Our Walking Group usually meets on the third Thursday of every month for a morning walk of around 6 miles. None of the walks tend to be particularly strenuous, but importantly all start and finish at a selected pub to facilitate the enjoyment of an optional spot of lunch and/or a drink after the morning exercise. There is no need to book, just turn-up at the allotted time and place in appropriate clothing & footwear for the forecasted weather conditions.
If you would like to suggest and lead a future walk, then please contact the Walks Coordinator, Bob Whaley via email: walks@316club.org.uk.
Future Walks
19th February, led by Richard Smith
10:00 am start at The Old Red Lion, Shephall Green, Stevenage, SG2 9XR.
The pub requires us to order our food the day before the walk. Please let Bob Whaley have your order by 18:00 hrs on 12th February, if you intend to eat at the pub.
19th March, led by Tim Alexander
10:00 am start at The Bull, Cottered, Herts, SG9 9QP.
This walk will be along minor roads and around fields and take us towards Cromer Windmill. It may be damp and muddy in places. Please arrive in time and place your order for any food before the start of the walk.
Past Walks
Below are short reports of our 5 most recent walks.
Our History
Thursday 19th September 1991 dawned bright and fresh with some cloud bubbling up, ideal walking weather! At Philip Wise’s suggestion, 10 members of the 316 club met at Great Offley near the car park of the Red Lion for a walk of approximately 6 miles. Phil had planned the walk and following in his footsteps were Phil’s wife Margaret, Peter & Myrle Cannell, Joan & Maurice Beadsmoore, Bob Moggridge, Douglas Clegg, Alf Bennett and Jim Sommerville. Over a pint in the pub afterwards, it was agreed that “we should do this again” and thus the start of the 316 Walking Group became established with Phil Wise as walks manager and members taking turns to lead.
The 316 group has continued unabated with a walk the 3rd Thursday in each month throughout the year affected only by the foot & mouth outbreak which closed the countryside for March to July in 2001. However, the enterprising John Boylett produced a walk along Regent’s Park Canal in the May, starting a programme of London walks led by Tom Byrne, and Maurice Beadsmoore devised a walk from the Rose & Crown at Aston following Stevenage town footpaths that took in Fairlands Valley park.
Phil continued to manage the 316 walks programme until 1998 when Brian Walker assumed the role until 2007. At this point Ron Vincent ran (walked?) the programme until his hip replacement which stopped him walking during 2012/2013. Bob Clough then took over until his hip problems then Ron was back in the lead at the beginning of 2014 until the end of 2017, when Alan Hutchinson took over the role. Bob Whaley took over in 2020.