Winter 2025/2026

We’ve had a good summer for walking so no mention of muddy footpaths in my final “Ramble” of 2025. In Purbeck we were fortunate enough to escape the real heat experienced elsewhere during the record-breaking summer. The start of Autumn has not been too bad either. We were on Anglesey in Wales in October and we didn’t get a drop of rain – not even in LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Our weather patterns are definitely changing! Let’s hope that over the next few months the rainfall doesn’t start to balance itself out and we find ourselves thinking again about building an ark.
In September some of us enjoyed a walking break on the Isle of Wight, very efficiently organised by Chris Bungay. Thanks to her! We not only enjoyed the company of our own group members, but also that of a large number of walkers from The Netherlands, Germany and the US. The Dutch must have really loved the hilly walks that we experienced on the island – so different from their low-lying flat landscape. We all mixed and enjoyed each other’s company; it was a lot of fun particularly on Quiz Night (which my Anglo-Dutch team won!).
I would like to thank all the leaders who stepped forward over the last programme to offer a varied and enjoyable choice of walks for the Group. As always, we would like more leaders to come forward, even if only for one walk, as this takes the pressure off the more regular leaders.
On the social side, there are a few events coming up. First there is a visit to Chococo on 6th November. This has proved popular so my sympathies if you didn’t manage to secure a place. We also have our Christmas lunch at the Purbeck Golf Club on 10th December – it’s not too late to book. Thanks to Jane Hamilton for organising these events. Let us not forget that on 20th December we have our ever popular “Mince Pie” walk from Church Knowle village hall, a time to socialise and maybe sing