News
Spring Walking Festival 2010
East Riding of Yorkshire Council ‘Walking For Health’ scheme is holding its Spring Walking Festival during the weekend of 27 & 28 March. A series of varied and interesting local routes is being planned and a social evening will be held at Market Weighton Social Club featuring 50's and 60's music from "Shindig" plus Disco sounds. Details of the planned walks and routes will be posted here shortly.
Weighton Walkers Step Out in the Snow
After the Christmas break 13 regular walkers set out from the Methodists Church at 10.00 am on Wednesday 6 January for the first Walking for Health walk of 2010 despite the icy weather and at times near blizzard conditions. The blanket of snow on the East Yorkshire Wolds glistened in the winter sun and the low temperatures were soon forgotten as the walkers got into their stride.
Walkers pause for a picture on Goodmanham Road
Slippery conditions are encountered as walkers join the old railway track
Walking is easier along the old railway trackbed
Walkers encounter blizzard conditions as they return to Market Weighton
Christmas Walk and Luncheon 2009
Wednesday walkers enjoyed Christmas luncheon together at Langland's Nursery restaurant Shiptonthorpe on 16 December for Christmas lunch following the morning walk. A group of nine walkers set out from the Methodist Church at 10 am to walk the three miles to Shiptonthorpe via Londesborough and joined the others at Langland's Nursery for lunch.
The walkers en route to Shiptonthorpe
Walkers in festive mood enjoy their Christmas fare
Market Weighton Walking Festival 2009
East Riding of Yorkshire Council ‘Walking For Health’ scheme held its first annual Walkers Are Welcome Walking Festival during October. The festival benefited those wanting to improve their fitness and well being whilst making new friends. The walks were well supported by walkers from Yorkshire, Belgium and Holland.
The scheme was originally established to help people who are recovering from illness, surgery, heart conditions or other health issues.
A social evening was held on the Saturday evening, featuring 60's music played by The Jet Blacks band and a local disco, in the Market Weighton Social Club.
The Jet Blacks Rockin' Robin
The festival complimented the Wednesday walks and monthly programme of longer walks that are run by the Walking For Health scheme. These are suitable for families and local residents. Laura Telfer, healthy lifestyles development officer said of the festival, “These walks take you through the glorious East Riding countryside and offers the opportunity for everybody to become involved in increasing their own health and well being. Walking is natural and easy exercise that will benefit all who take part.”
Regular walkers ready to set out on Wednesday 7 October 2009
(picture courtesy Pocklington Post)
Walkers are Welcome Become Independent
Since being accredited as the first Walkers are Welcome town in East Yorkshire on 20th March 2008, Walkers are Welcome - Market Weighton have existed as a sub-committee of the Town Council. At the organisation's recent AGM members decided unanimously to become independent of the Town Council with effect from 1st July 2009. The current management committee will continue and Market Weighton Town Council have pledged to continue their financial support into the future.
Walkers Even More Welcome in the Wolds
A new walking pack launched by Visit Hull & East Yorkshire will offer a handy guide to a host of walks - from leisurely strolls to serious treks across the rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds. Packed with routes to suit all ages and paces, walkers can enjoy gentle hills and tranquil dales, stroll through traditional market towns – and even join in ‘Giant Bradley Day’ in the home town of ‘the tallest Englishman who ever lived’
Fifteen of the best East Yorkshire Wolds walks have been brought together in one easy-to-use pack offering inspiration to walkers of all abilities.
Britain’s most northerly exposure of chalk, the Yorkshire Wolds is ideal walking country with rolling countryside and picturesque villages offering everything from East Yorkshire’s first ‘Walkers are Welcome’ designated town, to one of the region’s most successful arts centres.
Visit Hull & East Yorkshire’s (VHEY) new packs consist of 20 A5-size laminated full colour cards in a plastic wallet - perfect for all-weather walking.
Costing just £6 per pack, they have general information about the Yorkshire Wolds as well as detailed routes, maps and handy hints for the 15 selected walks. Each walk is graded for distance and duration to help visitors choose the right route, whether they are seasoned hikers or just looking for a leisurely amble.
Among highlights are treks through some of the Yorkshire Wolds’ most appealing towns and villages where walkers can take a break, enjoy some Yorkshire hospitality or discover a hidden gem.
In Market Weighton, an attractive market town nestling at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, for example, how about following in the footsteps of the town’s most famous son, William Bradley (1787 – 1820) ’the tallest Englishman who ever lived’?
To coincide with the launch Walkers are Welcome - Market Weighton held a Walking Festival on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May. Details are archived here.
(l to r) John Brown, Coun. Martha Hanson, Coun. Steven King and Patrick Wareham
Market Weighton to Host 2011 Conference
Market Weighton Walkers are Welcome team's original bid to host the organisation's annual conference in 2010 was unsuccessful; the choice being Kilsyth in Scotland. However, the National Committee were so impressed with the quality and substance of Market Weighton's bid that they broke with tradition and, rather than leaving their decision until next year, named the town as hosts for 2011
Such is the rate of growth in the Walkers are Welcome scheme that it is expected that over 200 participants from all corners of Britain are likely to visit Market Weighton in October 2011.
This event will undoubtedly benefit the town's business community to the tune of many thousands of pounds. It was estimated that last years conference in Prestatyn contributed more that £30,000 to the local economy and a much larger amount is anticipated in 2011.
A Conference Organising Committee is being formed and local businesses will be invited to participate and provide sponsorship for the event. Watch this space for more information.
Market Weighton Participates in the UK's "Walking the Way to Health" Initiative
The group is holding regular events throughout the year with particular emphasis on “Walking the Way to Health” the aim of which is to encourage those in the community who would like to do some form of activity but are nervous of doing so on their own.
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Every week an organised short walk in and around Market Weighton takes place lead by an experienced walker. It is hoped that people joining these short undemanding walks will be encouraged to venture further afield by joining the longer weekend walks some of which will be no around 4 miles & some longer distances requiring a packed lunch, again with an experienced walk leader and a colleague to encourage any stragglers! |
These regular weekly walks started on 14th January 2009 and the take up has been amazing with an average of 35 walkers enjoying a brisk and walk. These walks are the most successful taking place under the scheme in the East Riding with regular walkers enjoying much improved levels of fitness plus the social benefits of making new friends. Walking the Way to Health scheme walks take place each Wednesday morning, setting out from the Methodist chapel at 10.00 am. Refreshments are served both before and afterwards at the Methodist chapel for a small contribution.
Press cutting courtesy Pocklington Post (8 January 2009)
Click here to view pictures of the first walk
Committee Members Attend Annual Conference 2008
Four members of the Walkers are Welcome steering group attended the 2nd annual conference held in Prestatyn, North Wales joining over 60 delegates from all parts of the country. A series of discussions, workshops were organised as well as speakers from The Ramblers Association, and Welsh Countryside Council.
Robin Gray from Market Weighton gave a presentation including pictures from the recent Walking Festival to conference detailing our experiences in gaining accreditation.
The conference was also addressed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Rambler’s Association, Tom Franklin and John Lloyd Jones the Chairman of The Countryside Council of Wales.
(l to r) Robin Gray, Chris Wright, Martha Hanson and Nigel Botting
The final part of the day was the AGM of the Walkers are Welcome Town’s Network and election of officers for the following 12 months. Nigel Botting of the Market Weighton group was elected as a member of the National Committee.
Stay Updated on What's Happening
To find out what is happening you can either call into the Market Weighton Town Council offices or go to the website www.weightonwalkers.org.uk