New format, new members, new routes
On 16/17 August the Western Midlands group trialed a new format with an optional Saturday evening walk and dinner ahead of the usual full day Sunday walk. Noting that many members book a local hotel before a Sunday walk, this gave walkers the opportunity to have a Summer evening together. The event was based around the bustling Barton Marina in Staffordshire.
Saturday Walk: Dunstall and Rangemore
Saturday’s late afternoon walk took in the rolling fields and historic estates north of Barton under Needwood. Walkers followed rural tracks towards the elegant Dunstall Hall, a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion set in 85 acres of parkland. The group paused to admire the external grandeur of the hall and a cricket match giving the quintessential English summer evening feel before continuing to the adjacent St Mary’s Church. This pretty church, originally built as a private chapel for the Dunstall estate, offered a tranquil rest stop.
Before the return route, walkers caught glimpses of Rangemore Hall, another grand country house with Edwardian and Victorian heritage, once owned by brewing magnate Michael Bass.
Sunday Walk: Wychnor, Trent Crossings, and Real Ale
Sunday’s walk ventured south towards the hamlet of Wychnor. Here, participants explored the earthworks of a long-lost medieval farm, evidence of early agricultural settlement. The route continued to the remarkable intersection of the River Trent and the Trent & Mersey Canal, waterways that once powered the heart of the industrial Midlands.
The walk then passed through Barton under Needwood, a charming village with timber-framed buildings and local character. A well-earned break was enjoyed at the Royal Oak, a traditional pub serving local real ales in a welcoming setting. From there, a final woodland stretch provided a shaded, peaceful route back to the marina, rounding off a varied and rewarding walk.
Evening Social
The weekend was capped off with a group dinner for 20 guests at a marina restaurant, providing an opportunity for social connection and planning future adventures. The mix of walks, heritage, and relaxed socialising seemed to be widely praised, and GOC hopes to repeat this format in other regions across the UK. The weekend welcomed two new members and guests from as far as London and Barcelona!
