Dear XR Walkers
We enjoyed our second XR Walk in Birmingham: brilliantly planned and executed, supported by a host of lovely, local rebels and the sun even shone!
Our collective navigation on the road is flawless. XR Walkers emails however appear to have a mind of their own and it seems that the bigger our group grows (now approaching 200 people), the more wary your inboxes have become and the emails are often landing in junk 😦 While we figure how best to deal with this, please could you continue to check your junk or spam folders and please also save xrwalkers@gmail.com in your contacts.
The next walk on the schedule is on 18th February in Hertfordshire, led by Alan and Tim. Here is the WhatsApp Group if you’d like to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cd8IF6mC1PrEkL7TG3CX2Z
The following week, on Friday 25th February, Drew is leading a 14-miler along the coast north of Liverpool. See the following note from Drew:
“I have plotted a draft route on OS Maps:
Ainsdale to Blundellsands Dunewalk 14 miles (osmaps.com)
It can be viewed using the Standard map , which is the free part of the oS site
If the link does not work the route can be found by searching Ainsdale to Blundellsands Dunewalk 14 miles
I will do a recce soon, and may adjust because 14 miles mainly on sand or sandy woodland will be harder going. If we assume 2 miles an hour we would need to be at Ainsdale station by 10 a.m. and get to Blundellsands by 5 p.m. . Sunset is 5.40 p.m.. I may change the start point to Freshfield station once I have done the recce. We will then pick up the route at the Red Squirrel reserve Help us protect the Red Squirrels at Formby | National Trust
The Merseyrail line goes north to Southport (connections to Wigan and Manchester) and goes south to Lpool City Centre where a loop line connects to Lime Street, or you can stay on the line south of the city and get off at Liverpool South Parkway.
Lime Street and South Parkway are the main stations for trains from the south or trans pennine.
If folk can travel up the day before we will put them up at our house which is right by St Michaels station on the line described above. Staying overnight would make a prompt start more likely
In case there are high winds (you get sandblasted) I will prepare a more sheltered alternative.”
In summary and for forwarding on your WhatsApp Groups etc.:
XR Walkers – Walk 4
🦶 Friday 25th February
🦶 Meet: 10am at Ainsdale Station, Shore Rd, Ainsdale, Southport PR8 2RF
🦶 Distance: 14 miles / 22km linear
🦶 Map: Ainsdale to Blundellsands Dunewalk 14 miles (osmaps.com)
🦶WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C2Gl44FVSgcDSaUgow1ZKd
🦶 The walk is likely to take 6-7 hours so you’ll need to wear appropriate clothes and footwear and bring all your food, water, safety, comms and travel needs.
🦶 To receive details about future walks sign up here! https://mailchi.mp/82eb3183021c/xr-walkers-landing-page
And finally a heads up about the next XR Walkers Walk. Walk 5. Our lovely Sarah is drawing us West to walk from Wells to Glastonbury. Taking place on Friday 4th March, meeting at 10am outside Wells Cathedral. I’ll send out more details after 21st February and here is the WhatsApp group for all those interested in joining: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IfktpLMx097CtqUHSsmliQ
Happy walking everyone – Herts on 18th Feb, Liverpool on 25th Feb and Glastonbury on 4th March – see you out there.
Camino to COP26 