This is a popular and sociable group who enjoy walking local fields and paths enjoying the countryside on our doorstep. These are rambles and may include the occasional stile as well as gates. Sensible walking footwear and clothing is needed. However, they are meant to be less demanding than the full Ramblers Group who typically walk for 5 miles plus.

We normally meet once a month, on the last Thursday at 11.00 am. However, the December walk is on New Years Day to "clear the cobwebs" and the August walk may be a "Brunch" walk with an earlier start.

A number of walk leaders take it in turns to select a walk of about 3 miles. They choose where to go and where to meet. Members are encouraged to lead a walk but there is no requirement to do so, however, without leaders there will be no walks!

The aim is to start in Balsall Common (or within 10 minutes of it) and normally find pub car parks for our starting/finishing points! Many members stay for a drink and/or a meal after the walk. (Although a good tearoom or café should not be ruled out.)

We average 10–20 members per walk (although over 40 made it to a New Years Day "clear the cobwebs walk"). We walk in most kinds of weather.

This is a rambling group and for safety and insurance reasons dogs are not allowed.

The cost is very low — we have a joining fee of £2 and to date no other costs (and it is free for anyone who is already a paid up member of the Ramblers Group). You do pay for your own drinks/meals after a walk!

If you would like to join or require any other information please contact Richard. (The Short Walks group shares a distribution list with the Ramblers group so you don't need to join separately BUT you will get e-mails from both. There is a considerable overlap of walkers and leaders between the 2 groups).

Prospective new members can also try us out by just turning up at a walk starting point and joining us for that walk. Please note, however, if you are not already a u3a member you will not be covered by the u3a insurance scheme. Following that if you wish to continue you will need to join the u3a and the Short Walks group. ( We share the same e-mail list as the Ramblers Group as there is a considerable overlap of members).

All members are encouraged to lead walks, please contact the coordinator to discuss details further. Support is here for anyone who has never led a walk before. All part of lifelong learning. (NB: New leaders often pair up with a more experienced leader for their first walk).

If anyone wants to create a ramble route, either for the u3a or for personal reasons, try out the following sites:

Where's The Path

Millennium Way website — lists of walks

Click here For the Shorter Walks Risk Assessment updated 1st Decembr 2025

June 25th 2026

When:	11.00 AM Thursday 25th June 2026
Where:	Meriden
Meet:	The Queen's Head, Old Rd, Meriden, Solihull CV7 7JP
Travel Directions:	From Balsall Common either via A452 to the Meriden Roundabout and then follow road to Meriden or via the Station underpass. Truggist Lane to Spencers Lane and on through Berkswell to Meriden, The pub is on the left hand side of the main road out of Meriden towards Coventry down a minor slip road. Car park is just past the pub. Both routes c15 minutes
Walk Description:	A walk of less that 3 miles through the fields and lanes of Meriden. We did this walk a couple of years ago in the most horrendous weather conditions, ploughing through mud and rainstorms🌧️ . I’m hoping the weather will be kinder to us this time. Also doing it the other way round which gives us a different perspective plus there’s only one stile to conquer, it’s quite overgrown in places so would not recommend shorts.
Afterwards:	The Queen's Head menu is on their website ( The Queen's Head ). If you are staying for lunch please send your food choices by 4pm on Wednesday 24th June
Walk Leader:	Linda and Don White

To send an email to the walk leader click on the underlined name and an email contact form will appear.

NB. Health and Safety requirement: All participants will need to sign an attendance list and provide an emergency contact number prior to the actual start of the walk.

At the end of the Walk