We feel fortunate to have such a wide variety of footpaths and walks on our doorstep, so easily accessible for our Wirral and North Wales based walkers. Throughout the year, our group enjoy every changing mood that each season brings to the countryside, as shown below in this section.
February Review
According to a recent newspaper article February is typically the driest of the winter months in Britain and farmers are generally looking for rain – “February, fill dyke!” is a traditional saying. Well, this February has recorded the highest levels of rainfall for the month and our walkers (and farmers) can vouch for it! We have been remarking in this column on the wet and muddy autumn and winter for a while now, so it is with much hope that, as we approach meteorological spring in March, drier and warmer times are ahead.
The month’s Tuesday walks started so wet, that our B walkers decided to abandon their plans and the A group stayed local, with a walk from Irby instead of the planned walk at Craigfechan. The B walkers made up for it over the following weeks with trips to Hope, Caergwrle and Wat’s Dyke, Cilcain, and Burwardsley. Nannerch, Bryn Golau, Bryn Alyn, and Moel Fammau from Llanbedr were visited by the A walkers.
As our winter programme of walks is coming to an end, a number of ‘recces’ took place, taking advantage of the few good days forecasted in February. These were in preparation for the summer walking programme as we ask members to submit and lead a walk in each summer and winter programmes after a year of joining us. Recces are a great way to try out new paths and routes and although this may sound daunting to new members, there is plenty of advice and experience to hand to help you!
If you are reading this and wish to know more, please view the Contact Us and FAQ section of this website, where we have added even more information on the General Guidelines relating to Walk Programmes and Safety Criteria for Walk Leaders. They are a nice reminder too for members!
Thanks to Ian, Maria, Peter, Steve, and Manfred for this months selection of photographs – all taken in those fleeting moments between the showers.
"The fleeting hour of life for those who love the hills is quickly spent, but the hills are eternal"
Alfred Wainwright
From the Chair
At our well-attended 43rd AGM in January our Chair Dave opened with a warm welcome and a recap of the club’s primary objective: that we are a small, independent club providing opportunities for a group of friends to ramble locally, further afield, and even abroad.
He reported that membership has held up well over the past 12 months: we are 76 members strong including 6 Honorary members, offering a wide choice of walks open to all. In 2023, the A group walked mostly in North Wales with some in Cheshire and one in the Beacon Country Park, Lancashire. B group walkers have had a wider choice of destinations, going to North Wales, Cheshire, and coastal walks in Crosby, Hale and Wirral in their programme. They recorded an especially memorable lunch at Angel Bay on the Little Orme and generally enjoyed a welcome pint at the end of the day, or at least coffee and cake!
The year saw the C group up and running again, open to every club member and starting in July with a walk - no further than 4 miles with a leisurely lunch - every third week. Those That Lunch (TTL) have walked less frequently but enjoy long, leisurely lunches on Tuesdays.
Our more ambitious members joining the summer programme of A+ walks had six outings planned but, four were altered or cancelled due to bad weather. In this regard, the Chair recommended we should always recce our ‘Plan B’ walks just in case they are needed!
We had a number of UK holidays during 2023, with popular 4-day walking trips to Alnmouth in Northumberland, Malham, and an A+ overnight stay in Kettlewell. Dave thanked all those who organised and led walks over the year. Looking ahead, we have planned trips to Bourton-on-the-Water, Sedburgh, Castleton, and to Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Social events included an annual Charity Evening in March, raising money for our chosen charities: North Wales Air Ambulance, North East Wales Search and Rescue, Claire House, and Wirral St John’s Hospice. In July we enjoyed a cultural outing viewing the Biennial Art placed around Liverpool City Centre, with an early evening meal at Bistro Pierrre. Our Annual Club Lunch was held at the Bromborough Golf Club, an excellent opportunity to ‘dress-up’ and to share memories and past experiences. We were able to double-celebrate two 90th birthdays that had taken place in the year, and to welcome our most senior Honorary member aged 101 – proof that regular walking encourages longevity!
We were delighted that the application by Leverhulme Estates for over 800 homes on seven greenbelt sites was rejected by Wirral Borough Council, then further rejected by the National Planning Inspectorate and, in late 2023, rejected once more on appeal by the High Court. Our green belt should be jealously guarded and its close accessibility for Wirral residents became even more important during those restrictive Covid lockdown days. Walking in our wonderful countryside helps both physical and mental health and is highly recommended!
If you would like to find out more about our small, independent group, please email: contact@bebingtonramblingclub.co.uk with details of your name, address and telephone number and we will invite you to join some of our rambles as a guest before being asked to make an application for membership.
We look forward to hearing from you.