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Please do not use any of the contact links on this site for commercial adverts as they will not be responded to. All such contacts will be blacklisted. Challenge yourself to walk a bit further, take part in a Challenge Event, walk with and support your local group. To help you achieve your personal goals in 2010 we offer you two challenge events. If you are a Bristol & West member please volunteer to help. MALVERN MIDSUMMER MARATHON 2010 Entry details
COTSWOLD CHALLENGE 2009 RESULTS B&W will be supporting the Dorset Group by helping marshalling the Dorset Giant on 24 - 25th April. We will be at the Loders checkpoint on the Saturday afternoon. Any member who can help should contact the Webmaster WYEFOREST 50 2009 REPORT, RESULTS & PICTURES
On
the WF50 route in Norchard
Woods Jan 2010
TRIBUTE
TO JAMES 'Mac' McARTHUR The LDWA is an association of people with the common interest of walking long
and ultra long distances in rural, mountainous and moorland areas. The LDWA
promotes organised challenge walks, pioneers new walking routes and publishes
information on all aspects of non-competitive walking. The association is
recognised by the Sports Council as the governing body for the activity of long
distance walking. People often ask us, "what is a long distance?" The
Association's constitution now defines a long distance walk as an extended walk
in rural areas, especially one that exceeds 20 miles in length. The LDWA was started by two walkers, Alan Blatchford and Chris Steer, whose
paths happened to cross in the Surrey hills in the early seventies. They discussed
their common love of walking and decided to organise a long walk in the
countryside around Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel near Dorking in Surrey. They were encouraged
by the response and organised further walking events. By 1972 they had become so
popular that Alan and Chris decided to form the Long Distance Walkers
Association. The initial idea was to collate information on all organised
challenge walks and long distance walks in the country. This was published as a
newsletter for a subscription of 35p. The membership by the end of 1972 was 355 and this has now grown to over 7000. In 1973 the first AGM was held in Edale and there has been an AGM/social
weekend held in a different part of the country every year since. In the same
year the first 100 mile challenge walk was organized. This is now an
annual event held in a different venue each year. In the autumn of 1973 the
first local group was formed in Derbyshire. The LDWA has become so popular that there are now some 40 groups throughout
Britain. Members of the LDWA receive a copy of the Association journal, Strider,
3 times a year. This gives information relating to all aspects of Long Distance
Walking. The first Bristol & West Group walk took place in 1975 and we celebrated
our 25th anniversary by duplicating that walk in 2000. The Bristol and West Group walk in the area roughly covered by North Somerset,
Gloucestershire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Wiltshire. This includes the
Mendips, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean & the Malverns with regular forays into South
Wales to the Brecon Beacons. However, it should be mentioned that this area
overlaps that of neighbouring groups which prospective members may like to join.
Our LINKS page gives details of other groups. The group organize three challenge walks in the area, the Malvern
Midsummer Marathon which is a 25 mile route, the Cotswold Challenge
which is 25 miles and the WyeForest50, a 50 mile challenge walk in the
Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. The next WyeForest 50 walk will be held again in
2009. It is the second of three walks which form the South West
Triple Challenge. The other walks are organised by the Cornwall & Devon group
and the Dorset group. Each of these walks will take place every three years and completion of all
three walks in consecutive years will entitle the walker to a triple challenge
certificate. Members who do not take part in
challenge walks are still encouraged to help with the group's challenge walks.
You will find that marshalling is an enjoyable and sociable day out which is
most rewarding without getting blisters. We also have a comprehensive diary of social
walks throughout the year. The members also organise Group Weekends usually at a
Youth Hostel or Cottage to enjoy a program of walking in pastures new. Some
members also organise holidays abroad to enjoy walking together in other lands. We publish a regular Group Newsletter to keep members informed and amused.
Members with items for the newsletter can e-mail
from here. If you are a keen walker and
would like to find out more about us then please come along on one
of our social walks. You will find that we are a friendly group of people with
varied interests, ability and backgrounds. We welcome prospective members to join
us on a few of our walks. Once you have checked us out you will have to join the
National Organisation (see link below). Check out our Diary Page for details of the walk
programme. Offers of new walks or amendments should be notified to the walk
coordinator. Alternatively you can e-mail the group Secretary
or the Chairman
for
further information. If you require information
regarding one of our challenge walks, please navigate to the relevant page and
use the contact link for that event. We also like to see walkers from other groups who may be visiting
our beautiful area. You can join the LDWA online, please click on this link:-
If you are a member of the LDWA and would like to support
Bristol & West you can print a form to subscribe to our group newsletter by clicking on:- Walk
West subscription form. You will find details of our challenge events on this site. Full details and entry form are available on the appropriate page. Comments, queries or contributions &
pictures to this Web site can be made to Webmaster
This page was last updated 06 February 2010 at 15:24
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