Ramblings

Some Striders

Since I joined Chorleywood u3a Striders in 2017 I have immensely enjoyed our excursions through the Chilterns and elsewhere – always accompanied by a pub lunch – and made many new friends. Striders Full walks are on the first Monday of the month, typically 10-12 miles, and Striders Lite walks are on the third Monday, 8-10 miles. Lunch is taken at a pub, typically about two thirds of the way round.

There are also u3a Strollers walks on the fourth Monday of the month except for December. These walks are about five miles long: we usually park at a pub (with their permission), complete our walk and finish with lunch there. Come wind, rain or shine, we always have fun.

Both groups need and encourage their members to take turns in devising and leading walks. But the thought of leading one’s first walk can be intimidating. I was in Striders for quite some time before I took the plunge. When I did, it was in response to the group leader’s appeal for a walk leader at short notice, after the scheduled leader became unavailable. That meant I had very little time to worry about it – I just had to get on and do it.

Leading a walk needs careful planning: besides planning a route, the leader must find a pub – usually in the countryside – which is open and serving food on a Monday (preferably one with lighter menu options, not too gastro and tolerant of muddy boots on the doorstep). He or she then provisionally books the pub without knowing the exact number of lunchers, establishes who is joining the walk, solicit lunch pre-orders (usually) and conveys them to the pub. They then direct the motor convoy to the start – unless we’re starting from Chorleywood or using the train – and navigate up to 25 people smoothly round the route. These are high-spirited folk, the alphas of retirement, who will not hesitate to point out any mistakes. The Striders walk leader also has to find a suitable parking spot for up to seven or eight cars, so that the pub is reached at an appropriate time. So I thought it would be helpful to provide a resource to make some of these tasks easier – including a list of possible pubs for lunch, and a list showing details of past Striders walks.

Striders walk leader’s checklist (from Andrew York)

• Plan the route: Striders 10-12 miles, Striders Lite 8-10 miles.
• Identify a pub, open on Monday and with a range of food at reasonable prices.
• Identify the parking area – ideally placing the pub 2/3 of the way round.
• Make a booking with an estimated number of walkers. Check whether they need pre-orders.
• do a recce of the route – there may be obstacles such as fallen trees, extremely muddy conditions, diversions for forestry work etc. This may also involve an onerous meal and drink at the pub.
• Send walk details to group leader (Andrew York or Rik Edwards) at least two weeks before walk, stating: meeting time in Chorleywood, parking location and meeting time for the walk start, details of the walk including mileage (before and after lunch), estimated time of arrival at the pub, elevation/steepness/muddiness/number of stiles etc, pub lunch menu or link to pub website menu, cutoff time for menu choices.
• As responses come in, keep a record of walk participants and their menu choices
• Send a list of menu choices with names attached. (Walkers frequently forget what they ordered!) – also print a list to take with you.
• Work out how many cars will be needed to get participants from Chorleywood to the start of the walk, and make sure you have enough.
• Lead the walk. After all the planning, enjoy it!

Ordnance Survey App

I am not a strong navigator, but I have found the Ordnance Survey App an invaluable help. For £34.99 a year (November 2024) you get access to all the Ordnance Survey maps of the UK. You can plot your walk on phone, tablet, laptop or PC and download the route onto your phone, so that you can still navigate when you have no phone signal. Best of all, the app uses GPS to show your position and orientation on the map, and will alert you when you stray off your planned route. Be aware, though, that GPS is quite heavy on battery use, so make sure you start with your phone fully charged. And it is always sensible to carry a paper map as backup: you can also print this off using the app.

You can find more details here.

Mentoring

First time walk leaders may find it helpful to “buddy up” with an experienced leader to provide some guidance before they feel confident to lead on their own. It is no hardship to spend a day with a friend walking the Chilterns and “testing” the food and drink at the pub.

Sources of walk routes

Here are some sites where you can find good local walks:

• Chiltern Society: https://chilternsociety.org.uk/free-walks-leaflets/
• National Trust: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/walking
• Ramblers: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/routes
• Visit Chesham: https://visitchesham.org.uk/explore/walking/

List of Striders and Strollers pubs

So here is a list of pubs which Striders and Strollers have used in the past, believed at the time of writing (October 2024) to be open and serving lunch on Mondays. As you can see, there are plenty to choose from – 70-odd as I write. Click on the pub name to go to its website. Note that the estimated driving times are from Grove Way in Chorleywood to the pub. Note too that Striders walks will usually start from parking areas some way from our lunch destination.

This list makes no claim to be comprehensive, nor does it guarantee the availability or suitability of the pubs – I will update it periodically. If you know of, own or run a country pub not too far from Chorleywood which I have omitted and which serves lunch on Mondays, please let me know and I will add it in.

I hope that this list will provide ideas and serve as the starting point for planning walks. There is a good deal of satisfaction to be had in successfully leading this happy band to the pub and back.

Pub (click on name to go to pub website)	Location	Estimated driving time from Grove Way, Chorleywood
The Anchor	London Road Bourne End HP1 2RH	18 minutes
The Anglers Retreat	Startops End, Marsworth, HP23 4LJ	34 minutes
The Artichoke	The Green, Green Lane, Croxley Green, WD3 3HN	13 minutes
The Bedford Arms	Chenies, WD3 6EQ	5 minutes
The Bell	79 High Street, Bovingdon, HP3 0HP	17 minutes
The Black Cat (? reopening 2025/6)	1, Lycrome Road, Lye Green, Chesham HP5 3LF	19 minutes
The Black Horse	Dog Kennel Lane, Chorleywood, WD3 5EG	7 minutes
The Black Horse	Windmill Rd, Fulmer, SL3 6HD	19 minutes
The Blue Ball	Asheridge, Chesham, HP5 2UX	24 minutes
The Boot	The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6BL	10 minutes
The Bricklayers Arms	Hogpits Bottom Flaunden HP3 0PH	12 minutes
The Bridgewater Arms	Little Gaddesden, HP4 1PD	37 minutes
The Bull and Butcher	Turville, RG9 6QU	40 minutes
The Chequers Inn	St Albans Road, Redbourn, AL3 7AD	29 minutes
The Cherry Tree Inn	Stoke Row Rd, Stoke Row, RG9 5QA	55 minutes
The Coach & Horses	22 High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1ER	11 minutes
The Cock Inn	Church Lane Sarratt WD3 6HH	8 minutes
The Coy Carp	Coppermill Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HZ	13 minutes
The Cricketers	The Green, Sarratt, WD3 6AS	10 minutes
The Crooked Chimney	Cromer Hyde Lane, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7XE	40 minutes
The Cross Keys	40 High Street, Great Missenden, HP16 0AU	22 minutes
The Crown	The Crown, Ley Hill, HP5 1UY	15 minutes
The Dumb Bell	Shire Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 0QY	12 minutes
The Elephant and Castle	97 High Street, Amersham, HP7 0DT	14 minutes
The Elephant and Castle	Amwell Lane, Wheathampstead, AL4 8EA	39 minutes
The Firecrest	London Road, Nr Dunsmore, Wendover, HP22 6QG	24 minutes
The Fishery Inn	2 Fishery Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1NA	23 minutes
The Full Moon	Hare Lane Little Kingshill HP16 0EE	21 minutes
The Gate	Barnet Road Arkley EN5 3LA	39 minutes
The Gate	Bryants Bottom Road, Bryants Bottom, HP16 0JS	29 minutes
The Gate	Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, WD3 5SQ	6 minutes
The Golden Cross	Wycombe Road, Saunderton, HP14 4HU	37 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	Stocks Road, Aldbury, HP23 5RT	33 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	High St, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9RA	10 minutes
The Greyhound Inn	Chesham Road, Wigginton, Tring, HP23 6EH	31 minutes
The Half Moon	Cuxham, Watlington, OX49 5NF	43 minutes
The Hampden Arms	Great Hampden, Great Missenden, HP16 9RQ	28 minutes
The Harte and Magpies	Magpie Lane, Coleshill, HP7 0LU	15 minutes
The Hit or Miss	Penn Street HP7 0FA	18 minutes
The Ivy House	London Road, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4RS	9 minutes
The Jolly Cricketers	24 Chalfont Rd, Seer Green, HP9 2YG	13 minutes
The King William IV	Hailey, Ipsden, Oxfordshire, OX10 6AD	59 minutes
The Le De Spencers	Downley Common High Wycombe HP13 5YQ	31 minutes
The Lions of Bledlow	Church End, Bledlow, HP27 9PE	39 minutes
Merlin’s Cave	The Village Green, High Street, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4QF	7 minutes
The Old Orchard	Park Lane, Harefield, UB9 6HJ,	15 minutes
The Paper Mill	Stationers Place, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9RH	18 minutes
The Plough	Leverstock Green Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8PR	24 minutes
The Plough Inn (required £10 deposit per person Jan 2025)	Longdown Hill, Cadsden, HP27 0NB	30 minutes
The Red Lion	Village Road, Chenies, WD3 6ED	5 minutes
The Red Lion	Little Missenden, HP7 0QZ	18 minutes
The Red Lion	12 Langley Park Road Shreding Green Iver SL0 0JZ	22 minutes
The Rose and Crown	Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1PP	17 minutes
The Round Bush	Roundbush Lane, Radlett, WD25 8BG	25 minutes
The Royal Standard	Wooburn Common Rd, Wooburn Green, HP10 0LB	23 minutes
The Royal Standard of England	Forty Green Beaconsfield HP9 1XS	23 minutes
The Russell Arms	2 Chalkshire Rd, Butler’s Cross HP17 0TS	31 minutes
The Saracen’s Head	38 Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0HU	14 minutes
The Saracen’s Head	47 High St, Kings Langley, WD4 9HU	17 minutes
The Shepherd’s Hut	High Street, Ewelme, OX10 6HQ	48 minutes
The Six Bells	16-18 St Michaels Street, St Albans, AL3 4SH	28 minutes
The Speckled Hen	Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL4 0XG	32 minutes
The Squirrel	Penn Street HP7 0PX	18 minutes
The Stag	Long Ln, The Swillet Chorleywood WD3 5BT,	4 minutes
The Stag & Huntsman	Hambleden, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6RP	47 minutes
The Swan	56 High Street, Wheathampstead, AL4 8AR	41 minutes
The Swan Inn	122 High Street, Amersham, HP7 0ED	15 minutes
The Three Horseshoes	22 Orchard Road, Seer Green, Beaconsfield, HP9 2XX	15 minutes
The Three Horseshoes	Winkwell, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RZ	20 minutes
The Two Brewers	The Common, Chipperfield, WD4 9BS	15 minutes
The Water’s Edge	Reservoir Road, Ruislip, HA4 7TY	22 minutes
The Western	205 High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1BB	11 minutes
The White Hart	Three Households, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4LP	9 minutes
The White Horse	Village Lane, Hedgerley SL2 3UY	21 minutes
The White Lion	White Lion Road, Amersham, HP7 9LJ	8 minutes
The White Lion	Jenkins Lane St Leonards, Tring, HP23 6NW	27 minutes
The Windmill	The Common, Chipperfield, WD4 9BU	15 minutes

We encourage walk leaders to look for new routes, or to venture into different pubs. But for any who would like a helping hand I have also compiled a list of past Striders walks, starting from when I joined the group in 2017. Again, I have not checked whether all these still work – many of the pubs have closed or no longer serve food on Mondays, and some of the parking places may no longer be available. Where the pub is still believed to be suitable, you can go to the pub website by clicking on the name.

List of past Striders walks

Date	Parking	Pub	Estimated driving time to parking from Grove Way	Estimated miles before/after lunch	Elevation/ Ascent before/after lunch	Notes on route
4 Sep 2017	King Harry Lane, St Albans	The Chequers Inn, south of Redbourn	22 minutes	12 7.5/4.5	“Flat”	Chidwickbury, south of Harpenden, Redbourn
18 Sep 2017	Rickmansworth Aquadrome car park	The Old Orchard, Harefield	15 minutes	10		Nature reserve, Grand Union Canal, River Colne
2 Oct 2017	Green triangle at Ibstone House, 1/2 mile south of Ibstone	Prince Albert, Frieth (closed Mondays – Jan 2025)	36 minutes	10 6/4	“Quite hilly”	Turville Grange, Skirmett, Frieth and Fingest
16 Oct 2017	On the green at Cookley Green	The Shepherd’s Hut, Ewelme	43 minutes	10		Ewelme, Swycombe
6 Nov 2017	Car park by the Kings Hotel, Stokenchurch (Kings Hotel closed – Dec 2024)	Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common (closed Monday lunchtime – Jan 2025)	34 minutes	10.5	Two steep climbs, one gentle climb	Wormsley Valley
20 Nov 2017	Green by the primary school, Chenies	The Crown at Ley Hill	6 minutes	9 6/3		Watercress farm, edge of Flaunden, Bovingdon Green, Latimer
15 Jan 2018	Roadside next to Widmer Pond on B474, Tylers Green/Penn, just before Red Lion pub	The Harte and Magpies, Coleshill	21 minutes	8.5 4.5/4	“a few ups, quite short”	Penn House, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill, Penn Bottom
5 Feb 2018	Russell Arms, Butlers Cross (now open Mondays so no longer available for parking – Dec 2024)	The Plough Inn, Cadsden	29 minutes	9 6/3	“some hills”
19 Feb 2018	Chorleywood House car park	White Bear, Rickmansworth (closed Monday lunchtime – Jan 2025)	7 minutes		“a bit of up and down”
5 Mar 2018	Chipperfield Common, opposite Two Brewers	Old Plough (not found – Jan 2025)	17 minutes	10		Scatterdells Wood, Apsley, Grand Union Canal
19 March 2018	Car park by cricket ground in Cholesbury – through Chesham and on the right after Full Moon pub	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	26 minutes	8.5 5.5/3
9 Apr 2018	Near café at Shenley Park	The Round Bush, Radlett	25 minutes	12 7/5	“relatively flat”	“lovely scenery around the River Colne, sewage works, old industrial site”
16 Apr 2018	St Mary’s Church, off Church Hill south of Harefield	The Water’s Edge, Ruislip Lido	16 minutes	8.75 6/2.75	“relatively flat, no steep hills”	Bayhurst Wood, north of Ickenham, Hillingdon Trail, Ruislip Woods
21 May 2018	Car park at Whiteleaf Cross (east of Princes Risborough)	Pink and Lily, Lacey Green (closed Mondays – Jan 2025)	32 minutes	7 5/2	660 feet
4 Jun 2018	Car park opposite West Wycombe Park HP14 3AP	Black Lion, Bradenham (now a tea room – Jan 2025)	28 minutes	10.5	3 or 4 climbs, all before lunch. a few stiles.	Saunderton, Bradenham, and back along Naphill Common
18 Jun 2018	Sarratt green, meet at bus shelter	The Two Brewers, Chipperfield	10 minutes	9	Generally flat except last climb up to Sarratt	Sarratt Common, Flaunden, Hogpits Bottom, Chipperfield
2 Jul 2018	Small car park on Studham Common	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	28 minutes	10 7/3	“only two hills, each up from the Gade Valley”	Jockey End, Great Gaddesden, Golden Valley
16 Jul 2018	Luxters Farm visitors’ car park, RG9 6JW (called Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery – Dec 2024)	The Bull and Butcher, Turville	41 minutes	9	Modest hill before lunch, steeper hill after. Some stiles	Hambleden Valley between Marlow and Henley
6 Aug 2018	Car park next to Hughenden Church, HP14 4LA	The Gate at Bryants Bottom	23 minutes	10 5/5	“steady climb before lunch up from Hughenden Valley, some stiles”	Cryers Hill, Bryants Bottom, Speen, Walters Ash, Naphill Common
20 Aug 2018	Grove Way or The Stag, Chorleywood	Merlin’s Cave, Chalfont St Giles	–	9 6.25/2.75	“modest gradients but a post-lunch climb out of Chalfont St Giles”	Chalfont St Peter, Misbourne Valley
3 Sep 2018	Lay-by opposite The Harte and Magpies on the A355	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	15 minutes	10 7.5/3	“no stiles or sharp inclines”	Penn House estate, Winchmore Hill, Penn Street, Coleshill
17 Sep 2018	Car park behind Co-op, Chalfont St Giles	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	7 minutes	9.25 5.5/3.75		Amersham, Coleshill
1 Oct 2018	Four-sided bus shelter in the centre of Nettlebed	The Cherry Tree Inn, Stoke Row	47 minutes	11.25 7/4.25	“undulating rather than hilly, one stile”	Option to extend the walk by 1/2 mile to see the Maharajah’s Well
15 Oct 2018	Car park, Great Missenden	The Firecrest, on the A413 near Dunsmore	20 minutes	8.8		Lee Common, along ridge towards Kings Ash, Firecrest, up to Dunsmore and along the Hampdenleaf Wood ridge
5 Nov 2018	Amersham Old Town car park	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	13 minutes	8.75 6/2.75	“Flat, apart from Little Missenden to Beamond End, one stile”	Little Missenden, Beamond End, Penn Wood, Penn Street, Winchmore Hill, Coleshill.
19 Nov 2019	National Trust car park, Cookham	The Jolly Farmer, Cookham – (closed Monday lunchtimes – Jan 2025)	31 minutes	8.6 5.8/2.8	Two climbs, total ascent 613 feet, no stiles	First two miles along the Thames
7 Jan 2019	Outside A&E News, Chorleywood	The Boot, Sarratt	–	10.5 7.25/3.25	Total ascent 860 feet
21 Jan 2019	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	The Boot, Sarratt	5 minutes	9 7/2
4 Feb 2019	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	The Oaks, West Hyde (closed – Jan 2025)	5 minutes	12 8/4	“Relatively flat, no stiles, minimum mud”	Chess valley to Rickmansworth, along canal to West Hyde
18 Feb 2019	Burnham Beeches car park off Egypt Lane, Farnham Common	The White Horse, Hedgerley	25 minutes	9 5.75/3.25	“gently undulating, total ascent 670 feet”	Stoke Common, Fulmer, Hedgerley, Egypt Woods and Burnham Beeches
4 Mar 2019	Parking area on the sharp left hand bend on the B4506 from Northchurch to Ringshall	The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury	34 minutes	11 7/4	One hill before lunch, one hill after.	Berkamsted Common, Ashridge golf course, Bridgewater Monument, Aldbury, Northchurch Common.
18 Mar 2019	The pond in Coleshill	The Hit or Miss, Penn Street	16 minutes	8 5/3
1 Apr 2019	Pound Lane, Marlow, junction with the Henley Road, SL7 2AY	The Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden	33 minutes	11 7/4	Two hills and one stile after lunch.	Harleyford Lane, Temple Lock, Thames Path, Hambleden Lock, Hambleden, Shakespeare’s Way, Chiltern Way, Pullingshill Wood
15 Apr 2019	National Trust car park, Watlington Hill	The Half Moon, Cuxham	38 minutes	9.5 5.25/4.25	“mostly flat but with a climb near the end”	Britwell Salome, Cuxham, Pyrton
6 May 2019	Car park opposite the café in Wendover Woods (£8 per car!)	The Full Moon, Cholesbury (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	36 minutes	11.25 7.5/3.75	“some ups and downs” total ascent 1500 feet	Hastoe, St Lawrence’s Church
20 May 2019	Car park, Great Missenden	The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden	20 minutes	9.5		Return via Prestwood
3 Jun 2019	Winchmore Hill	The Ivy House, Chalfont St Giles	15 minutes	11.5 7/4.5	“gently undulating”, total ascent 620 feet, two stiles.	Return via Coleshill
17 Jun 2019	St Lawrence’s Church car park, West Wycombe	The Chequers Inn, Wheeler End (closed Monday lunchtimes – Jan 2025)	33 minutes	10 6/4	“some proper climbs, five stiles”	Toweridge Common, Booker Common, Lane End, Wheelers End, Jane’s Wood, Great Cockshoots Wood, Butlers Hanging
1 Jul 2019	Aston Hill Bike Park, HP22 5NQ	The Full Moon, Cholesbury (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	29 minutes	11.25 7.5/3.75	“sharp hill in the morning, long steady climb in the afternoon” total ascent 1220 feet	Hastoe, St Lawrence’s Church
15 Jul 2019	Small car parking area about 100m from Berkhamsted Golf Club, HP4 2QB	The Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden	24 minutes	8 5/3		Great Frithsden Copse, Nettleden Farm, Chiltern Way, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted Common
5 Aug 2019	Car park in Hodgemoor Woods, on Bottrells Lane out of Chalfont St Giles (Google Maps says closed – Jan 2025)	Red Lion, Coleshill (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays – Jan 2025)	12 minutes	11 7/4		Jordans, Seer Green, north to the Red Lion. Then north through Amersham and up the hill to the car park.
19 Aug 2019	Denham Country Park car park – try to park immediately on the grass verge for free, otherwise pay to use car park	The Old Orchard, Harefield	16 minutes	8.8 5.3/3.5	“some but not much ascent”	Above the River Colne and the Grand Union, back along the canal towpath and across the lakes to Old Denham, beside Denham Golf Course.
2 Sep 2019	Public car park, Old Amersham	The Firecrest, Dunsmore	11 minutes	11.5 8/3.5		Old Amersham, Great Missenden, The Firecrest, Wendover Station, back to Chorleywood by train.
16 Sep 2019	Penn Street, near The Squirrel pub, HP7 0PX	The Royal Standard of England, Forty Green.	15 minutes	9.5 5.5/4	“two slight hills, about four stiles”	Penn Wood, Common Wood, Penn, Royal Standard of England, Winchmore Hill.
7 Oct 2019	Car park at Little Hampden opposite former Rising Sun pub	The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden	25 minutes	10.5 6.5/4	Undulating
21 Oct 2019	Top of Barracks Hill, Coleshill, opposite Coleshill Village Hall, in the road next to the church	The Three Horseshoes, Seer Green	14 minutes	9 5.5/3.5		Winchmore Hill, south to Knotty Green, Three Horseshoes, Hodgemoor Wood, Ongar Hill.
4 Nov 2019	Wendover Station	The Plough Inn, Cadsden	26 minutes or use train	10.7 6.2/4.5	Five hills	Follows parts of the Ridgeway and Icknield Way, back to Wendover
18 Nov 2019	Burnham Beeches Nature Reserve car park	The Royal Standard, Wooburn Green	22 minutes	9		Burnham Beeches, NW through more open landscapes to Royal Standard
20 Jan 2020	Cholesbury Village Hall, HP23 6ND – by the side of the road or near cricket club	The Blue Ball, Asheridge	22 minutes	8.25 5.75/2.5	“hills, not too steep, 14 stiles”
3 Feb 2020	Chorleywood House by tennis courts	The Coy Carp, Harefield	–	12 7.5/4.5	“few hills, no stiles”	Chess Valley, Rickmansworth, Grand Union Canal
17 Feb 2020	Car park in West Wycombe near junction of Chorley Road and the A40, HP14 3AP	The Golden Cross, Saunderton	29 minutes	8 5/3	“two climbs before lunch, one after. Two quite steep descents”	Bradenham, Saunderton, St Laurence’s Church, Dashwood Mausoleum
2 Mar 2020	Water Meadow car park, Chesham	The Black Cat, Lye Green	13 minutes	10 7/3	985 feet 875/110	Chiltern Link, Herbert’s Hole, Pednor Bottom, Chartridge, Asheridge, Chesham Vale, Lye Green, Botley. (cancelled due to conditions underfoot)
2 Mar 2020	Aquadrome car park	The Coach & Horses, Rickmansworth	12 minutes	6.25	“no ups, no downs, no stiles	Bury Lake, Batchworth Lake, Grand Union Canal, Ebury Way, Croxley Moor Common, Grand Union Canal (replacement walk)
16 Mar 2020	Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve car park	The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow	40 minutes	8	“some big ascents”	Radnage, Bledlow Ridge, Bledlow
6 Jul 2020	Car park opposite Chorleywood Memorial Hall	The Boot, Sarratt	–	8.5	650 feet of ascent	Back through Chenies
20 Jul 2020	The Stag, Chorleywood	The Dumb Bell, Chalfont St Peter	–	9 6.3/2.7	535 feet 375/160	Old Shire Lane, Springwell Lake, Grand Union Canal, Pynesfield Lake, West Hyde, Franklin’s Wood, Beechen Wood, Horn Hill, Dumb Bell, Rowan Garden Centre, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood
3rd Aug 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	–	10 6.75/3.25	835 feet 575/260	Carpenters Wood, Whitelands Wood, Old Hanging Wood, skirts Pollards Wood and Harewood Downs Golf Course down to A413, Misbourne Farm, Hill Farm, White Hart, Chiltern Way, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood
3rd Aug 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	The White Hart, Chalfont St Giles	–	12.5	970 feet 640/330	as above with 1 mile extra loop down to the Chess Valley, 1.5 mile extra loop in the afternoon via No Dragon Wood.
17th Aug 2020	Chesham Station	The Boot, Sarratt	–	9.6 6.8/2.8	635 feet 416/219	Sarratt, Chorleywood
7th Sep 2020	Whitelands Avenue by Grenville Court	The Cock, Sarratt (closed Mondays – Jan 2025)	–	11.5 9/2.5	900 feet 715/185	Barrel Arch, Chenies, Flaunden, Chipperfield, Commonwood, Sarratt, Sarratt Bottom
21st Sep 2020	The Stag Pub, The Swillet, Chorleywood	The Coy Carp, Harefield	–	11.8 6/5.8	825 feet 310/515	Philipshill Wood, Newland Park, Horn Hill, Old Shire Lane, South Bucks Way, Coy Carp. over canal, Hillingdon Trail, Fieldways Farm, cross canal, Ladywalk Wood, The Swillet.
21st Sep 2020	The Stag Pub, The Swillet, Chorleywood	The Coy Carp, Harefield	–	9.75 5.5/4.25	715 feet 300/415	Old Shire Lane, Ladywalk Wood, cross canal by the lock at Stockers Lake, up past Stockers Farm through Cooks Wood, Hillingdon Trail, CoyCarp, Pynesfield Lake, West Hyde, Beechen Wood, Horn Hill, Old Shire Lane, the Swillet.
	…to be continued

If you live in the UK and are retired, I enthusiastically recommend joining the u3a. Your local group is very likely to have at least one walking group, and many other activities. If you live in or near Chorleywood, you can join here.

Happy Striding and Strolling!

Addendum: Chorleywood u3a: walk leader role description and checklist

(courtesy of Alun Price-Davies, Spring 2021)

Suggested safety information for those joining a u3a walk

“Individuals are responsible for their own safety on a walk. The leader of the U3A walk will lead the walk and may carry a basic first aid kit but may not have specific medical training or a first aid qualification. The walk leader will show the group the way on the walk but the individual should be careful in following the leader and should know their own capabilities and limitations.

Walks organised by U3A groups automatically have public liability insurance cover, provided the walkers are U3A members. However, this is not a personal accident insurance and all members walk at their own risk.

Members are requested to walk behind the leader, to stay with the group at all times, and to notify the leader if they leave the walk.

Should any member have any underlying health problems they should ensure that they bring any medication they might need, and that either the walk leader or a trusted companion knows what to do in the event of any problem.

Members should carry with them an emergency contact name and telephone number giving details of any medication or long standing conditions such as diabetes or asthma. Contact details may be stored on a card or mobile phone under “ICE” (In Case of Emergency).

Bring adequate drinks, especially in the warmer weather, as it is easy to become dehydrated without realising it. It is also a good idea to bring a banana, an apple or a snack.

Enjoy the walk!”

Planning

When selecting a route think carefully about the following:-

• the availability of paths or open country as road traffic can pose a hazard.
• are the start and finish points safe places for a group to congregate?
• is the pub open on the day of the walk?
• has lunch been booked at the pub, with advance orders if required?
• has the leader got the phone number of the pub in case of emergency?
• is the length of the walk suitable for the capability and experience of the group.
• plan for alternative and escape routes should the weather conditions deteriorate or there is an incident requiring a change of plan.
• recce the whole route

When walking in remote areas – even in the Chiltern Hills – it is advisable that at least one person in the group has some basic competence in First Aid. The application of those skills in remote areas and in wet, cold or windy weather, can be a challenge when dealing with emergencies and any illness or injury is potentially more dangerous and difficult to deal with.

Check your mobile phone is fully charged on the day of the walk, and encourage the walkers to carry their mobile phones in case they become separated from the group. The leader should have a record of their mobile phone numbers in their phone’s contacts.

Carry mobile phone to record and report any unexpected hazard or obstacle along a footpath.

Preparation

The u3a have issued a Walk Leader Risk Assessment checklist which you can download here (login required). Walk leaders should carry a map, compass, whistle, mobile phone, portable phone charger and a basic first aid kit.

Ready-made first aid kits for walkers are available from outdoor shops; you can buy a St John Ambulance First Aid kit suitable for walkers and walk leaders here.

u3a walking groups are not required to have people trained in first aid, and the insurance advice is to contact the emergency services immediately on 999 or 112 in the event of a serious incident, even if there happens to be a member present who has attended a first aid course.

It is recommended that you attend a practical training course such as those offered by the Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance Brigade and specialist training companies.

It is important to ensure that everyone understands what will be encountered during the walk and is confident that this is within his their abilities. Warn walkers about possible hazards on the walk such as stiles, and if walking by water, they should be made aware of narrow or uneven footpaths, towpath mooring posts etc.

Incident Management

Even a relatively small incident can be exacerbated by other factors or trigger other events. Walk leaders will need to make decisions about the most appropriate course of action. You will need to balance the range of risks for all concerned – sometimes a daunting task.

The first priority is to move everyone away from immediate danger. Next, assess the state of the injured person and apply standard first aid practice.

Clearing a blocked airway is probably the most important life-saving action a first-aider can take. Most blocked airways can be cleared by following simple, basic manoeuvres. The three common techniques – tipping the head back, chin lift and jaw thrust – are best learned on a practical first aid training course.

u3a have issued an advice sheet covering first aid which you can find here.

In the event of an accident or a U3A member being taken seriously ill, contact the emergency services immediately on 999 or 112. State your location giving at least one of these:

• address and postcode – if relevant
• map reference (if you are confident that you can give an accurate number)
• as precise a description as you can
• What3words location

and then

• give your phone number or the phone number you are calling from
• as clearly and concisely as you can, state what has happened.

First aid treatment should only be administered under direction from the emergency services, unless you are facing an emergency i.e. the casualty is struggling to breathe normally or is unconscious or has severe bleeding. If a trained first aider is present then that person should be the one to make the emergency call and follow any instructions. In the event of a fall, keep the person warm and dry and do not attempt to move the person unless they are in immediate danger.

Treating Injuries: First Aid advice provided by the British Red Cross

Heart attack

• Call 999 or 112.
• Sit them down leaning against a tree or the legs or back of another walker.
• Offer them an aspirin (300mg) to chew slowly.
• Give constant reassurance and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Fractures

• Immobilise the injured part.
• Try to support the injury with items of clothing to prevent unnecessary movement.
• As soon as possible call 999 or 112.
• For upper arm injuries encourage them to support the limb with their hand.

Bleeding

• Put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
• As soon as possible call 999 or 112.
• Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.

Shock

• Treat the cause.
• Help them to lie down. Raise and support the legs.
• Reassure them. Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
• Call 999 or 112 and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Sprains and strains

• Rest the injured part.
• Ice – the best thing is ice but failing that use a cold wet cloth.
• Comfortably support.
• Elevate injured part.

Hypothermia

• Call 999 or 112.
• Try to warm them up gradually.
• Take them to a sheltered place, remove and replace any wet clothing.
• Wrap them in an emergency blanket or use any other insulating material; dry leaves, heather, remember to cover their head and to put insulating items underneath them.
• Give warm drinks and high energy foods.

Heat exhaustion

• Call 999 or 112.
• Help them to a cool place in the shade, get them to lie down and raise their legs.
• Give water in small amounts frequently until they recover.

Administering first aid does not invalidate U3A insurance. It is better to do something than nothing.

Conclusion

Walking with the U3A is the most popular, enjoyable and safest form of physical exercise. However, in view of the age group of U3A walkers, the walk leaders should be aware of possible health and safety issues and how to deal with accidents and incidents.