JJ’s WHITE HORSES WALKING TOUR – highlights for Wednesday 18th July. In a change to the original route, we have found a pub which is very kindly opening for lunch especially for us: The Inn with the Well, Ogbourne St George. All welcome even if you are not walking – email info@jj-rr.org just so we have an idea of numbers. After lunch, descend with John from the ancient ridgeway path down into Avebury, walk the stone circle, then a pint in the Red Lion, followed by a gig in the handsome market town of Marlborough.  Anyone thinking of walking or joining JJ and the Reluctant Ramblers at any of the stops on the walk, see here for a route brochure. Meanwhile, don’t forget to look out for a new song for the tour, which we shall be posting in the next couple of days!

On Tuesday 17th July, JJ and walkers will be starting at Goring-on-Thames, but if you don’t want to walk for the day, join JJ at the end of the walk at the Uffington White Horse, stop for a moment to see this majestic chalk figure up close and then down into Wantage by cars. First stop The Mutton – a real ale pub and acclaimed vegetarian restaurant – for a buffet (call Peter on 07870 577742 to book) and then a fantastic night of music at The Swan – no tickets, just turn up for 8pm.

The WHITE HORSES WALKING TOUR begins in less than three weeks! We are going to be publishing a series of highlights for the week so anyone who might be able to join in can start looking forward to it. The tour starts on Monday 16th July with a walk from Goring-on-Thames to Nettlebed. Join JJ and the Ramblers (Dil Davies, Al Scott, Tim Cotterell and tonight’s special guest, Bellowhead’s Benji Kirkpatrick) at the last night of Nettlebed’s summer season – give the tour a rousing start in one of the great folk clubs of England!

John is really pleased to announce that Rowan Godel, who sang on his album Rising Road and is the beautiful voice on Oysterband’s Street of Dreams will be joining him for part of his next walking tour – along with friends, fans and fellow-walkers and special guests from the folk world, walking from gig to gig on The White Horse Tour. Catch the gigs, walk with JJ or just join him for a pint and a session.

Meeting the walkers That well-deserved celebratory drink

Click on an image to see it in a larger size

JJ’s walking blog 4: “Now sitting by a little stream in the village of Coton in the Elms with 12 very happy but rather tired people. A couple of miles to go – we can’t see the festival site yet but we gather it’s dry and looks stunning. It’s been a remarkable 36 mile journey over the 2 days – leaving Leicester, visiting the site of the Battle of Bosworth with its simple, humbling monument, and today walking through SW Leicestershire – some of the most fertile agricultural land I have ever seen – and then into NW Leicestershire, an area where the mining industry has come and gone. It is now the national forest with many young trees – native species – and you get a sense of the landscape returning to how it might have been before mining began. This walk has given the week a sense of purpose for me – big thanks to all involved – and now we’re looking forward to a drink: we’ve deserved it!” JJ

“Great night in the Red Lion, Market Bosworth – a lively pub with an excellent atmosphere & beer to match! 17 people walked at different times yesterday and amazingly the weather stayed dry for us – the rain began just as we got to the pub. Great to see the exhilaration of people completing the walk – for some the furthest they had done. This morning we met in the market square, a little bleary-eyed – 11 or 12 people. Now all around us the lush summertime Leicestershire countryside, fields of corn and huge hedgerows. A beautiful walk through a series of villages on the hills, now heading north west towards the Ashby-de-la-Zouche canal.” JJ

“Incredible morning walking out through Leicester! With the help of local knowledge we found a green corridor like a lung through the heart of the city, not evident from the Ordnance Survey map. We walked along the canal towpath and it was quiet, with very few people – an extremely pleasant way of getting out of Leicester. Then the suburbs, under the M1, and out to Enderby Church. There three walkers left us but we gained another eight so we have 13 or 14 people walking out into the heart of the countryside – including old friends from previous walking tours. We’ve lost the sound of the M69, high corn is growing, and the weather is fantastic.” JJ

“It’s an overcast day but dry, thank goodness – cool, and good walking conditions. There are ten gallant (foolish?) people here who are going to walk with me: we’ll be heading out through the “mean streets” of Leicester, out to the canal, past what used to be the Walker Stadium but is now the King Power Stadium, south west through the suburbs and out to Enderby Church where we are going to meet a lot more people. But first I have just walked round De Montfort and said goodbye to the staff. I have mixed feelings – it is sad in a way to be leaving and I have a lot of great memories of the Big Session here, but it is exciting to be going to the new site and to have the two days of walking to get there. My part of the adventure starts here.” JJ

“It looks like Wed will finish in The Red Lion, Mkt Bosworth.

Then Thurs will finish with a walk through the Catton Estate. Just had very supportive chat with owner. J”