Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and North Somerset

A warm welcome to the Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and north Somerset GOC web pages.

Where we walk

From the rolling Cotswolds with their quaint, mellow,honey-stone villages and grazing sheep, to the fern-draped combes of the Mendips and the mysterious broad open chalk downlands of Wiltshire, intersected by winding rivers including the mighty Severn, the upper Thames and the Bristol Avon flowing through lush pastures in their valleys, along with the heritage-rich Forest of Dean and a short but extremely varied coastline. We have historic cities such as Bristol, Bath, and Gloucester, the newer but no less interesting railway centre of Swindon and elegant Cheltenham, along with many well known, and a few less famous, though equally beautiful, country towns and villages. In short this area could be described as a walker's paradise!   

                            (Photo by John G)                              (Photo by Steve S)

When we walk

The Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and north Somerset group generally walk on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. From time to time we have joint walks with neighbouring GOC groups. During the summer months we have some additional weekday and evening events. The Events section below and our Walk Planner page gives a lot more information on the walk dates and areas where walks are due to take place.

About our walks

• Each walk is led by a local volunteer GOC member, and has been planned and usually walked in advance.  Numbers on any particular walk can vary from under ten to over thirty, and although mainly men, women sometimes join us and are always very welcome. We try to keep the group together as much as possible, and will always include catch-up stops for anyone whose pace may be slightly slower.  A varied programme of shorter, accessible LGBT walks in the Bristol area is offered by Walk Out Bristol. click here for details

• Stout footwear, such as walking boots is highly recommended, and remember to bring some waterproof protection, as mud and inclement weather can never be ruled out!

• We usually stop for a longer break midway, for you to eat your packed lunch, or sometimes we stop at a pub for a drink, or maybe a meal.  We try to make these arrangements as clear as possible to intending walkers beforehand, but occasionally there may be circumstances beyond our control when pubs are not available or are too booked up to serve a large group without notice. Please check with the walk leader or bar staff before eating your own food in a pub or pub garden, and remember to take off those muddy boots before entering the pub!

• Dogs are welcome, as long as they are well behaved, and are kept under strict control and on a lead at any point in a walk where livestock may be present. 

• Car sharing and using public transport where available, can all help towards a pleasanter environment. The local co-ordinators may be able to assist in arranging car shares or lifts from central points, but you should always give us plenty of advance notice. Please try to park considerately at walk starting points.

• Along with the above guidance, the GOC has published some guidelines for organising and attending events: click here for details   Also, please ask permission from the walk leader and other walkers before any photography or filming takes place.  The Countryside Code is worth bearing in mind whilst out enjoying our wonderful surroundings. None of this should prevent us having a great time in congenial company whilst maintaining our good relationships with residents, farmers, publicans and other countryside users.

Joining a Wiltshire, Gloucestershire & north Somerset GOC walk

New to GOC or signed in as a Guest on this web site?   If you would like any further information about a particular walk, or have any special requests or concerns, please contact the local co-ordinators (see below) for more details. When you have tried two or three walks, and feel the GOC is for you, you can join as a member and get the full walk details automatically.  For more GOC membership information and to join click here.

Already a GOC member?  All you have to do is turn up on the day, as we do not normally use attendee lists for individual events, unless the event leader specifically requests one.

Contacts and further information

To contact us by e-mail please use our contact page.                                     

Our local telephone contact numbers are:

01793 770099 (ask for Nigel) or 0117 951 2386 (Martin & John).