Stoke Lodge Ramblers is a walking and social club based in Stoke Bishop and its surrounding areas in Bristol. 2013 saw the club celebrate its 30th Anniversary on 25th April 2013 with a series of walks and then a celebration lunch at Tyntesfield -photos from this event and the 2013 Christmas Walks and Meal are now on the 30th Anniversary Photos page of the website ( also see History of Club paragraph below) .
We have also just sponsored a new Kissing Gate in the Mendips near Compton Martin on the Limestone Link footpath as a recognition of our 30 years as a walking club -see the photos of Don and Pat Walter at the installation of the new gate on Tuesday 25th March 2014 on the 30th Anniversary Photos page
We walk on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the year and hold a number of social and non-walking activities to cater for all walking abilities of the club members. We now have approximately 120 members but we always welcome newcomers to what is and always has been a very friendly walking club.
Photo of club co-founders Don and Pat Walter at the 2013 Christmas meal held at the Mercure North Bristol Grange hotel at Winterbourne on 12th December 2013
Photo taken on Club’s Annual Coach trip -to Teighmough June 2015
Photo from Annual Holiday at Haytor on Dartmoor in October 2015
HISTORY OF CLUB from DON WALTER – walks organiser and one of the club’s founder members
The club was founded in April 1983 after a post-card was placed on the notice board of the Stoke Lodge Adult Education Institute advertising a room to use for the first meeting for a group of friends who were all interested in walking. The first walk took place on the 17th April 1983 when we walked the “Alternative Southern ending of the Cotswold Way”. Walks in the early days were monthly and alternated between Saturdays and Sundays. Until fairly recently we met outside Stoke Lodge to share cars etc before walks and hence the name of the club. The club has grown significantly from these early days and now has a membership of nearly 120 people. There is no longer any direct link to Stoke Lodge other than the name of the club!
The club aims to provide a varied range of walks that will suit all levels of walking abilities and also holds a number of social events throughout the year. Details of the current programme for the period covering July to December 2011 can be found by clicking on the Walks Progamme tab above.
The Objectives of the Club are as defined by the Constitution and Rules.
These are:
a) To hold regular organised walks for the enjoyment of the club members;
b) To help members to understand the area in which they are walking and the environment generally.
It was felt by the founding members of the club that the walks should be more than merely covering the miles, and information about places or things of interest should be passed on if possible. Similarly if something of interest crops up e.g. an unusual plant or site of interest, we should stop and have a look at it. We feel that this strand of the club’s original idea is still valid today.
Further information about the Club.
The programme gives details of the 3 levels of walks:
SUNDAY WALKS 8-11 miles
THURSDAY WALKS:-
MEDIUM WALKS 5-7 miles
SHORT WALKS 4 miles max
(can be over any terrain but at a gentler pace)
The meeting place for all walks and events is Cross Elms Lane, Stoke Bishop unless advised otherwise in the Programme or Newsletter.
Sunday walks start at 09.30 am and Thursday walks at 10.00am. Please advise the walk leader(s) if you plan to go straight to the start of the walk.
Car sharing is important for parking and environmental reasons. The club committee recommends that passengers collectively contribute towards the driver’s expenses. We don’t want the drivers to be “out of pocket” so although it is always at the drivers discretion as to how much he or she charges-the committee recommends that passengers should be prepared to pay up to 10P/mile/person
The Walks Programme will indicate if there is to be a pub lunch included and non-walkers are welcome to join in these , but please advise the walk leader in advance so that the correct numbers can be given when the lunch is booked.
The Club issues a Newsletter about 4 times a year giving Club members information about upcoming events and activities – see the NEWSLETTERS tab above for latest one,
The News Update tab will give you information about the latest and upcoming walks and activities plus photos from recent walks.
The Links tab above gives information about other Rambling Clubs and Associations in the Bristol area.
See the Photo Gallery tab for photos of club members on their recent walks -if members want to publish any of their photos please send them to Neville Brewis at fnbrewis@btinternet.com.
Photos from the Club’s 30th Anniversary walks and celebration lunch held at Tyntesfield on Thursday 25th April 2013 can be found by clicking on the 30th Anniversary Photos tab on the top header above.
We completed the Butcombe Brewery Trail in the (wet) summer of 2012 – for a pictorial record of the 6 days of walking go to the BBT tab on the top header of the website.
If you are interested in joining us or just coming along for a trial walk as our guest please contact us!
The Contacts List tab above gives the names of the current committee members and their emails.
Stoke Lodge Ramblers 
