University of the Third Age gets its boots on

Monday, 20 September 2010

U3A, or the University of the Third Age, is open to anyone no longer in employment but in practice this means the active retired, usually aged over 50.  Members come mainly from Todmorden and Hebden Bridge but some from further afield.  The local branch has many interest groups and the Walking Group reaches its first birthday this month. 

This Group started on the 28th September 2009 with a morning spent climbing up and down the valley sides around Hebden Bridge, taking in Wood Top, Old Chamber, the approach to Stoodley Pike and coming down via Horsehold.  The afternoon was an easier stroll to Hardcastle Crags.

Every last Tuesday since then there have been walks starting in either Hebden Bridge or Todmorden with between eight and fourteen well booted members taking part, a nice number, enough to make it sociable but small enough to avoid the feel of a route march and long waits at stiles and gates.  Most of these walks have been morning only of between four and six miles and often they have finished with a very convivial pub lunch.  The walks have been led by U3A members, all of whom have been enthusiastic and experienced walkers.  These walks leaders have shown detailed knowledge of our wonderful network of footpaths and the social history of the area making each walk far more than an attempt to keep fit.

To join this walking group, or any of the many other interest groups, it is necessary (for insurance purposes) to be a paid up member of U3A.
Full details of what is available and how to join are on the website www.u3atod.org.uk.  The annual membership for the year ending April 30th is ?16, reduced to ?12 for those joining this late in the year.  But anyone eligible for membership would be welcome on one ‘taster’ walk before forking out a subscription in order to check out whether what we do is right for them, although on that occasion they would not be covered by insurance.  For more details phone Gwen on 01422 842558.