Ian Jelf Guided Tours Spring Walks Series 2013

Welcome to the first part of my Spring series of Ian Jelf Public Walks.

Saturday 20 April 2013 A brand new Birmingham Sculpture Trail, looking at some of Birmingham's amazing collection of public art. (Morning, 11.00am - c1.00pm)

Sunday 19 May 2013 A Dudley Discovery Walk, looking at the "Capital of the Black Country" and its many surprises. (Afternoon. 2.30pm - c4.30pm)

Saturday 1 June 2013 My long awaited "Bearwood & Warley Wander", around the delights of Victorian Bearwood and the surprising rural charm of Warley Woods and Lightwoods.   (Afternoon, slightly longer walk, 2.30pm - c5.00pm)

Sunday 2 June 2013 Bridgnorth, a Town of Two Halves, the High and Low Towns of Shropshire's unique riverside fortress.   Timed so that people can make a day of it using the Severn Valley Railway if necessary (2.30pm - 4.30pm)

To book and of the walks, or if you have any queries, then just  drop an e-mail to ian@bluebadge.co.uk .

I've made a slight increase in cost (to £9.00).   I've done this partly to ensure than I can keep running the walks for smaller groups.   I've had some good feedback about keeping the numbers down and this the best way of ensuring that.   It's the way to keep me in business, not to pay for a holiday home in Antibes!

I've really appreciated the support these walks have had, especially over the cold winter.   I'm looking forward to meeting more friends, old and new, during what I really hope will be better weather!

All the best.


Ian Jelf

Ian Jelf Guided Tours

Autumn Walks Series 2012

Hello there!

Well, after a successful spring and summer season of Ian Jelf Guided Tours walks and that amazing summer of national celebration and sport, here at last is my autumn series of walking tours around the Midlands!

Some of these, like Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury are the result of requests while others are a mixture of old favourites with a new slant and some walks which I think will appeal to some of my more long-standing customers.

And as the nights draw in and we think of Halloween (!) there are some of the ever popular walks with a ghostly, ghoulish and downright grisly theme…….

Sunday 23 September Birmingham A to B

Sunday 7 October Tamworth Old and New

Saturday 13 October Mediaeval Shrewsbury

Thursday 25 October Ghosts of Old Bridgnorth (evening)

Sunday 28 October Wolverhampton

Saturday 3 November Ghosts of Old Birmingham (evening)

To book any of these, simply drop me an e-mail to ian@bluebadge.co.uk then pay (currently £8 per person) when you turn up.   Guests are very welcome and if you know anyone else who’d like to go on my mailing list, do please let me know.

I need a reasonable number of bookings to ensure that these go ahead so I appreciate people booking as much in advance as possible.   If you’ve any questions, do just drop me an e-mail.

Many thanks and best wishes.

Ian

Ian Jelf Public Walks: King's Norton & Birmingham's Forgotten Canal, Sunday 22 April 2012

I'm running a slightly unusual walking tour this Sunday in the Birmingham suburb of King's Norton.

Once a separate Worcestershire village, it still has a lot of village attributes.   But it also allows some exploration of transport modes (roads, railways and above all canals) and has some real contrasts.

The walk costs £8pp.   You can pay on the day but you need to book in advance by sending an e-mail to ian@bluebadge.co.uk . We meet for a 10.30am departure outside the main (Cotteridge) entrance to King's Norton Station and finish nearby about 1.00pm.

You can find more details on my work Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/events/393068530718677/ .

Easter Walking Tours

More from the Ian Jelf Guided Tours Spring 2012 Season

Fancy something to fill the Easter weekend that’s fun, healthy, sociable and doesn’t involve watching “The Great Escape” or James Bond on the telly?   Then join one (or both!) of my walking tours over Easter.

There are two of them, on in Bromsgrove on Saturday 7 April 2012 and the other in Birmingham on Easter Monday 9 April 2012.

The Bromsgrove walk is a classic bit of Ian Jelf, though I say it myself.   It involves taking a town that isn’t famous for being especially, well, famous and uncovering all sorts of hidden surprises and delights.

The Birmingham walk is a bit different and is an idea I’ve been working on for a while.   It’s called “Now and Then” and takes a look at how Birmingham has changed over the years using old photographs and drawings.

Both walks begin at 11.00am and last for about two hours.   The cost of each is £8pp but you do need to book in advance to ensure a place.   To do this, simply drop an e-mail to ian@bluebadge.co.uk or a text to (o7976) 251785.

Ian Jelf Public Walks: Bournville

Do you fancy joining me for a walking tour of the fascinating Birmingham suburb of Bournville this Saturday (24 March 2012)?

There's a lot more to the area than a visit to the Cadbury World attraction, you know.   This was probably the world's first planned "Garden Village", established in the 1890s to liberate workers from slum housing and allowing them to live in green landscaped with fresh air, quality housing and excellent social facilities.

The walk shows us how the village has experimented with housing styles, relieved unemployment, dealt with heritage, religion and the problems of alcohol and much more besides.

The walk starts in front of Lloyds TSB which is on Sycamore Road, very close to Bournville Village Green.   Bournville Station is about a 10 minute walk away and Outer Circle 11 buses stop nearby.   It lasts about two hours and ends back nearby.   The cost is £8 per person and you can pay on the day.   You do need to book in advance, though;  just send me an e-mail to ian@bluebadge.co.uk .

It's a great walk and at a lovely time of year to see the place.   I hope you can join me.