Friday Walking -

Friday Walking Group

Time	-	10:30 to 14:30
Week	-	Fortnightly
Day	-	Friday
Venue	-	Various venues chosen by leaders
Vacancies	-	36

Events

Name	Date	Time
Friday Walking - a free group please see programme for walks planned	01 Sep 2026	00:00

We have 2 groups 'A' and 'B' who walk on alternate weeks. Walks of 3 to 5 hours (normally 6 - 8 miles).

You need to bring a packed lunch and a drink and wear suitable walking shoes and clothing.

Fresh air, healthy exercise and good company, usually within 30 miles of Swindon.

Walks are planned and led by members of the group, individually or in pairs, with help from more experienced

walkers available if needed.

We run the occasional coach trip to pastures new. There is no extra payment required to join this group.

Swindon u3a Friday Walking Group Summer 2026 Programme No. 77 Last updated 26 • June • 2026 It is becoming more difficult to find suitable parking places, please car share when you can.
A Dates	Walk Description - Meeting Point - Map Reference	Miles	A Group walk leader	Terrain
B Dates	Last used LR/EXP/OL Map Ref.	Dir./Dis.	B Group walk leader	Direction number
21 Aug	77.9 Russley Park w3w = mere.talked.burden	7	Sue Read & Brenda Robinson	Undulating
28 Aug	1/20 174/170 SU 232814	SE/8	Sue Read & Brenda Robinson	4
Meet Park - Fox Hill radio mast L&L = 51°31′54″N , 001°39′59″W Walk - Russley Down, Black Barn, Ridgeway
4 Sep	77.10 River Windrush & the Slaughters	7½	Gareth and Barbara Reynolds	Undulating
11 Sep	5/21 163/145 SP 129229	N/30	Neil Cowie	1
Meet Park - Harford Bridge B4068, Naunton w3w = procured.letter.fracture L&L = 51°54′17″N , 001°48′48″W Walk - Harford Bridge, Ford, Windrush Way, Monarch’s Way Lower and Upper Slaughter, Harford Hill Farm.
18 Sep	77.11 Walkers Hill w3w =combines.cubic.driveways	7½	Richard and Penny	Undulating
25 Sep	- 157/153 SU 115638	S/20	Andrew Snowden	5
Meet Park - Walkers Hill c/p L&L = 51°22′24″N , 001°50′06″W Walk - Sarsen Way, East Kennett, White Horse Trail, Milk Hill, White Horse.
2 Oct	77.12 Coach walk to the Malverns	?	Andrew Snowden	Undulating
9 Oct	77.12 Joint A & B walk - Castle Combe w3w = baseballs.villas.trio 7/20 156/173 ST 846777	6 W/20	Tony Bettley	Undulating 7
Meet/park c/p off B4039 above village.Parking fee. L&L = 51°29′53″N , 002°13′25″W Walk - Castle Combe, Golf Course, Nettleton, Mill House, Long Dean.
16 Oct	77.13 The Green Man of Mud Lane	7½	John Saunders	Mostly flat
23 Oct	8/21 173/157 SU 197679	S/13	John Saunders	1
Meet Park - Postern Hill cp. w3w = worms.insolvent.towel L&L = 51°24′37″N , 001°43′01″W Walk - Brown’s Farm, Wansdyke, Rookery,MartinsellHill C/P, Mud Lane/Green Man, Old GWR Railway bridge.

Direction Numbers - 1 = N, 2 = NE, 3 = E, 4 = SE, 5 = S, 6 = SW, 7 = W, 8 = NW

Winter 2026/2027 Programme No. 78. Last updated 25^th August 2026
Due to difficulty in finding suitable parking places, please car share where you can.

A Dates	Walk Location	Miles	A Group Walk leader	Terrain
B Dates	Last walked LR/EXP map Map Ref.	Dir./Dist.	B Group Walk leader
Walk route
Meeting Point – Location, w3w and L&L reference

30 Oct	78.1 Brinkworth	6.7	A:	Undulating
6 Nov	Last used: 3/02 EXP 169 Map ref: SU030871	W/12	B: Neil Cowie
Walk: Somerford Common, Blackberry Lane, Ravensroost Wood, Nineteen Acre Wood, Somerford Farm, Ramps Hill, Slough Lane, Somerford Common
Meet/park: North edge of Somerford Common (Queen Street), gravel layby west of Braydon Chapel (closed) and opposite T-junction by Forest View dressage. w3w = obliging.waistcoat.balanced L&L = 51°35′01″N , 001°57′26″W

13 Nov	78.2 Sapperton	6.0	A:	Several short steep climbs
20 Nov	Last used: 7/21 LR 163/EXP 168 Map ref: SO 947033	NW/22	B:
Walk: Dorvel Wood, Daneway House, Oakridge farm, Oakridge, T&S Canal, Daneway, Sapperton canal tunnel entrance
Meet/park: Sapperton, park along Church Lane w3w = wonderfully.betraying.surface L&L = 51°43′42″N , 002°04′41″W

27 Nov	78.3 Upper Upham	7.3	A:	Undulating
4 Dec	Last used: New EXP 157 Map ref: SU 225772	SE/9	B:
Walk: Aldbourne Circular route, Liddington Hill, Sugar Hill, Shipley Bottom, Upper Upham
Meet/park: Upper Upham farm w3w = villas.blemishes.knitted L&L = 51°29′36″N , 001°40′36″W

11 Dec	78.4 All Cannings	7.3	A:	Steep slopes
18 Dec	Last used: 3/23 EXP 157 Map ref: SU 071618	S/20	B:
Walk: Canal, Stanton St Bernard, Milk Hill, Wansdyke, Tan Hill, Cliffords Hill
Meet/park: Meet Greenhouse Rd/The Street junction. Park along The Street, south of the junction or near the village hall. w3w = fussy.dishes.drip L&L = 51°21′24″N , 001°53′50″W

25 Dec	Christmas Day – No walk	6.9	No walk	Mostly flat
1 Jan	78.5 South Swindon Walk (joint A/B groups) Last used: new EXP 169 Map ref: SU 168824	S/2	B:
Walk: Broome Manor Gates, Old Town Railway track, Wichelstowe, Nationwide, Golf complex
Meet/park: Carlton Gate w3w = candy.detect.issues L&L = 51°32′25″N , 001°45′29″W

8 Jan	78.6 Ashbury Folly	6.0	A: Sue Reade	One hill
15 Jan	Last used: 9/22 EXP 170 Map ref: SU 273844	E/9	B:
Walk: Ashbury Folly, Wayland’s Smithy, Compton Beauchamp, Kingstone Winslow, Ashbury, Idstone
Meet/park: Ashbury Folly parking area on the Ridgeway w3w = remission.pink.simmer L&L = 51°33′26″N , 01°36′25″W

22 Jan	78.7 Roundway Hill/Oliver’s Castle	5.6	A:	One hill
29 Jan	Last used: 9/19 EXP 157 Map ref: SU 014642	SW/21	B: Helen & Ainslie
Walk: Mid Wilts Way, Battle of Roundway Down site, Beacon Hill, Oliver’s Castle, Roundway Hill Covert
Meet/park: parking area by The Leipzig Plantation, above Roundway w3w = mixer.removals.length L&L = 51°22′36″N , 001°58′49″W

5 Feb	78.8 Eastleach	7.5	A:	Undulating
12 Feb	Last used: 3/26 LR163/EXPOL45 Map ref: SP 196083	NE/18	B:
Walk: Eastleach Downs Farm, Hicks Down plantation, Sheep Bridge, River Leach South, Eastleach village playground and Hall, Eastleach Martin, follow River Leach north, Smeril plantation. (Walk 24 OS Pathfinder More Cotswold Walks).
Meet/park: Eastleach Downs Farm (by the shop). w3w = result.predict.stylists L&L = 51°46′24″N , 001°43′02″W

19 Feb	78.9 Beckhampton	6.7	A:	Undulating
26 Feb	Last used: New EXP 157 Map ref: SU 076692	SW/13	B: Andrew Snowdon
Walk: Head to Knoll Down, Cherhill Hill, Lansdown Monument/Oldbury Castle, Calstone Down, Roman Rd, back via gallops
Meet/park: Layby off the A4 west of Beckhampton Roundabout w3w = alien.rehearsed.yourself L&L = 51°25′20″N , 001°53′29″W

5 Mar	78.10 Manton House	6.8	A: David Hewitt	Undulating
12 Mar	Last used: 05/18 EXP 157 Map ref: SU 159699	S/12	B:
Walk: Devils Den, Grey Wethers, Sarsen Way, skirt Totterdown Woods, Clatford Downs
Meet/park: Manton Down, Gravel Hill Car Park w3w = denote.dice.imprints L&L = 51°25′43″N , 001°46′18″W

19 Mar	78.11 Ampney Crucis:	6.4	A:	Flat or shallow slopes
26 Mar (Good Friday)	Last used: 09/23 EXP 169 Map ref: SP 071017	N/18	B:
Walk: Ampney Crucis. Ampney St Mary, Poulton, Driffield, Harnhill, Ampney Crucis
Meet/park: Meet on the Ampney Mill Cottages loop road that is nearest to Ampney Crucis just off the A417. w3w = putter.constrain.backs L&L = 51°42′51″N , 001°53′51″W

2 Apr	78.12 Lacock:	7.0	A: Penny & Richard	Flat/steep climb
9 Apr	Last used: 04/24 EXP 156/LR 173 Map ref: ST 917681	SW/23	B:
Walk: Lacock via ford to Reybridge. Follow canal Pewsham Lock, Nocketts Hill, Ash Hill farm, Bewley Common, NT Car Park
Meet/park: National Trust carpark w3w = deleting.hope.chips L&L = 51°24′47″N , 002°07′09″W

16 Apr	78.13 Purton	tbc	A:
23 Apr	Last used: EXP 169 Map ref: SU 080875	W/7	B:
Walk: Leader’s choice
Meet/park: Restrop View, Purton w3w = before.fatigued.dripping L&L = 51°35′13″N , 001°53′10″W