2019 Spring Walks Festival

This year's Festival started with Olly being interviewed by Surrey TV on Wednesday 24 April and Fiona leading 28 participants on a walk to Frank’s Wood to see the beautiful display of Bluebells. If you missed Olly's interview, you can see it here.

It was a brilliant turnout for the five days of walks, during which 85 MVR members took part, with an average of 49 walkers for every day; Thursday afternoon's walk was attended by 28 participants. We attracted 22 non-RA walkers, which is a little disappointing compared with 74 attending last year’s 10-day festival.

We had good weather for walking, with the odd shower and some glimpses of sunshine.

Jacqui led a linear 15-mile walk, taking a bus ride through some Surrey villages before starting at Charlwood, then walking back to Dorking via woods, farms and six-foot-high Rapeseed field with no clear footpath.

This year incorporated more Leisurely walks of 3 to 5 miles. All were well attended, especially the ‘Walk for Health’ on Thursday morning, which was followed by the option to watch a Denbies Vineyard film, joined by Joan, our Chairman. Ted led an afternoon walk on Wednesday which saw Shirley and Cliff taking part. It was also nice to see Doris completing three walks totalling 17.5 miles.

The three evening/night walks attracted many participants. Friday evening's short walk finished with many members dancing to live music by John P at The Well House Inn, Mugswell. The Saturday night walk stopped at the Plough pub in Coldharbour, then proceeded up to Leith Hill Tower in the dark with great views of the London lights.

On Sunday, to finish and to celebrate the last day of the Festival, there were three walks from different car parks, all arranged to ‘Meet and Greet’ at Steer’s Field (Denbies Hillside) Ranmore for a picnic lunch, with facility for teas and Ice-creams. Over 50 actually walked, with several others arriving for the lunch, including our Chairman who, in a mock ceremony, ‘knighted’ Henri, the Walks Festival Coordinator. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this final day a success.

Here are some facts and figures for this year’s Festival:

• Five days with 16 walks; a mixture of Leisurely, Moderate and Strenuous
• Total of 106 miles, with the possibility of someone walking 67 miles
• 85 (87 last year) MVR members attended this year’s Festival; down on last year but, with only half the number of days, a great turnout
• 20 (55) Ramblers from other RA groups, down on last year’s figure, but some of those have transferred to MVR
• 22 (74) Non-rambler members turned up
• Attendance of 246 by 126 walkers
• Six dogs, which appeared 13 times
• Total of 1,560 miles walked, excluding the dogs
• Approximately 3,470,000 paces. (50% less than last year, but due to only five days)
• Average of 15 persons per walk, similar to last year
• Gill J walked 56.5 miles; she received a bottle of Denbies Surrey Gold, donated by Henri
• Lizann and Jan B joined the elite band by receiving Walk Festival Leader mugs
• John P received a ‘Moley’ mug as "thank you" for providing musical entertainment for the last two festivals
• Pauline and Jan got a prize for the most original walk title for 2018: "Lavenders Blue Dilly Dilly"

There were numerous photographs taken during the walks and these can be viewed in this Walks Festival Album.

Next year's MVR 40th Anniversary Spring Walks Festival will run from Friday 24 April to Sunday 3 May, so please make a note in your diaries.