Walk Coordinators	Medium and Short Walkers - Anne Morgan (O7721 O48968) or Donna Alcock (O7988 466792) Long Walkers - Geoff Tideswell (07835 120878) Please ring the relevant Coordinator before joining the group
Walk Leaders	Various, please refer to the calendars below.
Venue	Various. Please meet for registration at Brough Park Overflow Car Park, Leek. (wat3words//:jiffy.nurses.gradually). New walkers may simply turn up at Brough Park (fully kitted for a walk) at the appropriate group time listed below.
Day/Time	Wednesdays (fortnightly) - Short Group: See programme below for walk start times. Thursdays (weekly) - Medium & Long Groups: See programme below for walk start times.
Transportation	A low cost car sharing scheme is available within each group.
Short Group	3-4 miles; open country walks involving occasional stiles and easy to moderate ascents taken at an easy pace.
Medium Group	5–8 miles; more adventurous walks taken at a moderate pace. Possibility of some difficult stiles and terrain.
Long Group	8–12 miles; moderate to strenuous walks, often covering rough terrain.

General Walking Activity Information

Currently three Leek u3a walking groups explore the Staffordshire, Peak District, Derbyshire and Cheshire countryside with walks varying between 3 and 12 miles in length. You will walk in picturesque countryside, meet some friendly people, enjoy a good laugh and improve your general health and well being. Full walk details can be obtained by referring to the programme of information below or by contacting the Walk Co-ordinators (above). If you have the technology please send a text message in the first instance to the Walk Co-ordinators including your name, an email address (if you have one) and the group you are interested in joining. Note that you may walk with any of the groups as they are all "open" groups, i.e. not limited by numbers.

Every 2nd Wednesday from February through to the end of November:

• Short walk of 3-4 miles taken at an easy pace which may involve some stiles and gradients. During the walk a break will be made for refreshments which should be carried by all participants. For specific dates refer to the programme below.

Every Thursday throughout the year there are two longer walks:

• A medium walk of 5–8 miles (avg. 6 miles)
• A long walk of 8–12 miles (avg. 10 miles)

Walk Dates/Programme: October 2026

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Wednesday - Short Walks Group Programme

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Date	Location	Distance	Stile Count		Details
Wed 19th August	Westport Lake	3.5 miles	0		Liz Rhodes Meet at Brough Park at 10:15 for a 10:30 departure Flat walk. Car Park charge: £1.60
Wed 2nd Sept	Ford Green Country Park	3.5 miles	0		2/9: WALK CANCELLED DUE TO PERSISTENT HEAVY RAINFALL
Wed 16th Sept	Biddulph Country Park	3 miles	1		Mary Wiles Meet at Brough Park at 10:15 for a 10:30 departure. Some park paths, some road walking up to old hall and around poolfold. A couple of steepish bits including steps. 1 easy stile. Toilets at walk start and finish. Cafe will be closed.
Wed 30th Sept	Bakewell Castle	3.3 miles / 155ft ascent	0		Noel & Pam Hughes Meet at Brough Park at 10:00 for 10:30 departure. Parking at Bakewell Agricultural Centre Car Park accessed off A6 south of Bakewell Centre. Parking £4.20 for 3 hours. Car sharing as much as possible please.
Wed 14th Oct	Ford Green Hall Country Park	3.5 miles	0		Doreen Turner & Pete Divall. Meet at Brough Park at 10:00 for 10:30 departure. Very good surfaces, well defined paths and no stiles.
Wed 28th Oct	Alton	3.5 miles	0		Liz Rhodes Meet at Brough Park at 10:00 for 10:30 departure. Mainly level well defined paths and no stiles.

Thursday - Medium & Long Walk Groups Programme

Date	Group			Details		Distance/ Height Gained	Leader(s)	Geolocation/Notes
24th Sept	Medium			Longstone Moor		Grade 4 6.5 miles / 700ft ascent	Angie Guest	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:30 departure or at Monsal Head (what3words fists.amicably.protected) for a 10:10 start. Most of the ascent is in the first part of the walk and is a gradual climb rewarded (hopefully) with great views at the top. Varied terrain - fields, moorlands, woodland, tracks and quiet roads Generally good underfoot. About 5 stiles.
	Long			Abbots Bromley		Grade 5 10 miles / 650ft ascent	Brian Chadwick	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:00 departure or at Abbots Bromley Village Hall (what3words caskets.regulates.inched) for a 10:00 start.
1st October	Medium			Cumberland Brook, Dane Valley + Three Shires Head		Grade 4 6.75 miles / 1246ft ascent	Peter Wiles	Meet at Brough Park Overflow Car Park at 09:15 for a 09:30 prompt departure (w3w//jiffy.nurses.gradually) or 10:00 at Clough House Car Park (w3w//safari.gems.spurring). Parking costs £6.60 pd so best to have full cars. Machine takes coins but no change given. Can pay by app (RingGo) but costs 30p more. Pub: Rose & Crown PH, Allgreave, SK11 0BJ. (w3w//:obviously.flying.lasts). Consistently steepish in places, about 50% of paths stony underfoot, small amounts of mud, 1 x 10 steep metal steps (+good handrails), 2/3 stiles, 1 stream crossing with flat, firm stepping stones. All open space - no woodland.
	Long			Cannock Chase		Grade 5 9 miles / 600 ft	Alison Dodd	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:00 departure or at the Punchbowl Car Park (what3words haggis.connected.alleyway) for a 10:00 start.
8th October	Medium			Ecton Hill, Wetton Mill + Manifold Valley		Grade 4 6 miles / 139ft ascent	Andy Lawton	Meet at Brough Park Overflow Car Park at 09:15 for a 09:30 prompt departure (w3w://jiffy.nurses.gradually) or 10:00 in layby in Manifold Valley (w3w://boldest.drilling.forensic. Postcode: DE6 2AH, Heading along road towards back of Ecton, follow track leading up to the winding house, then climb up to the trig point on Ecton Hil. Rest of walk is mostly flat + downhill, going past Anne's then down to Wetton Mill. Remainder of walk flat by riverside, then by road back to walk start. Overall good underfoot.
	Long			Lathkill Dale and Bradford Dale		Grade 5 10 miles / 1000 ft	Pam Berry	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:15 departure or at Moor Lane Car Park, Youlgreave (what3words guesswork.gear.informer) for a 10:00 start. Car park charge is £6.50 via card or app. There is the potential for free roadside parking on the junction of Moor Lane and Back Lane.
15th October	Medium			Hartington/Wolfscote Dale/Biggin Dale		Grade 3 6.2 miles	Rose Baxter	Meet at Brough Park Overflow Car Park at 09:15 for a 09:30 prompt departure (w3w//:jiffy.nurses.gradually) or 10:00 at Hartington. Either park in the square in Hartington (w3w//:retire.tight.provoking) or in the PnD car park called Parsons Field Car Park, charge of flat rate £2.20 all day, if no room in the square. Easy walk, no stiles and little gradient. Rough paths underfoot.
	Long			Edale and Kinder Scout and Kinder Downfall		Grade 6 10 miles / 2130 ft ascent	Paul Binfield	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:00 departure or at Edale Railway Station Car Park £2.50 (what3words basically.whistling.cut) for a 10:00 start.
22nd October	Medium			Hard Rake Reserve - Monyash		Grade 2 5.5 miles / 35ft	Pam & Noel Hughes	Meet at Brough Park Overflow car park at 09:15 for prompt departure at 09:30 (w3w//:jiffy.nurses.gradually) or 10:00 at Flagg Community car park (donation) w3w//:corrode.digit.polite, Mycock Lane, Flagg (located on sharp right hand bend approaching Flagg from A515/Moor Lane). Easy ascent through fields and along tracks/quiet surfaced lanes, 18-20 stiles, mixed squeezers/gates/step-over.
	Long			Steel to Cotton 7 Grindleford to Sheffield		Grade 5 11 miles / 1500ft	Geoff Tideswell	Meet at Brough Park for an 8:30 departure or at Grindleford Railway Station Car Park (what3words drop.miles.taxi) for a 9:30 start. If you are a new member and you wish to join this walk then please contact Geoff Tideswell on 07835 120878 before 22nd October
29th October	Medium			Hartington/Pilsbury Castle/Hartington		Grade 3 6 miles / 768ft	Sue Olver	Meet at Brough Park Overflow car park at 09:15 for 09:30 prompt departure (w3w//:jiffy.nurses.gradually) or 10:00 at Hartington Village square parking. w3w//:retire.tight.provoking or in the village PnD car park if no room in the square - charge £2.10 all day. Walk return to Hartington via track to avoid alot of mud.
	Long			Middle Mayfield		Grade 5 10 miles / 1200ft	Yvonne Mawby	Meet at Brough Park for a 9:00 departure or at Middle Mayfield (what3words pioneered.reactions.modem) for a 10:00 start. There are a few tricky stiles and possibly one fastened gate.

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The Quite Important Stuff!

[ 1 ] Unless walking conditions are unsafe e.g. due to weather conditions etc., walks take place throughout the year; routes are pre-walked and every care is taken to ensure participant safety. Before starting the walk participants should consult with the leader to ensure that the route is within their own capabilities. Please inform the walk leader of any medical conditions or medicinal requirements which may affect your ability to complete the activity. The U3A cannot be held responsible for any illness, accident or injury arising from participation in this type of activity. If weather conditions on the day are unsuitable the walk leader may substitute an alternative walk at the last minute, therefore it is important to meet initially at Brough Park Overflow Car Park.

Walkers should endeavour at all times to stick to the waymarked footpaths as much as is practicable and to abide by the Countryside Code at all times. Whilst the act of collecting litter is both environmentally and admirable from a civic minded point of view, this activity is not encouraged by walkers on a U3a walk and participants do so entirely at their own risk. This activity should not be carried out and should not delay or hamper the pace of the group of walkers under any circumstances or encourage greater risk to the whole group by venturing over terrain/hazards etc.

[ 2 ] All walkers should wear walking boots/shoes (trainers are generally not considered suitable for the types of terrain the groups traverse, especially during the winter months) and carry their own waterproofs, sit-mat, packed lunch and drink(s) in a suitable rucksack or strong shoulder bag. Rest stops are made during the medium and long walks for a morning coffee break followed by a picnic luncheon stop. During hot weather please ensure you carry adequate liquid refreshments and sun cream, protective hat etc; during cold and/or wet weather ensure that you are suitably dressed for the elements including appropriate thermal/wet weather gear.

In addition to walking boots please bring a spare pair of travelling shoes to avoid muddying car share vehicle interiors.

[ 3 ] A low-cost car sharing scheme is in operation for those who do not drive or prefer to travel with a knowledgeable driver. This system helps to reduce the number of parked vehicles at the walk start. At the drivers discretion costs range between £3-£5 depending on trip distance. When using Pay & Display car parks the charges are usually shared between the vehicle occupants. Occasionally walks are arranged further afield and travel costs will be agreed with driver(s) beforehand.

[ 4 ] Please be aware that dogs are not permitted on these walks. Click on this link to reach the dedicated Leek u3a Dog Friendly Walking Group.

Risk Assesment Guidelines

The objective of this checklist is to 

1. Give walkers an indication of what they can expect to encounter on the proposed walk.
2. Help walk leaders in the planning and preparation for a group walk.  This isn't an exhaustive list, so think carefully about any specific risks that participants may encounter so that they can assess whether a walk is suitable for their personal abilities.  

Grade	Description
Grade 1	Distance of less than 4 miles Flat walk but possible ascent to less than 150m. Mostly well surfaced footpaths, possibly some uneven ground. Easy route - possible stiles and gates. Possibility of livestock.
Grade 2	As described in Grade 1 Plus crossing main A roads Ascent of over 150m Some rough footpaths and undulating terrain A few difficult stiles and gates
Grade 3	Ascent up to 985ft / 300m Distance of between 5-7 miles Some uneven /rough footpaths and tracks Some undulating terrain Possibility of some livestock Possibility of awkward stiles and gates Possible muddy/boggy conditions underfoot Some country lane walking
Grade 4	Ascent up to 1640ft / 500m Distance of between 5-7 miles Rough or indistinct footpaths Awkward stiles and gates, difficult to negotiate Some poor walking conditions underfoot Livestock present Stretches of walking on main road possible
Grade 5	Ascent up to 1640ft / 500m Distance of between 8-12 miles Undulating terrain with some open moorland, varied terrains and meadows Footpaths including those that are rough or indistinct Country lanes and roads Stiles and gates - some of which may be awkward or in a state of poor repair Bridges over streams by stepping stones Possibly sections that are muddy or boggy
Grade 6	As described in Grade 5 Plus an ascent that could  be greater than 1640ft / 500m It could involve some or all of the aspects listed in grade 3 It may also have a particularly difficult feature - such as a very steep ascent or descent, scrambling etc - this aspect will  be identified by the walk leader and stated in the description of the walk

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Useful Links and Leaders' Documents