The aim of this course is to enjoy on foot
the beautiful countryside around Marlborough, meet new friends and, hopefully,
return home a little fitter than you were at the start of the week. Each walk is
about five miles long and takes about three hours to complete. During the week
we shall explore the highest parts of the Marlborough Downs, the Pewsey Vale,
the valley of the river Kennet and local beech and oak forests.
We start the walks at 9.00 am and return to
the College by 12.30 pm.
Footwear, Clothing and Equipment
Suitable footwear is very important - paths
can be muddy and slippery so I recommend lightweight, waterproof, walking boots.
Please do not buy new footwear just before the week of walking, do it well in
advance and make sure your boots are well worn in.
Other clothing will be determined by the
weather but a lightweight waterproof is essential. I would not recommend shorts
as there are nettles and it is easy to get scratched on brambles. Lightweight,
fast-drying trousers are an advantage, especially if we have to walk through
long grass.
A pair of lightweight binoculars (8x40 for
example) will add to your enjoyment of the walks, especially if we are lucky
enough to see red kites, buzzards, kestrels, hobbies and other birds.
A small rucksack will be useful to carry
personal kit and the water bottle, which I will provide on the first day. Every
day I will supply a snack and a small carton of juice for each person.
Preparation
Do a little preparation for the walks. It is
one thing to do the occasional walk of nearly five miles on level ground; it is
quite another thing to walk five miles each day through the countryside.
Maps and Guides
If you wish to follow our route on a map, the
Explorer 157 map (2.5 miles to the inch) is excellent.
I shall provide some information about each
walk, much of which is gathered from "The Marlborough Downs” by Kenneth Watts.
You may wish to pack a wildlife guide for
identifying plants and animals. I can recommend "Complete British Wildlife” by
Paul Sterry or the "Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife” by Arlott,
Fitter and Fitter.
I look forward to meeting you this summer.
