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Our Programme of Walks and Events

Our programme of walks and social events is regularly updated. New items are often added, but occasionally existing items have to be changed, so please check before travelling.

Our group has been walking since July 2012 and we've been to all sorts of places in and around Berkshire. Take a look at our Scrapbook to see where we've been so far.

Walks
Our walks are mostly planned and led by volunteers from within our group, but we also have joint walks with our neighbouring Ramblers groups. The walks are open to all members of the Ramblers and to anyone interested in joining our group.
Note: The Ramblers website has a Walk Finder Page where you can find other walks in your area.
Social Events
Our social events are mostly organised by volunteers from within the group and are open to members of the Berkshire Weekend Walkers and to anyone considering joining the group.
Holidays
Our walking holidays are mostly planned and led by volunteers from within our group, but we sometimes use Ramblers approved holiday companies. The holidays led by our group are open to members of other Ramblers groups, but where numbers are limited, priority will be given to members of our own group. (Obviously the holidays run by holiday companies are open to anyone.)
Sat Nav
Map references are given as a post code and as Latitude/Longitude co-ordinates. Ordnance Survey Landranger map references for the start point of walks are also provided for the more traditional map reader.
Please be aware that post codes in the countryside may cover a large area and your Sat Nav device will assume the centre of that area, which may not be where we are!

May 2022

Note: The details of the walks/events that have already taken place are hidden. Click on the heading of an event to show and hide its details.

Monday 2nd May: 9¾ Mile Walk (moderate)
Burnham Beeches (Burnham-Slough linear)

Meeting Point: Burnham railway station, Cippenham, Slough
Post Code: SL1 6JT, Lat/Long: N51.52356°, W0.64624°, OS Map: SU940813

A repeat of last spring's walk, minus the covid restrictions! Meet outside Burnham station in time for a 10:45am start. If travelling by train from Reading, take the direct 10:22 service. Paid parking is available at both ends of the walk, and there is plenty of free on-street parking in west Slough, including some near Burnham station. (If you are driving and would prefer to avoid the train, there is an option to leave the walk a bit early and make your own way back from Salt Hill Park to Burnham, which would add about 1.5 miles to the advertised distance.)

We will begin by visiting Haymill Valley nature reserve, just opposite the station. From there, we will cross some green open spaces and leave Slough via Cocksherd Wood, where we might see some bluebells if we are lucky. Some quiet footpaths take us up to Burnham Beeches, and after a short loop around the park and a lunch stop there will be the option of visiting the Beeches Café (and hopefully sitting at a table this year).

The return route takes us through Farnham Common, along the east edge of Farnham Royal, then down a cycle path into Baylis Park and Salt Hill Park. It is a short distance from Salt Hill to Slough station where the walk ends.

This walk is graded moderate due to its length, but the terrain is mostly quite easy to walk on. As usual, please bring a packed lunch, a drink and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Leader: Chris F. 07984 255 322

Saturday 7th May: 10¾ Mile Walk (moderate/hilly)
Pewsey, Pewsey Hill and Pewsey White Horse

Meeting Point: Pewsey Railway Station, North Street, Pewsey
Post Code: SN9 5FB, Lat/Long: N51.3422°, W1.7705°, OS Map: SU160603

Meet at Pewsey railway station for a 9:40 TBC* start. By train from Reading, take the 09:02 Exeter St David's service, which stops at Pewsey at 09:36. Please check rail timetable before you set off as a temporary timetable may be in operation.
* If the train timetable changes significantly, so will the start time of the walk.

The station car park is £5.40 for the day, but there are a number of free car parks in Pewsey. The car park on Goddard Road SN9 5ES is about 7 minutes walk from the station and also has toilet facilities. The car park on Broomcroft Road SN9 5EX is slightly smaller but slightly nearer the station. The Co-op car park SN9 5AG is the furthest from the station (about 10 minutes) but it is where the walk will finish.

A walk that covers the hills South of Pewsey, as distinct from previous Pewsey walks that headed North to the Whitehorse Trail. The trip will commence from the Pewsey Railway Station and finish at the Co-op store in central Pewsey.

From the station we will head west towards East and West Sharcott and Manningford Abbots. We then proceed towards Pewsey Hill along up a largely unused byway before heading north to our lunch stop at the Pewsey White Horse. We then process along the ridge to the Giants Grave long barrow before descending towards millionaires row in Milton Lilbourne, and then onwards to our finish at Pewsey Co-op.

The walk is predominately flat but there is a gentle climb to reach Pewsey Hill and then a short but steep climb to the White Horse. We walk largely along footpaths, byways and quiet lanes. We will also encounter approximately 8 stiles for those who enjoy the challenge. (Note that this is quite a different walk to the one Ian led from Pewsey on 2nd April.)

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leader: Ian B. 07908 963 870

Sunday 8th May: 8 Mile Walk (easy/moderate)
Cholsey and South Moreton
- joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers group

Meeting Point: Car park by St Mary's Church, Church Road, Cholsey.
Post Code: OX10 9PS, Lat/Long: N51.57897°, W1.15751°, OS Map: SU584870

Our friends from the Pang Valley Ramblers group have invited us to join them for a relatively flat walk taking us to Aston Tirrold, then Blewburton Hill to Moreton and back to Cholsey.

Meet of a 10:30 start in the car park off Church Road, in the apron before St Mary's Church. If heading north west out of Cholsey on Church Road, it will be on your left. Do not park in the field on the left. (This is about a 20 minute walk from Cholsey Station.)

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Sunday 15th May: 10 Mile Walk (easy/moderate)
Reading to Pangbourne via Mapledurham
- This is a linear walk.

Meeting Point: Outside the Three Guineas pub by Reading railway station
Post Code: RG1 1LY, Lat/Long: N51.4586°, W0.9725°, OS Map: SU714737

Meet outside The Three Guineas pub by the entrance to Reading railway station for a 10:00 start. If you are driving from outside Reading, you can save yourself the expensive Reading parking fees by parking at Pangbourne Village Hall pay-and-display car park (which is free on Sundays) and getting the 09:49 Paddington service, which stops at Reading at 09:58. (If the train is delayed, the leader will delay the start the walk within reasonable limits.)

We'll walk through the tunnel under the station towards the river and the Christchurch pedestrian bridge to Caversham Court Gardens and along the path towards Mapledurham. Mapledurham is a good place to have a picnic lunch in the churchyard of St. Margaret's Church which you many know from the film "The Eagle has Landed". The watermill as seen in the film has since been modernised to include a hydro electric generator.

From there we'll walk towards Pangboune, a village apparently founded by the Danes, and there should be a chance for a drink somewhere in Pangbourne depending on the weather. Return trains to Reading leave Pangbourne station at four minutes past the hour and cost £4.30.

Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink. For anyone who likes exotic organic vegetables, bring some cash and you can collect some and pay using their "honesty box" at Lin's VegShed.

Leader: Lawrence 07764 976377

Saturday 21st May: 11½ Mile Walk (moderate)
Cholsey and South Oxfordshire

Meeting Point: Cholsey railway station, Westfield Road, Cholsey, near Wallingford
Post Code: OX10 9LN, Lat/Long: N51.5703°, W1.1577°, OS Map: SU584860

Meet outside Cholsey railway station for a 10:15 start. By train from Reading, take the 09:53 Didcot Parkway service, which stops at Cholsey at 10:10. Parking at the station cost £4 for the day.

From Cholsey Station we head south on a quiet byway towards Moulsford and then join the Fair Mile for a very short period before turning off onto footpaths that take us deep into a fine old estate and then join up with the Ridgeway.

After heading West on the Ridgeway, for a short period, we head off towards Lowbury Hill, site of an ancient Romano Anglo temple - you can see the outline on google maps. After checking out the site we rejoin the Fair Mile for a short period before heading North towards Aston Tirrold and then westwards to Cholsey.

No stiles and no churches, unless we head to St Mary's in Cholsey for a visit to Agatha Christies grave on the way home. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water.

Leader: Ian B. 07908 963 870

Sunday 22nd May: 10 Mile Walk (moderate)
Henley-on-Thames
- joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers group

Meeting Point: Spring Lane, by entrance to Sailing Club, Playhatch/Sonning
Post Code: RG4 6TT, Lat/Long: N51.47791°, W0.92135°, OS Map: SU750759

The Pang Valley Ramblers group have invited us to join them for another circular walk. The outward route is over the hills via Binfield Heath and Harpsden to the riverside at Henley for a lunch break, returning to Sonning via the Thames Path and Shiplake. Moderate hills only, may be muddy.

Park in Spring Lane at the entrance to the sailing club, off the roundabout on the road from Playhatch to Sonning, ready for a 10:30 start. Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Sunday 29th May: 6¼ Mile Walk (easy)
Finchampstead and Coalpit Copse

Meeting Point: Crowthorne Railway Station, Duke's Ride, Crowthorne
Post Code: RG45 6NZ, Lat/Long: N51.367°, W0.8188°, OS Map: SU823637

By car: Parking at the railway station car park currently costs £2.50 for the day (payment is made using the APOCA app), but there is usually some roadside parking available in Ravenswood Avenue, Wellington Business Park and other nearby roads.

Public Transport: The 09:41 train from Reading to Redhill stops at Crowthorne at 09:56. Return trains to Reading leave at 52 minutes past the hour. Please check https://www.nationalrail.co.uk nearer the time in case the timetables have changed.

Starting at 10:00 from outside the Post Office on the corner of St Francis Close and Duke's Ride, opposite the eastern entrance to Crowthorne railway station. (See maps). If the train is late arriving, the start of the walk will be delayed accordingly.

This varied circular walk visits Heath Pond, Coalpit Copse, Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve and Finchampstead Ridges.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual. The lunch stop will be towards the end of the walk.

Leader: Sue B 07899 916 748

June 2022

Sunday 5th June: 9½ Mile Walk (moderate)
Compton and East Ilsley
- joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers group

Meeting Point: The High Street, Compton, West Berkshire
Post Code: RG20 6NL, Lat/Long: N51.51604°, W1.25164°, OS Map: SU520799

The Pang Valley Ramblers group invite us to join them for a circular walk from Compton with glorious views over the Downs and rolling countryside. The walk ascends to the Ridgeway and following it west before descending to East Ilsley where we will stop for lunch. We then loop southwards returning to Compton.

Park carefully on the High Street near the bus stop for a 10:30 start. Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Sunday 19th June: 7½ Mile Walk (easy/moderate)
Caversham Outskirts
- joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers group

Meeting Point: Clayfield Copse car park on Caversham Park Road
Post Code: RG4 6QN, Lat/Long: N51.48508°, W0.95628°, OS Map: SU725767

The Pang Valley Ramblers group have invited us to join them for a circular walk starting in Caversham, walking via Dunsden Green, Crowsley Park and Chalkhouse Green. Woodland and open country, minor hills only, may be muddy in parts.

Meet for a 10:30 start at the Clayfield Copse car park on Caversham Park Road by the tennis courts. Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Sunday 26th June: 6 Mile Walk (easy)
Odiham, Greywell Moors and Basingstoke Canal

Meeting Point: High Street, Odiham, Hampshire
Post Code: RG29 1LP, Lat/Long: N51.2541°, W0.9401°, OS Map: SU740510

Meet for a 11:00 start in Odiham High Street, outside the Bel and Dragon Hotel. There is plenty of roadside parking on the High Street on Sundays, plus there are a couple of nearby car parks. The car park on Deer Park View is free on Sundays, as is the car park at The Bury, which is accessible from King Street.

The walk starts by heading west through Odiham to Greywell Moors. Then we will head into Greywell and join the Basingstoke Canal. We will follow the canal, stopping at Odiham Castle, as far as the Waterwitch pub, where we will stop for a drink before returning to the High Street.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink.

Leader: Sue H. 07969 532 586

July 2022

Sunday 17th July: 10 Mile Walk (easy/moderate)
Clifton Hampden and The Thames
- joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers group

Meeting Point: Car park opposite The Barley Mow, High Street, Clifton Hampden
Post Code: OX14 3EH, Lat/Long: N51.65336°, W1.20856°, OS Map: SU548952

The Pang Valley Ramblers group have invited us to join them for a mainly flat walk which partly follows the Thames Path and visits the villages of Appleford, Long Wittenham and Sutton Courtney where we will see the graves of Herbert Asquith and George Orwell.

Meet for a 10:30 start in the large car park opposite the Barley Mow pub, High Street, Clifton Hampden. Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual. Some paths might be muddy.

September 2023

Saturday 2nd September to Saturday 9th September:
Week away walking in South Cornwall

Location: Porthscatho, Truro, Cornwall

Following a great week away in Cornwall in 2018, we are planning a return visit in 2023!

A reservation has been made on the same house that we stayed in last time – Hillside House in the pretty fishing village of Portscatho in South Cornwall. The house has six bedrooms (four doubles and two twins), all of which are en-suite and it's located just five minutes from the beach and the South West Coast Path. Here's a link for more details about the house: https://www.classic.co.uk/holiday-cottage/desc-3135.html

As with other similar BWW weeks away, the plan will be to do four days of organised walking, with two days free for exploring the local area by yourself. The exact programme of walks is to be confirmed. (In 2018, walks were 5 - 6 miles in length, with the option of extending these by a further 2 - 4 miles for those that wish to and a similar pattern is likely in 2023.)

As the house is self-catering, the model used for some of our previous trips has a track record for working very well. Each person contributes to a food kitty, which usually covers the cost of breakfast and pack lunch provisions and the evening meal each night. For the evening meal, the cooking is shared between us – working in pairs, to provide one main course and one desert during the week. Those not comfortable with cooking can do the washing up instead.

Cost:
Double rooms: £420 or £375 per room
Twin Rooms: £350 per room (i.e. £175 per person sharing)
Estimated cost of food for the week: £70 per person (this may change)

If you are interested in joining us, please email Sue B. Places will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. If there are more people interested than there are rooms in the house, there are other holiday properties in Portscatho which can be booked independently. You would then still be able to join us for the organised walks.

Organiser: Sue B 07899 916 748 or seblack.viola(at)gmail.com

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

Updates to Details

Please note that walks, social events and holidays may be added to this programme at any time. Also we occasionally have to make changes to an item that is already on the programme. If you have printed out this programme, please be aware that it may have changed since you printed it.