Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation

Walking for Activism: for fitness, for publicity; for a public reaction. But just to mingle in the wonderful British country-side and to enjoy the scenery

Details: Written by: John Burke; Published: 13 May 2023; Last Updated: 21 May 2023; Hits: 1387

Update After 20th May

Flickr Album for the 20th May Walk Click Here

High Force Viewing Platform Glorious day in the sunshine, and the trip through the Yorkshire Dales, via Barnard Castle was a delight. It was an early start for us all as the trip from Leeds to the 'Walk' itself was 2 hours and 90 miles to the North of Leeds. So we decided to set off around 7:00 AM Saturday morning, of the 20th may 2023. Monica, Qiniso, Knonzanani, and with John diving we did the 'pick-ups' around Leeds then headed for the M1/AI to the North!

It was a bright day, with some early morning mists being burnt off by the Sun. We drove to the famous "Scotch Corner" where the A66 meets the A1, and headed towards the Yorkshire Dales. A lovely drive indeed, and the scenery, as we turned off the A66 just got better with every twist and turn - and there were plenty of those! No road grid layouts in the UK! The breath-taking Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle that we passed, is clearly somewhere to visit at a later date.

Onward via, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin and out to the Bowlees Visitor Centre, just West of Newbiggin. They have a great car parking arrangement with simply voluntary donations, rather than a set fee. And its mostly under the shade of trees and next to a babbling brook/stream too! BUT NOTE - get there early {we arrived at 9:30am and had the pick of the parking spots}, but at 1:00 pm with was completely full, with cars parked all the way along the approach roads!

The actual Walk itself was excellent too, although we set off in the wrong direction to start, and had to rectify that with a walk trough some fields (still technically a footpath as indicated on the Ordnance Survey map I was trying to use. PLEASE NOTE: Little of Zero Mobile Signal in the area of the Bowlees Centre! So in future I need paper maps!!

Details: Written by: John Burke; Published: 28 March 2023; Last Updated: 13 May 2023; Hits: 1774

Walk Flyer 12-13th AUGUST 2023

UPDATE: 13th May 2023

Well it's that time of the year again, when Zimbabwens, and their faithful supporters, need to dust off their walking boots and get outside to stretch their legs in anticipation of the "Walk for Freedom"! Practice is extremly important if this year's potential participants are attempting to try the full-monty!

This year our provisional dates are as the flyer namely, 12-13th August 2023 - [OR POSSIBLY THE 5-6th AUGUST as it's another FULL MOON] - simply ideal for the night section by the Rivers before and after Guildford.

but please, do not let the provisional date stop you from readying yourself with some PRACTICE!! However, as indicated in previous years, the "Walk for Freedom" is in 'bite-sized' chunks. See later for all the chunks, their description and maps.

20th May the High Force Walk Link HERE

Same route as all the previous years {since 2017, with some minor revisions} - We did infact organise a Walk in 2016 under the guise of ROHR, with Rashiwe and myself both path-finding and participating! Although, we all "checked-out" at the camp site we had organised at Edenbridge around 11:30pm - but that's another story!

It Was Too Hot!

What can we say - a high pressure over the Atlantic has caused hot air from the Sahara to be re-directed over the UK - especially the South Coast!

Joking aside, the plan {we did some considerable planning - see previous articles on this Walk Section} was to start early at 7:00am so that we would get to the Downs Link section {and the shade of the trees along that route} by 12:20 pm, as the temperatures were climbing. BUT - the best laid plans...of mice and men...{Robert Burns} So it is with some embarrassment that things went wrong immediately! We had some worries.

Details: Written by: John Burke ZHRO; Published: 01 August 2022; Last Updated: 02 August 2022; Hits: 1132

Amnesty International Remembering In this update, made on the sombre anniversary of 1st August 2018 when Zimbabwe's Soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on unarmed civilians - who were quite correctly protesting about the rigging of the 2018 election, we must remind all Zimbabweans, the AU [African Union], SADC [Southern African Development Community] and the rest of the World, that there are currently NO Free and Fair Elections - nor has there been in practice since the 1980 [False] Independence. We will also repeat this item on our website that highlights the fact that there is a Military Cabal controlling Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF party. https://take2zimbabwe.com

W4F 7 500 So our WALK FOR FREEDOM is as relevant as ever on this 7th time we have planned this event [the first time was in August 2016 just prior to the formation of ZHRO in October 2016]. Our 'practice walks' this month in London and North Yorkshire, have tied-in with other events to do with campaigning for Free, Fair and Open Elections - as highlighted below:

"Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. . . . The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."
Article 21, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

As in previous year's we will attempt to predict our walking timetable for those who may wish to cheer us on, or join us for part of this well trodden route of ours. So we will publish maps, timetables, and for those with a 'tech savvy' outlook - live navigation links to the UK's Ordnance Survey Mapping software. The same as the organiser's on the day. {Due shortly}

This year we are actively seeking supporting donations so that we can [as we have done in every year previously] have a support team(s) to ferry the walkers, food, bandages, blister plasters etc., In addition as necessary, finally collect the "walking wounded" (!) - joking - but some of us have very delicate feet - and the stony footpaths can take their toll on those without practice, multiple pairs of socks {for keeping the feet cool}, good footwear, ankle support, blisters and cramps! Plus a bit of sympathy at times too!

qrcode So our donation PayPal button on this page would welcome your spontaneous generosity. Or this QR code using your phone.

Now those wishing to be at the start, we must emphasise that the walkers will hope to leave the Brighton Pier forecourt at 7:00am sharp. This is to facilitate the 8 miles to stand and take in the stunning beauty atop the "Devil's Dyke" hill within the South Downs.

As the organisation is very 'minimal' we cannot accommodate people leaving at different times - as each group would need navigational support - since so few have taken onboard the mapping software in the past. So for practical reasons, we start at one time, in a group, ideally keeping together. This will facilitate the taking of photos, Twitter, Facebook, ZHRO Live, Zim Eye Live and other media we will employ throughout the full 25-30 hours of the "Walk for Freedom"

This link is the most important, its the original detailed full route as plotted on the OS Online platform from Ordnance Survey UK. It is scaleable, in that it can be enlarged right down to individual footpath levels. If you have the OS App then you can navigate "live" in the field using your phone as a direction finder. 100km Route CLICK HERE

Timetable {Approximate}

This timetable is AN APPROXIMATION for arriving and leaving times at the locations identified with Sat Nav Post Codes

Route Maps here - Along the full Walk for Freedom

These Short Section Maps are designed to help those without Data Access "In the field" as it were. Please print off the section(s) you will be walking
USE THESE LINKS Opposite TO OPEN THE MAPS in a new Window	Itemised Map Links
Brighton Start: BN2 1TW	Brighton and suburbs
Crossing the A27	Cross A27
Towards Devil's Dyke: BN1 8YJ {Public House}	Towards Devil'd Dyke
Fulking Villiage	Down to Fulking Villiage
Crossing the Vale	Crossing the Vale
On to Henfield: BN5 9PJ	On to Henfield
Joining the "Downs Link" [An old Railway Route to Guildford]	Joining the Downs Link
Partridge Green	Partridge Green
Christ's Hospital Railway Station: RH13 0ND	Christ's Hospital
Scaling the Hill over the "Bat Tunnel"	The BAT Tunnel
Approaching Guildford {Night Time}	Approaching Guildford
Central Guildford incl Railway Station Meet Point GU1 4UT	Guildford Area
Now with the River Wey Path	Leaving Guildford area
Keeping with the River Wey Navigation Path	River Wey Navigation
Under the M25 [into London!]	Under the M25
Meeting with the River Thames Path	Joining Thames Navigation
Following the Thames Navigation footpath to Hampton Court	Hampton Court and Finish

Ready for further Updates Here

Details: Written by: John Burke; Published: 27 July 2022; Last Updated: 28 July 2022; Hits: 1371

10.5 mile (17km) circuit from Barden Bridge on the Bolton Abbey Estate via the 485m (above sea level) “Simon’s Seat” and to view Bolton Abbey itself. Then back to our starting point

Moses. Mervis, Oli and John did all the circuit. Rosemary, Monica, Hillary did the Riverside walks and helped with food afterwards.

The climb to Simon’s Seat was extremely challenging - needing to scale 1,116 feet of stone - strewn paths, woodland and heather. But the view from the top was worth every step - even in the drizzle and overcast nature of the day. We also met a squad of Army recruits with 40 lb packs jogging down from Simon's Seat! In fact they lunched at the Braden Bridge Car Park so met up with Rosemary, Monica and Hillary.

The walk back from Bolton Abbey, back down at the River Wharf level was ‘interrupted by heavy rain - which they slogged through!

Leeds Branch scaling the ‘heights’ again and benefitting from beautiful local facilities. After the stresses of Monday’s Court case, where we pointed out that the ZHRO Walk for Freedom events are to help with the unwarranted stress of the UK Asylum process!

A very good day 10:30 am at Barden Bridge (BD23 6AS ) and finishing around 17:30 pm. 7 hours walking, climbing and scrambling over heath, hill and dale!

So looking forward to the 13-14th August 2022 "Walk for Freedom" Brighton Pier to Hampton Court Application form to register CLICK HERE Please print and Complete and e-mail to us. Also our Facebook Event Page to register Interest FB Click Here

Selection of images from the day: FULL PHOTO LOG - CLICK HERE


Mervis and John on top of Simon's Seat - with Flag	Mervis and Moses - with flag

The walk up - now past the tree line	the signpost shows the route to Simon's Seat

Mervis and John relaxing now as we are partway down after visiting Simon's Seat	The Squaddies who we met {as they were coming down} whilst we were climbing UP!

THe SADC "reminder" {of their duty and ethos} at 485m above sea level [Simon's Seat]	at 17:30 after a long day walking {7 hours or thereabouts} plus the River team were walking too

A nice scene of the River Wharf new Bolton Abbey -with Moses	Next to the Rocks around Simon's Seat
Full photo log on our Flickr Album dated 26th July 2022 https://www.flickr.com/photos/zhro-uk/albums/72177720300863408