In spite of the forecast of heavy snow on Tuesday, January 5th, 14 walkers set off in a light snow shower for a morning walk from the New Harp at Hoarwithy, led by Heather.

Heather changed her originally planned route to avoid a dangerously icy lane near Sellack. Even so, wherever lanes and tracks had been flooded the walkers had to gingerly negotiate sheets of ice hidden under a thin layer of snow. There were beautiful wintery views towards Ross from the open sections of the route and along the way a number of bullfinches and robins enlivened the hedgerows. But when the snow began to fall more heavily near The Cottage of Content the walkers decided to shorten the walk slightly in order to get back to Hoarwithy in case the roads became a problem. From the riverside path the fast flowing, dark cold waters of the Wye contrasted strongly in the minds of some of the walkers who had enjoyed the Ramblers canoe day in hot sunshine in the late summer!

The heavy snow that fell later that day caused the cancellation of the planned 8 mile walk on Saturday 9th and the 5 mile pub lunch walk on Sunday 10th, due to expected safety and access difficulties.

The Ross Ramblers monthly programme and contact information is displayed in Ross Library, Tourist Information Centre, Heritage Centre, Escape (shop). There is also a country-wide walks finder on the internet at http://www.ramblers.org.uk">www.ramblers.org.uk