Today the Oxford Mail published my feature about the Ramblers. I highlight the need for a new group under the Ramblers umbrella – a walking group for families with young children. Anyone interested?
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20125497.join-ramblers-free-walks-across-oxfordshire/
During Covid lockdowns, The Oxford Mail encouraged readers to connect with nature and explore our beautiful county on foot. Those readers who tried the walks written by Wendy Thomas, Elaine Steane and me, will have discovered how good it is for physical, mental and spiritual heath. In these difficult times financially for many families, it has the added advantage that walking is FREE. One of the greatest treasures of this country is the thousands of miles of public footpaths which give access to stunning scenery.
My first book was a walks book published by The Oxford Times.
Oxfordshire Rambles is 10 five- six mile circular walks originally devised as fundraisers for KOA by the late Jack and Margaret Ibbott. I got the impression that they knew every Oxfordshire footpath. The book is unusual because Kennington artist Philip Martin illustrated it with watercolours. All of them are still fine apart from the Cherwell Valley walk, where the farmer at Hampton Gay had the footpath redirected. The books sold well for KOA.
To try and get young families walking I wrote, for The Oxford Mail, four short but fabulous rambles close to where I live . They can open young children’s eyes to the delights of being close to nature. Here are three of them:
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19436233.watch-wild-birds-circular-walk-radley-lakes/
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19419579.fascinating-walk-families-ancient-pit-near-abingdon/
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19452310.enjoy-circular-family-walk-around-kennington-sandford/
Being a rambler, I had to design a Sculpting the Elephant walk exploring sites that feature in the Oxford half of my novel. The Oxford Mail kindly featured it
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19607563.novel-walk-around-oxford-author-sylvia-vetta/
Below is the walk Pdf . It starts in Victorian industrial Oxford. Given the locations near the Oxford canal and the Thames, it is more picturesque than it sounds. As you cross from Town to Gown you walk on the Roger Penrose Pavement- the most beautiful work of art in Oxford (in my opinion). The pattern is not just everlasting, it never repeats itself- inspirational! It’s easy to follow . Print it out?
Sculpting the Elephant Walk leaflet
Some sights on the walk including the Roger Penrose Pavement .
