred in 1536 in Flanders after betrayal to the Catholic Holy Roman Empire authorities by an English spy probably sent by the Bishop of London. Again the views as far as Cadbury Camp above Clevedon or  even Crook's Peak 

, to the Forest of Dean and even Hay Bluff, down across the Severn Estuary and the great Bridges and Nuclear Power Stations were spectacular.

Down we plunged through more lovely beech woods where Roger spotted this butterfly,

And so to lunch at the Black Horse

in North Nibley and back up over the hill to Wotton, where we dispersed.

David Bruce cycled off towards Yate and home but was interrupted in his gentle progress by a phone call telling him his wallet had been found up on high Cotswold. Two most kind women from Dursley had it safe in their home in Cam so twenty tiring miles later, he picked it up, thanked them profusely and caught a train back to Bristol from Cam and Dursley station

DAY OUT for Ludlites in Ludlow

(A reminder that we have blog "wpstrollers.blogspot.com")

After cancellation in 2020, 4th July 2021 saw 20 desperate lockdown escapee strollers or Ludlites,  risking all to take two trains to Ludlow for the annual Day Out. With threatening weather we persevered and arrived to sunlight and the castle.

'The weather was 'iffy'

Some, well one, even swam the river Teme

Our goal was to explore the secret Gardens and perhaps the finest garden open this day was no. 9 - in Michelin terms "worth the journey"

The 'iffy' weather but only really wet for a short time

Irresistible raspberries - were resisted.

Town Walls sheltered allotment gardens 

All got safely home with the help of Diana's goodie bags and the addition of a cup of wine at Newport station 

Thank you Ludlow Garden keepers and all who welcomed us 

 

Burrington-Rowberrow stroll 2021

Breaking out after lockdown the Westbury Park Strollers set off for the Mendips. 

Thank you Jane and David for leading a terrific day's stroll, which could even be turned onto a holiday! Diana and David stayed on at the nearby Plume of Feathers.

The Swan at Rowberrow provided delicious lunch

Day out by Train to Teignmouth/Shaldon 22nd September 2019

final Rail Itinerary

THE GROUP will meet at Bristol Temple Meads at 0830 outside ticket barrier where I shall hand out tickets. PLEASE BRING ALL RAIL PASSES WITH YOU. 

Rail Itinerary is; Temple Meads depart 0844 Xcountry train (destination Plymouth, seats reserved in coach F) to Exeter St Davids arr 0941

GWR train  dep 0954 to Teignmouth arr 10.19 (Walkers will leave train at Dawlish 10.14)

Return (though some of this may change if weather awful)

Dep Teignmouth 1814 on GWR train arr Exeter St Davids 1839

(Then, whatever the weather) Exeter St Davids dep 1858 Xcountry train destination Birmingham New Street, seats reserved in coach F) to Bristol Temple Meads arr. 1955.

ALL: weather forecast is a bit better for Teignmouth than for Bristol - so fingers crossed but walkers be ready for a bit of mud on cliff path Dawlish to Teignmouth and around Shaldon.

Wind likely to be SW so swimming opportunities should be available!

Programme is -

8.30 am meet at  BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS 

  arrive - Dawlish/Teignmouth about 10:30 am

  Walking and picking up lunch at Little Heaven Baker   

Ferry to Shaldon about 1p.m.

  lunch and swim etc in village and on beach 2-3  (weather permitting)

  Walking: for an hour or so around and from Shaldon

  Cream Tea at 4 pm

Ferry 5.30 to Teignmouth.

Back in Bristol about 8pm

  Non slow/minimal walking programme will be available.

Costs to include return trains, cream tea and ferries £24.50 with railcards

Numbers limited to 25 in all. [18 have signed up so far]

Photos from the Quantocks

C Ken Clarke

Ken Clarke's photos now available at photo expert page https://wpstrollers.blogspot.com/p/photo-expert-page.html

including this one: ->
Some others from David Bruce will be posted  below here.It was a day of good crack and friendship but the weather was aweful and the mushrooms kept themselves hidden.
Cream Tea and railway were much appreciated

Briefing for Quantocks Day Out Saturday 22nd September 2018

29/30 signed up - regrets to those on waiting list. It may yet be possible!

Weather forecast not good but not actually stormy.

PLEASE NOTE EARLIER START than announced.

Mainly Bay Boleti and walnuts found Mendips 17-9-18

For those meeting at Redland station at 08.00 for the 08.19 to Temple Meads

Anyone boarding at Clifton please note train leaves at 08.15

For those meeting at Temple Meads,

Please be OUTSIDE BARRIER but INSIDE THE STATION at 09.00 to get your tickets

We are all reserved on the Great Western 09.17 from Temple Meads (train goes on to Penzance) arriving at Taunton09.44, we shall walk (taxi available for less mobile) into town to the bus station to catch the 10.15 No.28 bus to Bishop’s Lydiard and the Quantocks.

West Somerset Railway train will take us to Watchet where we shall visit harbour and museum returning to Crowcombe to walk (or be taken) towards farmhouse tea near Triscombe.

We suggest you have picnic lunch on train from Watchet (drinks and snacks available at buffet car)

Walkers will forage for mushrooms on the way (penknife,small basket may be useful). Please be aware of TICKS especially when peeing in the woods!

See email briefing for a note from Diana about tea.

We shall take 16.51 or 17.51 bus No.28 from Triscombe turn to Taunton railway station.

Return rail from Taunton at 18.51 (reserved seats) will get back to Bristol Temple Meads 19.24. There may be earlier or later trains – your tickets will be valid on any train.

There is not a good rail connection but bus 8 or 72 goes back to Redland station (if you have left a car there)