Author: Richard

Easter Monday Walk

Hodnet Footpath Group invite anyone who fancies a country walk to join them on Easter Monday (17th April) for a walk in the Fauls area.
Meet outside Fauls church for a 10.00 AM departure, the aim being to walk all or most of the route shown in our Hodnet Walks [no 7] leaflet. This is a good way of getting to know some lcoal routes and seeing our area from a different [non-car!] vantage point. This is a varied circular walk, estimated duration 1.5 – 2 hrs.
Suitable/sensible clothing advised, children and dogs welcome – the latter on leads.
In the event of appalling weather [we do seem to choose some ‘good’ dates in that regard!] the walk will be cancelled, see website 30 min beforehand, but otherwise ‘no news is good news’.
Any queries call 01630 685286

CANCELLED – VILLAGE WALK – Around Fauls

WELL, WE’VE MANAGED [AGAIN!] TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE WORST DAYS FOR A WALK – AND WITH IT BEING SO POOR AND FORECAST TO CONTINUE ALL DAY WE’VE CANCELLED IT.
HERE’S HOPING FOR BETTER WEATHER AT EASTER WHEN WE’VE ANOTHER PLANNED – DETAILS FROM LINK BELOW, BUT THEY’LL BE A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT NEARER THE TIME
Hodnet Footpath Group have arranged a circular walk on Sunday 5th March in the Fauls area, following the route of our Walk 7 leaflet.
You’ll get to see Fauls from a different perspective with some far reaching views too [weather permitting!] We plan to meet at Fauls Church at 10 am.
To see more details of our schedule of walks for this year, and the route of the March walk please see this page and this post.
This is a fairly gentle ramble rather than a mountain hike or route march, so hopefully we’ll see some of your there?
Children and dogs [on leads] welcome. Sensible footwear required, and bring any snacks/drinks you may need.
Hodnet Footpath Group,

Wollerton – Expected traffic and power disruption

On Monday 12th Dec work is planned to take place on completing the replacement of electricity poles and overhead wires alongside the old A53 in Wollerton – just past the Mill Road crossroads heading towards Market Drayton.
The work will take place between 0900 — 1600 and is said to involve traffic light control, so some delays to traffic can be expected – but hey, we’ve got a [still fairly shiny new] bypass to use instead!
The electricity supply to nearby homes will also be cut off for much of the day, and those affected should have received a letter, from Western Power Distribution (WPD), informing them of this.
Any queries should be made to WPD on 01782 403631 (or emergencies 0800 6783105) quoting ref INCD-41884-1

HFG: New Years Day 'cobweb remover' walk & Programme of walks – 2016 -17

Having spent a few years improving local walks, we recently decided we should try to walk them more regularly – and invite others to join us. We’ve therefore planned a walk programme, as below, which will be updated/separately announced as details are confirmed (TBC) and dates become closer.
All walks are on a Sunday and start at 10.00 AM, unless otherwise stated. Typical duration = 2 hrs.
Suitable/sensible clothing advised, children and dogs welcome, the latter on leads.
Nov 6th 2016 – High Hatton to Hodnet, a walk around the route of a proposed new walk leaflet: no 8. Meet at old social club on edge of High Hatton
1st Jan 2017 – A ‘blow the cobwebs away’ New Years day walk to/around the Wollerton Wetlands. Meet by Village Room, Wollerton.
5th March – TBC
Monday 17th April – An Easter monday walk
7th May – TBC
Friday 30th June @ 10.00 PM – Evening Glowworm walk. Meet at old Railway bridge, Station Rd, Hodnet. – Bring a torch.
Wednesday 12th July – Evening walk; TBC
3rd September – TBC
5th Novemeber – TBC

Walkers – become more involved

Do you enjoy walking some of our local paths/routes?
Would you like to encourage others to do so?
Have you ever wondered if you could help improve them in some way?
Would you like to walk some of the paths/routes but would prefer to do so in company?
YOU ONLY NEED TO ANSWER YES TO ONE OF THE ABOVE TO BE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE HODNET FOOTPATH GROUP! –  A small friendly group of local people who get together to do all of this. Our next meeting is on 22nd Sept, starting at 7.30pm at The Bear Inn, Hodnet – new members are very welcome. See our webpage for more information and either get in touch for chat beforehand or simply come along.

HFG – Glow Worm evening

Despite a cold and showery day we were surprised, but very pleased, by how many people turned up for the late evening Glow Worm walk on 1st July, nearly 30 of us.
Even more surprising was that some were from Llandudno! – but it turned out they were staying at the Bear Inn for the weekend and, having seen our advertising poster, were curious to see what a Glow Worm was.
In the end we saw about 25 of them, gently glowing in the long grass at the edge of the railway line. A curious creature and locally very scarce. You can read more about them here

HFG – Wetland Walk

Despite the generally terrible June weather, the skies brightened on the 22nd and the sun even came out for the evening walk around the Wollerton Wetlands, but the weather beforehand perhaps accounted for the smaller than usual number of people attending.
By chance, the Probation Service had strimmed the wetland paths the day before, so access was particularly easy. After a wander around the wetlands, the group then walked beyond the bypass up to Helshaw Grange, enjoying the views.
Wetlands walk 06 2016
If you’ve not been before, do visit this interesting area. Details can be found in our group’s ‘Walk 5’ leaflet – see our webpage for a downloadable pdf copy or find hardcopies available locally.

HFG Summer Events

The Hodnet Footpath Group have three ‘public’ events lined up over the summer.
1st – 11th June: We are attending the Right Royal Party on Hodnet Rec. We’ll have a group display/information and a competition to enter. Come and see what we do/have done and meet the crew!
2nd – 22nd June: Evening visit to/stroll around the ‘Wollerton Wetlands’. Meet by Wollerton’s ‘Village Room’ at 7pm or walk from Hodnet at 6.30pm – from the start of the old railway line.
3rd – 1st July: Late evening Glow Worm spotting along the old railway line. Meet at Hodnet at the start of the old railway line at 10.30pm. If you’ve never seen them, this is a good opportunity to do so – and there are very few places locally where they exist.
As appropriate, come suitably prepared for sun, rain or near darkness (torch). Accompanied children welcome, as are dogs on leads. for more info come and see us on the 11th or see our webpage
https://www.hodnet.org.uk/main/?page_id=5904
 
 

HFG – Strikes again!

With the weather finally kind to us, most of our group turned out for a workparty the other Sunday.
We attended to several issues on the path from Hodnet to Fauls, the main one of which was to rebuild a long damaged stile. The photos below show our progress, with special thanks to Stephen and Tom who did most of the hardwork – with Stephen doing the paddling! – alongside the ever present Alfie (dog).
The rest of our group, including two newish members who said they really enjoyed themselves repaired some wobbly steps and cut back trees/vegetation.  If you like the sound of that, please do get in touch to join us/find out more HERE – people do as much or as little as they enjoy/are capable of.