Programme

This will be the last evening walk of 2018, and a short one as the light fades. Starting from the corner of Sutherland Drive and Whitmore Rd, Newcastle under Lyme at 6.30pm, we will walk to Butterton via Bunny Hill. Refreshments afterwards at John and Nicky's house.

This is a visit for the 'Poppies: Weeping Window’ exhibition at Middleport Pottery.

Tickets are booked for 10:30am, so please meet by the entrance of Middleport Pottery for this time. Please let me know if you wish to join us. Contact Ian.

Alan will talk about Route Planning, and Tony will talk about his travels in the Shetland Islands.

The walk will be 6.5 to 7 miles in length and will be around and over the Wrekin in Shropshire.

The route itself has a few climbs but, as the main summit itself is at the end of the walk, the final ascent may feel tougher than it’s height suggests. As such, there’s a slightly shorter and less strenuous option that can be taken when 3/4 the way round which goes round the base of the Wrekin rather than over it (reducing the distance to around 5 miles).

The route only has a couple of styles and a few gates but, although I’ve tried to avoid it as much much as possible, the route is pretty muddy in places. If it’s raining on the day, some sections may also turn out to be a little slippery.

Plan to meet at 10am in the public car park at the base of the Wrekin (SJ 637 092, nearest post code: TF6 5AL). If this is full, then there are other car parks not too far away or there appear to be various on-road parking options nearby. If travelling from the Market Drayton direction through Wellington, the car park is located on the left just after a sharp left-hand bend (from Wellington, it’s about 1.5 miles before you cross over the M54 and pass the Buckatree Hall Hotel and a lake on your right – the car park is after the next bend).

Please also bring a packed lunch as there isn’t a pub stop en-route. Please contact Ian if planning to attend.