Our Programme of Walks and Events

Meeting Point: Meet at the south end of Wigmore Lane (cul-de-sac), Theale.
Post Code: RG7 5HH, Lat/Long: N51.4287°, W1.0912°, OS Map: SU632703

Meet for a 10:30am start from the south end of Wigmore Lane (cul-de-sac), Theale. When you come off the roundabout on the A4, drive to the T-junction at Wigmore Lane and turn left. Further down on the left hand side there is ample parking in front of metal fencing. Please note all other verges are residents parking only.

This circular walk, to the south of Theale, provides a marked contrast in scenery, from the waterways and lakes of the Lower Kennet Water Park to the undulating farmland and meadows around Sulhamstead. Please note some paths maybe overgrown with nettles, so long trousers and long sleeves are advised.

Please bring packed lunch and drink/water. Unfortunately, there is no pub stop on this walk.

Leader: Jane K 07881 805 156

Meeting Point: Reading Railway Station, Station Approach, Reading
Post Code: RG1 1LZ, Lat/Long: N51.4587°, W0.9728°

Meet at 09:40am inside the main entrance of Reading Station (Station Approach) with tickets purchased to walk at 09:45 to platform for 09:54 train to Oxford.

On arrival at Oxford we will take the 15 minute walk together to the Ashmolean Museum and 'explore' independently, meeting back up 12.30 outside the Ashmolean entrance. The crawl of some of the city's finer pubs will then start, with most of them serving food so people can eat as we go.

For anyone wishing to join us later please call me on 07709 032516 for our whereabouts.

Organisers: Jude and Adam

Meeting Point: St John Ambulance Centre, Deadmans Lane, Theale
Post Code: RG7 5FB, Lat/Long: N51.4354°, W1.0864°

Meet in time for a 6:30pm start for our next 3 hour First Aid course at the St John Ambulance Centre, Deadmans Lane, Theale.

These first aid courses are being subsidised by the Ramblers who pay St John Ambulance directly for the course. When you have successfully completed the course you will be awarded a certificate that is valid for 3 years. After attending the course, you will be asked to contribute £15 towards the cost of the course.

If you would like to attend the course please let David Turner know by emailing him and let him know you are in the Berkshire Weekend Walkers group.

Organiser: David Turner or turnerd2(at)btinternet.com

(Please replace the (at) with an @ in the email address above.)

Meeting Point: Lay-by on B480 in Middle Assendon, near the Rainbow Inn
Post Code: RG9 6AT, Lat/Long: N51.5655°, W0.9353°, OS Map: SU738857

What can I say about this lovely walk that takes in the very best of the Chilterns? We have hills, a ruined medieval church, expansive views, a nature reserve and a pub stop.

We will park our vehicles in the layby in Middle Assendon and meet near the Rainbow Inn pub at a later than usual 11:30 start. A chance to have a lie in perhaps!

The route takes us in a westerly direction to begin with to the village of Bix passing a local church that had replaced the now ruined medieval church in 1875. Our lunch stop will be at the older building which is very unusual for being such an old historic building being abandoned relatively recently.

We continue our walk through the Warburg Nature Reserve, snaking along the footpaths until we make a sharp ascent to Maidensgrove. The pub stop here rewards us with far reaching views of the valley. We take a more direct route to the walks conclusion, pausing to view the medieval church down below.

Much of the walk is over soft terrain and through woodlands which should offer good shelter if desired with limited amount of road walking but one steep ascent. This idyllic walk is not to be missed so stick it in your diary.

Please bring packed lunch and something to drink. Possible lift from walk leader from Reading if given enough notice.

Leader: Dan H. 07761 192 509

Meeting Point: Station Road car park by the Village Hall, Pangbourne
Post Code: RG8 7AN, Lat/Long: N51.4842°, W1.0883°, OS Map: SU633765

Meet at Station Road pay-and-display car park by the Village Hall in Pangbourne for a 10:30am GMT start. (The car park is free on Sundays.) Don't forget that the clocks go back an hour this weekend.

If coming from Reading by train, the 10:15 Didcot service from Reading stops at Pangbourne at 10:23. (The walk from the station to the car park is about 3 minutes.) If you're arriving by train and it's running late, please contact me so we can wait for you.

We will cross the Thames to Whitchurch and follow the Thames Path towards Goring and return via a cross-country route. There will be a picnic stop about half-way around and an optional pub stop at the end. The route is hilly in places and you can expect some muddy footpaths.

Please bring a packed lunch as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Meeting Point: Wheel Orchard car park, off Station Road, Goring
Post Code: RG8 9HB, Lat/Long: N51.5218°, W1.1371°, OS Map: SU599806

Meet up for a 10:30am start at the Wheel Orchard pay-and-display car park behind the Catherine Wheel pub in Goring. This car park is free on Sundays.

The walk starts along a very attractive section of the Thames Path. After emerging above Whitchurch, it climbs the hill, goes through three farms before entering Great Chalk Wood. The walk then enters more open countryside before returning to Goring. There are some steep hills.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Led by the Pang Valley Ramblers.

Meeting Point: Woolhampton Village Hall, Bath Road, Woolhampton
Post Code: RG7 5RE, Lat/Long: N51.3973°, W1.1807°

West Berkshire Group will be hosting the meeting on Saturday 30^th November at Woolhampton Village Hall. Arrangements for the day are as follows:

10:00am: Hall opens for displays to be set up etc.

10:30am: A choice of walks of between about 4 and 6 miles starting from the hall.

12:30pm: Lunch in the hall (bring your own picnic – tea, coffee etc. available – alternatively there are two pub within 10 minutes' walk) plus an opportunity to look at displays about the other Berkshire groups and their activities, and to chat with other members.

1:30pm: Presentation by Ramblers Holidays with Q&A (they will also have a display).

2:00pm: Presentation by a Ramblers Trustee with Q&A, followed by formal AGM business.

3:00pm: Talk by Dr David Peacock The Place Names of Berkshire.

What's in a name? Rather more than might at first be apparent if you start to look into the meaning of local place names. David will explain the origins of many of Berkshire's names and explain the ways in which to identify where place names originate from, drawing on examples from across the county.

David researches, writes and lectures on the history of the Newbury area from the stone age to the present day. He has taught evening classes in local history for Oxford University, Newbury College and West Berkshire Museum.

Woolhampton Village Hall is on the western edge of the village on the south side of the A4 and has ample parking. The village is served by public transport connecting Reading, Theale, Thatcham and Newbury:

Hourly stopping trains call at Midgham Station (which is in Woolhampton and approx. 5 mins walk from the hall).

Reading Buses service 1 runs half-hourly and calls at The Angel, Woolhampton (approx. 3 mins walk from the hall).

Meeting Point: Newbury Railway Station
Post Code: RG14 7NB, Lat/Long: N51.3977°, W1.3228°, OS Map: SU472667

A short (approx 6 mile) walk around Newbury and Speen to stimulate your appetite for the BWW Christmas lunch (see below). The walk starts at Newbury station and ends at the Hare and Hounds. (There will also be a shorter and more direct walk back to the station after the meal.)

More details to follow...

Leader: Mike D 07938 843 660

Meeting Point: The Hare and Hounds, Bath Road, Speen, Newbury
Post Code: RG14 1QY, Lat/Long: N51.4103°, W1.3455°

This year, our Christmas meal is at lunchtime, after an optional short walk (see above). If you are not doing the walk, please arrive at the Hare and Hounds from 2pm, drinks available from the bar, for a 2:30pm sit down (times to be confirmed).

The cost is £26.95 per person, including 10% service charge, for the three-course meal followed by coffee and mince pies. See Christmas menu. A non-refundable £10.00 deposit is required to confirm your place, along with your menu choices. Please contact the organiser to book your place and get payment details. (Please do not contact the retaurant directly.) Deadline is Thursday 7th November.

Please note if you are unable to make the lunch on the day, full payment will still be required.

For those that wish to continue partying the organiser is happy to frequent a pub or two in Newbury after the lunch and of course Christmas shopping may also be on the agenda for some.

Organiser: Jane K 07881 805 156 or janekendrick(at)btinternet.com

(Please replace the (at) with an @ in the email address above.)

Meeting Point: Back of Beyond pub, 104–108 Kings Road, Reading
Post Code: RG1 3BY, Lat/Long: N51.4548°, W0.9634°

Details to follow...

Organisers: Jude and Adam