Invitation to join
Roz Copson invites you to join her on two days of strolling in and around Bridport to raise money for our Stepping Out programme. A 10 stage, 15 mile walk over 2 days by, and for, the participants of Stepping Out & Living Tree. The more of us, the merrier!
The walks are meant to be enjoyable and relaxed, not a route march! Our pace will be a leisurely ramble, not a race! You can do as much or as little of the walks as you like, come and go as you please.
If you are unable or do not wish to take part, then helping to raise money through sponsorship would be a valuable contribution to the Strollathon and much appreciated.
The 15 mile walk will take place over two days – about 7.5 miles each day. The route on both days will begin at 10am (meet at 09:45) and end around the middle of the afternoon at the Bridport Leisure Centre. The two routes have been divided into 5 stages with 4 pick-up points. We have 2 volunteer drivers who will wait at each of these pre-arranged points to collect anyone who wishes to have a lift back to the Leisure Centre.
On the whole, both routes are fairly easy to walk but in parts, there will be some steady up and down hill areas, some wet and muddy parts and very uneven paths to negotiate. There are points of interest along the way and some stunning views of the Dorset countryside. Please wear appropriate clothing – stout walking shoes/boots, water/windproof clothing and if possible bring hiking poles. Rita has a few spare which can be borrowed.
Bring your own water and any snacks for use along the route. There will be a break for a light, buffet lunch on both days – The New Inn, Shipton Gorge on Saturday, then Maria’s Pantry on Sunday. We may also have a short break at Symondsbury Kitchens to buy your own refreshments on the Sunday morning.
Please click on this link to download a sponsor form or ask Jo P and Richard at Stepping Out, from Rita and Roz or at Living Tree at Friends Meeting House on Friday afternoons. We have designed the form so that people can either sponsor you for the whole walk or for a number of stages.
Please contact Rita Bechervaise (01308 482366 or email bechervaisep@aol.com ) or Roz Copson (01308 422650 ) for more information and to book onto the walk. Please give us your contact
details in case we need to postpone the walk or change the itinerary. We shall need an idea of numbers of ‘strollers’ for each day and how many stages you think you may be able to walk.
We hope you have a really enjoyable walk. Thank you for taking part and helping to ensure Stepping Out continues to help so many people living with and beyond cancer.
Route
Day One – Saturday
Meet at Bridport Leisure Centre at 9:45 to begin walking at 10:00
Stage 1 – 1.4 miles Gentle walk passing the brewery and through the fields to West Bay stopping in car park opposite Haddon House. (Pick up point)
Stage 2 – 0.8 miles Steady walk up old railway line to coast road near the Crown roundabout. (Pick up point)
Stage 3 – 2.1 miles A short, gentle climb up Wych Hill, level walk along ridge, through fields and turning left along track or through fields depending on conditions underfoot to
Shipton Gorge. Stop for light buffet at The New Inn pub. (Pick up point)
Meet at Bridport Leisure Centre at 9:45 to begin walking at 10:00
Stage 1 – 1.4 miles Gentle walk passing the brewery and through the fields to West Bay stopping in car park opposite Haddon House. (Pick up point)
Stage 2 – 0.8 miles Steady walk up old railway line to coast road near the Crown roundabout. (Pick up point)
Stage 3 – 2.1 miles A short, gentle climb up Wych Hill, level walk along ridge, through fields and turning left along track or through fields depending on conditions underfoot to
Shipton Gorge. Stop for light buffet at The New Inn pub. (Pick up point)
Stage 4 – 1.4 miles A more challenging part of the walk down rough path which is often a small stream in wet weather, into fields and then along the lane towards Bothenhampton.
Stopping to visit the old Holy Trinity Church. (Pick up point)
Stage 5 -1.7 miles Return to Bridport Leisure Centre via the woods at Bothenhampton Nature reserve
End of day One – 7.5miles approx. Please allow 5-6 hours for both Saturday and Sunday walks, including breaks.
Day Two – Sunday
Meet at Bridport Leisure Centre at 9:45 to begin walking at 10:00
Stage 1 – 1.1 miles A stroll through the St. Mary’s Playing Fields park, through the Dreadnought Trading Estate and follow footpath to Medical Centre car park. (Pick up point)
Stage 2 – 1.2 miles Continue west along pavement, turning right up Simene footpath, through fields to Symondsbury. Short break at Symondsbury Kitchens. (Pick up point)
Stage 3 – 1.9 miles Walk through village turning right up Shute’s Lane. Pass by foot of Colmer’s Hill and turn right along track at crossroads. Follow path through fields, pausing to
admire truly stunning views in all directions and take next turning right. Follow this track until we reach the Broadoak to Symondsbury Road. (Pick up point)
Stage 4 – 1.3 Cross the road and follow rough track down between hedges, over small footbridge to farm road. Turn right and cross River Simene at bridge, steady climb up
towards Bilshay House. Through gate to right of cottage and follow path on right into field at top of hill. Cross field to right hand corner, turn left and follow footpath along hedge to stile for
Maria’s Pantry. Break for light buffet lunch. (Pick up point)
Stage 5 – 2 miles Back over stile, turn left and follow footpath back to Hospital Lane. This path may be narrow in places due to electric fence and beware large holes in ground made
by some very busy badgers! Cross road and climb up side of Allington Hill, follow footpath around edge of the hill and down Park Road. Turn into Magdalen Lane and follow road to
reach Dark Lane footpath. Follow path to top of hill, turn left before reaching Skilling Hill Road and follow estate road back down to Leisure Centre.
End of Day 2 – 7.5 miles approx.
Stopping to visit the old Holy Trinity Church. (Pick up point)
Stage 5 -1.7 miles Return to Bridport Leisure Centre via the woods at Bothenhampton Nature reserve
End of day One – 7.5miles approx. Please allow 5-6 hours for both Saturday and Sunday walks, including breaks.
Day Two – Sunday
Meet at Bridport Leisure Centre at 9:45 to begin walking at 10:00
Stage 1 – 1.1 miles A stroll through the St. Mary’s Playing Fields park, through the Dreadnought Trading Estate and follow footpath to Medical Centre car park. (Pick up point)
Stage 2 – 1.2 miles Continue west along pavement, turning right up Simene footpath, through fields to Symondsbury. Short break at Symondsbury Kitchens. (Pick up point)
Stage 3 – 1.9 miles Walk through village turning right up Shute’s Lane. Pass by foot of Colmer’s Hill and turn right along track at crossroads. Follow path through fields, pausing to
admire truly stunning views in all directions and take next turning right. Follow this track until we reach the Broadoak to Symondsbury Road. (Pick up point)
Stage 4 – 1.3 Cross the road and follow rough track down between hedges, over small footbridge to farm road. Turn right and cross River Simene at bridge, steady climb up
towards Bilshay House. Through gate to right of cottage and follow path on right into field at top of hill. Cross field to right hand corner, turn left and follow footpath along hedge to stile for
Maria’s Pantry. Break for light buffet lunch. (Pick up point)
Stage 5 – 2 miles Back over stile, turn left and follow footpath back to Hospital Lane. This path may be narrow in places due to electric fence and beware large holes in ground made
by some very busy badgers! Cross road and climb up side of Allington Hill, follow footpath around edge of the hill and down Park Road. Turn into Magdalen Lane and follow road to
reach Dark Lane footpath. Follow path to top of hill, turn left before reaching Skilling Hill Road and follow estate road back down to Leisure Centre.
End of Day 2 – 7.5 miles approx.