Press release:
Ramblers National Festival
of Winter Walks
Immediate release 18th December 2018.
Don't be lonely this Christmas, join the Swansea Ramblers for the Festival of Winter Walks. The perennially popular Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks is back, taking place this year from Friday 21st December to Sunday 6th January.
Swansea Ramblers are inviting people to join them for a free festive walk, giving everyone the chance to enjoy magical winter landscapes in good company, and to meet new friends at a time of year when many people can feel lonely or isolated.
Ramblers research from winter 2017 found that nearly half (46%) of adults surveyed said they sometimes felt socially isolated or lonely, and more than a third (35%) said there were days over the Christmas period where they didn't see anyone.
Swansea Ramblers have the following nine walks on offer during the festival:
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Llandybie Saturday 22nd December Starts at 11.00 am Llandybie Rail Station car park 6 miles easy/moderate grade- a circular walk with views of the village plus a unique feature on the walk and this is the only place to see it in the UK led by Joanna and Mike Craddock tel.01269 851005
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Bryn (near Maesteg) Sunday 23rd December Meet at 9.00 am between the Guildhall and Victoria Park walk and starts 9.45 am Bryn forestry car park 10 miles strenuous grade- a walk thorough forestry to Llangynydd and back by the golf club -dogs allowed on short leads -walk led by Roger Brown tel.07977-144074
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Popular South Gower Beaches Walks 1+2 Boxing Day 26th December Starts at 10.15 am at Bracelet Bay car park 6 miles easy/moderate grade to Caswell Bay and back via Langland Bay where you should be in time to see the annual Boxing Day swim. Walk 2 starts at Langland Bay at 11.15 am where you will join the walkers who started an hour earlier from Bracelet Bay and goes to Caswell Bay and back -both walks led by Clive Scott tel.07771-976897
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Swansea Parks and Beach Saturday 29th December Meet at 11.00 am between the Guildhall and Victoria Park 6 miles moderate grade- a circular walk via the ever green Cwmdonkin, Brynmill and Singelton parks returning along the beach- dogs allowed on short leads-walk led by Gerti Axtmann tel.07919-626478
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Gorseinon to Swansea Wednesday 2nd January Starts at 10.00 am in Gorseinon in the car park behind Lloyds Pharmacy and Toby Carvery 8 miles moderate grade - this is a linear walk following the Gower Way and the cycle track through Clyne Valley and alongside Swansea Bay and then you can catch a bus back to Gorseinon-led by Colin Warlow tel.01792 701984
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Llangeinor near Blackmill, Bridgend area Saturday 5th January Starts at 11.00 am Blackmill Cattle Market car park post code CF35 6DR 6 miles easy/moderate grade -a circular walk via Llangeinor to visit St.Cein's Church where they may be refreshments available and then go downhill to return to the start on the cycle track-led by Paul Williams tel.01656 841062
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Waterfalls at the Top of the Neath Valley Sunday 6th January Meet at 8.45 am between the Guildhall and Victoria Park or 9.30 am at Pontneddfechan Dinas rock car park- 9.5 miles strenuous grade- a circular walk around the famous waterfall country where you may get a bit wet even if it is not raining! It will be rocky and muddy along parts of the route- led by Steve Robson tel.07758-468212.
Richard Beale of Swansea Ramblers said:
"Winter is a wonderful time to go walking and enjoy the cold crisp air and striking frosty landscapes, and of course it's a great way to burn off the effects of Christmas over-indulgence."
"But we also know that the festive season can be a particularly difficult time for people who are on their own, and a sociable walk with a welcoming group is a great way to get out and about and meet people. Our Ramblers groups have hundreds of walks organised during our Festival of Winter Walks. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy the company - and perhaps a mince pie and a festive drink too!"
All group walks during the Festival of Winter Walks are free to attend, but if you're inspired to keep walking, why not join the Ramblers? Your membership will give you access to hundreds of group walks every year, an online library of over 2,500 Ramblers Routes, as well as many other benefits, which also makes Ramblers gift membership the perfect Christmas present.
During the festival, supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery, there are hundreds of walks planned across the country, so there is something for everyone, from short festive strolls to something more strenuous walks:
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Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/winter for details of hundreds of free group walks taking place across the country
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If you need a little inspiration on where to walk, download one of thousands of Ramblers Routes from our online library. You can use these to head out for a solo stroll or rally round friends and neighbours and lead festive walks. The Festival of Winter Walks is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery to help everyone, everywhere enjoy walking.
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For more information please contact Richard Beale from Swansea Ramblers on 07505-974986
or by email publicity@swansearamblers.org.uk
or visit our website.
Note to editors: The Ramblers helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. It is the only charity dedicated to looking after paths and green spaces, leading walks, opening up new places to explore and encouraging everyone to get outside and discover how walking boosts your health and your happiness.
