Friendly Faces of Warwickshire

FFW: Newbold Comyn / Offchurch Loop (5 mile hike)

Sat, Sep 26 · 11:00 AM BST

Location not specified yet

Shorter than all of our other routes, this scenic hike takes in peaceful countryside paths, delightful scenery and of course attendees can benefit from the unmistakable warm and sociable company of Friendly Faces group members.
So whether you're a first-timer or a regular, add your name to the attendees list and enjoy this magnificent hike around the local countryside - with the added bonus of expanding your social circle in the process.

Depending on how we move as a group it shouldn't take us much more than two-and-a-bit hours before we are back to the meet-point again, and as usual when we reach the end of a Friendly Faces hiking route, we'll call in at a nearby pub (this time the very convenient Newbold Comyn Arms) for a well-earned drink and a sit down / final chin-wag, before heading home.
The pub-stop is entirely optional if you really need to dash, but of course it would be great if you can stay a bit longer.

Take note that there are two carparks along the "Newbold Terrace E" road, so pay attention to the google link meet point below to make sure you arrive in the right one to begin the hike.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dzobP7nTf4ErFhJr8

Getting there...
If you aren't a driver and would like a lift to and from the starting point, leave a message here on the event page (as soon as you sign up) asking if anyone is kind enough to offer. Do that now, because leaving that question until the last few days before the event is too late.
Don't forget to offer a few pounds to your driver towards petrol money.
If you are a driver and can spare a seat or two in your car (perhaps in exchange for a few pounds in petrol money) you would undoubtedly attain instant hero status.
The meet-point is right on the edge of Leamington town centre, and is x miles away from...
Warwick 3; Kenilworth 6; Coventry 11; Rugby 15; Central Birmingham 29.

Important note about parking...
The carpark is free, but please bear in mind that parking inspectors often scour the carpark looking for anyone who has not parked within the lines of one of the designated spaces, happily sticking fine-notices on any cars not following the rules.
Even if you are in a marked space, but have parked with a wheel just slightly on one of the lines, that's all they need to see - and they will ticket you. Free car parks need to make money somehow, so don't let it be you who pays. You have been warned!

Other things to note...
- Well-behaved dogs ARE allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this walk, but must be kept on a lead. Remember also that some people can be fearful of dogs and hide it well, so please be respectful of that and keep your dog under control at all times.
- Compared to other hiking routes in the growing Friendly Faces library of routes, the terrain for this one is very flat. However, ankle-protecting boots are always recommended to safeguard against unexpected countryside hazards, which could leave you with a sprained ankle (or worse still a broken bone) deep in the countryside and miles away from your car.
When it comes to hiking footwear: function is more important than fashion, and you will see that all other attendees have already sensibly bought theirs.
You will hopefully be attending many more Friendly Faces hikes scheduled into the future, so if you don't own proper walking boots it will be a great investment.

Finally...
With your imagination wandering at the prospect of this super outdoorsy afternoon going into your diary - hit the attend button now so you don't forget.
Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions in the meantime.

EVENT SUMMARY / IMPORTANT POINTS
1. 'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55 qualifying you to join, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/

2. Do not be late for the advertised start-time of this event. Make sure you arrive early enough to get parked, and be ready at the start point for this time or we will leave without you. In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks on the day.

3. To attend this hiking event you must be physically active, hike-fit, free from injury, and have experience of covering this distance in one go. If you are not all of these things - please remove yourself from the attendees list.
In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks first thing in the morning on the day.

4. Well-behaved dogs are allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this event - provided they bring well-behaved owners, in keeping dogs on a lead at all times.

5. This is a hiking event, and all attendees are expected to wear proper hiking footwear. No matter how confident/familiar you feel about walking in the countryside - due to the uneven terrain on this route, ankle-protecting waterproof footwear is compulsory.
If you do not currently own any - please invest in a pair in advance. The many Mountain Warehouse stores offer an excellent selection, so there is no excuse to not be equipped for this event.
Trainers may not protect you from a nasty injury - which could bring an unpopular end to the event for everyone.
(* 2026 UPDATE *) To ensure that all attendees sensibly follow this request respectfully of everyone else : Anyone who injures themselves and is not wearing ankle-protecting hiking footwear will be removed from the group.

FFW: Leamington Saturday-Night Social

Sat, Oct 3 · 7:30 PM BST

The White Horse, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa, GB

What better way to get out of the house and meet more people... whether you're a first-timer or a regular, get your name down to join this mixed casual group-tour around downtown Leamington on a relaxed Saturday evening, and we'll descend together upon its most popular bars one at a time, staying long enough for a drink or two before we all move on to the next one.

What is a Friendly Faces Monthly Social?...
Either read on for a written explanation of the format of this event, or watch this YouTube video that I put together in 2023 when we first started doing them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UM

To the untrained eye this event looks like a pub-crawl, but rather than being about getting drunk (as pub-crawls are) this monthly meetup event instead focuses on the social aspects : getting out and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle.
Don't waste your energy trying to find someone you know to come with you - coming alone is perfectly normal and is what 99.9% of attendees do, and by sticking with a friend - you wont meet anyone new.
The changing of venues helps encourage the mingling upon us, and typically by the end of the evening - each attendee will...
(1) have met most (if not all) of the other attendees present,
(2) feel pretty chuffed about having chatted with a group of nice friendly people and made some cool new connections,
(3) feel like they fit right in,
(4) be checking the diary to see if they can make another event!

If you're driving, or (like me) alcohol isn't your thing, then do as I and other non-drinkers do, and instead sip on a glass of cordial, coke, or zero beer. There is no pressure to buy drinks. If you decide to skip the bar and just enjoy the social occasion, you certainly wont be judged.

Big Win #1
Unlike the usual sit-down or stand-still-all-night meetups, this style of event will keep mixing us up as a group every time we change venue, and the mingling will happen automatically as we go with the flow.

Big Win #2
As a big group of people it will be great fun and a guaranteed laugh watching the bewildered faces of the non-meetup people in the bars as we all walk in the door together and fill the place, and then after an hour or so of meetup chatter - all leave together and empty it again!

Venues...
As you may know there are several cool bars in central Leamington so we wont have to walk far between venues. We'll visit around 3 or 4 venues throughout the evening, and stay close to the Parade in the town centre.

I'll keep our location-changes communicated as the evening progresses so you can join at any point along the route, but lateness is not recommended. Obviously if you're on time at the start you'll be present for introductions, and you'll get much more out of the evening.
So to start we'll gather at the very laid back "White Horse" pub at 7:30pm and let the socialising commence.
The White Horse : https://maps.app.goo.gl/yL1THf5cbDr6pk3M7

Click the 'Attend' button now so you don't forget.

There are plenty of parking options around the town including roadside parking along Beauchamp Avenue near the top of the Parade, and St Peter's Multi-Storey carpark at the bottom.
Beauchamp Avenue : https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jEPLhwP5DPtqkXy8
St Peters Multistorey : https://maps.app.goo.gl/7XuxdrbcwRodCGya8

Very Important Note...
A polite reminder that Friendly Faces events are for meeting new people, networking and expanding social circles. This means positive energy only.
The following 5 rules apply, as a way of safeguarding members from a few things. By attending this and any subsequent events, you agree to abide by them.

1. Friendly Faces events are not dating / singles events. Anyone engaging in persistent or unwelcomed attention towards others (either at an event or afterwards) may be removed from the group.

2. Having respect for others is non-negotiable. Anyone who is disrespectful to others (whether this is directed at members of the group or outsiders) may be removed from the group.

3. Drinking alcohol is normal (and optional) at these events, however our primary focus is on socialising, not on drinking to excess. Anyone being or becoming excessively drunk (or exhibiting drunken behaviour) may be removed from the group.

4. We are all Friendly Faces group ambassadors at the places we visit. Anyone misusing/abusing a venue/location (or the staff or property within it) may be removed from the group.

5. Our encouragement of others to attend more Friendly Faces events benefits us all. However anyone harvesting/sharing phone numbers to promote products, events, or other social groups may be removed from the group.

I feel very privileged that members of the Friendly Faces group are known for being so warm and welcoming to each other (and the expectations of first-timers are often exceeded) so good times and happy vibes naturally flow at our events.
With these rules in place and acknowledged we shouldn't need to refer back to them, but we have them and can use them if needed.
With that out of the way - lets do what we do so well, and enjoy these super-sociable group experiences and meeting new people.
If we haven't met you before we are all looking forward to meeting you, and if we have met you before - we're looking forward to seeing you again!

Finally...
Your first Friendly Faces event is free.
'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/

FFW: Edgehill near Gaydon/Banbury (7-mile hike)

Sun, Oct 4 · 1:00 PM BST

OX15 6DJ, Banbury, GB

I am very pleased to set another date for this much-loved route that takes in the superb views from the top of Edge Hill, together with it's sublimely peaceful surrounding countryside. It will open your eyes to the amazing world of nature around us.
With its feeling of being so far away from civilisation - this route will take us into the charming countryside, along remote public pathways, far away from the hustle-bustle of daily life.

I've done this route many times and I still love going back. The sound of silence is broken only by the wind in the trees, the tweeting of distant birds, or of a startled deer or two scampering the full width of an open field and into the safety of the woodland.
For its outstanding views and its many varied location types, this one takes some beating.

IMPORTANT WARNING: Despite the breath-taking views and peaceful natural beauty for the full length of the route, please be warned that this event is not for the faint-hearted. i.e. You should not sign up if you have any recurring injuries that could flare up, or you do not have a good level of stamina for physical and enduring exercise.

Of course, we will take opportunities to stop and take breaks, however there are some long and challenging hills. Also, due to the relatively undisturbed nature of the pathways, large parts of the route require dragging your feet through long grass which can quickly tire inexperienced hikers.

I really hope you are fit, able and qualify to attend. Notwithstanding the warm and sociable Friendly Faces group members (first-timers and regulars) that you will share this experience with - this is a truly magnificent hiking route, and in a few months time you will look back on it and smile as you think back to it.

Getting there...
If you are a driver, you will certainly attain hero/heroine status if you write a message here on the event page offering your services - stating your location and specific locations that you can collect passengers from.
If you are not a driver and would like a lift, leave a message here on the event page (as soon as you sign up) asking if anyone is kind enough to offer. Leaving that question until the day before the event is probably too late. Don't forget to offer a few pounds to your driver as petrol prices are high at the moment.
If you need a lift (or are a driver offering lifts) : consider how appealing your meetup profile photo is. It may seem harsh, but the reality is that if you do not have a warm friendly smile or part/all of your face is hidden, then it is less likely that someone is going to want to either give you a lift or accept a lift from you.
Travel planning info for drivers :
The meet-point is x miles away from...
Warwick 15; Leamington 15; Kenilworth 22; Rugby 23; Coventry 27; Central Birmingham 38.

Other things to note...
- Well-behaved dogs ARE allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this walk, but must be kept on a short lead and require well-behaved owners. Remember that some people can be fearful of dogs and hide it well, so please be respectful of that and keep your dog on the lead and placid at all times.
- Ditch the trainers and don your waterproof walking boots. Ankle-protecting boots are always recommended for our hiking routes - no matter the time of year. If you intend to join more Friendly Faces hikes and don't own proper boots then it will be a great investment for the months ahead.

Oh and parking...
Completely free on the roadside outside the pub, and there's plenty of it in this remote location. Even if its busy outside the pub, just park further down the road (or round the corner if necessary) and walk back up.

Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions.
If not - click the big "Attend" button now to be kept in the loop, and so you don't forget.

EVENT SUMMARY / IMPORTANT POINTS

1. 'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55 qualifying you to join, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/

2. Do not be late for the advertised start-time of this event. Make sure you arrive early enough to get parked, and be ready at the start point for this time or we will leave without you. In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks on the day.

3. To attend this hiking event you must be physically active, hike-fit, free from injury, and have experience of covering this distance in one go. If you are not all of these things - please remove yourself from the attendees list.
In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks first thing in the morning on the day.

4. Well-behaved dogs are allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this event - provided they bring well-behaved owners, in keeping dogs on a lead at all times.

5. This is a hiking event, and all attendees are expected to wear proper hiking footwear. No matter how confident/familiar you feel about walking in the countryside - due to the uneven terrain on this route, ankle-protecting waterproof footwear is compulsory.
If you do not currently own any - please invest in a pair in advance. The many Mountain Warehouse stores offer an excellent selection, so there is no excuse to not be equipped for this event.
Trainers may not protect you from a nasty injury - which could bring an unpopular end to the event for everyone.
(* 2026 UPDATE *) To ensure that all attendees sensibly follow this request respectfully of everyone else : Anyone who injures themselves and is not wearing ankle-protecting hiking footwear will be removed from the group.