The Long Distance Footpath Walks Group identify a long distance footpath and then set out to walk that path, in stages, through a series of circular, loop walks.
Our walks are usually between 10 & 12 miles in length and the terrain will depend on the location of the Long Distance path in question.
On 15 February 2023 we started the Derbyshire Portway, a very old route, possibly dating from the Bronze Age, which runs from the Hemlockstone in Stapleford to Mam Tor near Castleton in Derbyshire. We expect to see many sites of historical interest , including the Hermitage at Dale Abbey, see photos below.
Some past walks:
During 2022 we walked the Archaeological Way from Pleasley to Whitwell, finished the Lindsey Loop and completed the Nottinghamshire Wolds Way which runs from Bunny to Cropwell Butler.
We completed the Limestone Way, 46 miles from Rocester to Castleton in Derbyshire in 2016.
Our next long distance path was the Peakland Way which we completed at the end 2018. This was loop of around 100 miles, heading North from Ashbourne up the west side of the Peak District to Kinder Scout where it turns South down the east side of the Peaks , back to Ashbourne.
Next walk selected was the 96 mile long Lindsey Loop, in Lincolnshire, starting at Market Rasen and looping clockwise around the Lincolnshire Wolds. We got as far as Hornchurch before the pandemic struck leaving us with two legs to complete. We hope to complete them in the Spring of 2022.
In the meantime we completed the 46 mile Cuckoo Way along the Chesterfield canal in November 2021.
For further information please contact the Group Leader. You can do this via these contact details
Interested in joining the Long Distance Group? See the instructions at the bottom of this page, or ask at the next monthly meeting.
Cuckoo Way, November 2021
At the end of the Cuckoo Way where the Chesterfield Canal enters the River Trent at West Stockwith.
Peakland Way Loop Walk
The start!
On the way...
on the way...
on the way...
The finish!
Lunch on a windy walk
Waiting for tea & cakes at the end of a walk
At the finish of the Limestone Way
Think you might be interested in joining this group?
1. If you are not already a member of Southwell U3A but are interested in finding out more about these groups and/or would like to attend one of their group meetings please click on the Contact Us link and let us know which group you are interested in. We will arrange for the Group Leader to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
2. If you are already a member of Southwell U3A and are interested in joining either group you can contact the Group Leader directly. Their details are in the Group Leaderspage in our Membership Area of the website. As a Southwell U3A member you will have received the password for the Members Area pages in Newsline. If you have forgotten the password please use the Contact Usfacility on this website to request the password.