Programme of Walks and Events

Sunday 7^th April: 10 Mile Walk - River Wey Wander (easy/moderate)

Meeting Point: Car park at The Anchor pub, Wisley Lane, Pryford
Post Code: GU23 6QW, Lat/Long: N51.3228°, W0.4901°, OS Map: TQ053592

This walk starts at 10:30am at the car park of The Anchor pub in the charming location of Pryford. We plan to have a drink at the pub after the walk and have asked permission to park in their car park.

This is a walk with lots of history and interesting buildings (and ruins) to see. A significant amount of the walk is along the River Wey, and we get to see some really picturesque landmarks and parts of the river, as well as a lock that is ranked as the prettiest on the River Wey.

We head out of Pryford over the Wisley golf course (one of two golf courses on this walk) and do a short detour to see Wisley church before heading to the River Wey. We have a choice of lunch stop locations, either before the village of Send in a pretty location at Broadmead Cut, or at a park in Send, we will decide on the day. We pass through Old Woking and visit a very old church, with a significant historical feature before heading back to Pryford.

This walk has the capacity to be muddy in a few places, particularly over farmland, depending on the weather before and during the walk, so best to be prepared with sturdy boots and possibly gaiters. Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leaders: Ann and Kathy 07800 728 667 or 07794 406 438

Sunday 14^th April: 8 Mile Walk - Cookham Dean and Winter Hill (moderate)

Meeting Point: Cookham Moor National Trust Car Park, The Pound (B4447), Cookham Dean
Post Code: SL6 9SA, Lat/Long: N51.5599°, W0.7141°, OS Map: SU892853

The walk starts at 10:30am from the Cookham Moor car park on the B4447 between Cookham and Cookham Dean. This is a National Trust car park so fees will apply if you are not a member.

We begin by walking along the Thames riverbank and Cock Marsh, then climbing Winter Hill with lovely views of the Thames. Through woodland, and crossing the golf course on the way back to the car park. There is a pub stop at the village owned Jolly Farmer half way round.

Bring packed lunch, waterproofs and strong shoes/boots as usual.

Leaders: Julie 07762 825 121 or Mark 07949 633 477

Friday 19^th April: 6 Mile Walk - A Good Friday Stroll (easy)
- Joint walk with the Berkshire Walkers

Meeting Point: Thatcham Railway Station, Station Road, Thatcham
Post Code: RG19 4PP, Lat/Long: N51.3937°, W1.2431°, OS Map: SU527663

Our walk will start from the south side of Thatcham railway station at 9:35am (on the arrival of the train from Reading).

We will follow the Kennet for a short distance before heading up onto Greenham Common, and over the hill to the River Enbourne on the county border. After following the Brenda Parker Way as it winds along the riverside, we'll head up onto Crookham Common before dropping back down to Thatcham.

There will the the opportunity to call at The Swan when we get back to the station, but there is no pub on the route. Please bring a morning snack with you and something to drink: we should be finished in time for lunch, leaving the afternoon free.

Leader: Lee 07780 683 521

Monday 22^nd April: 7 Mile Walk - Fleet Pond and Pyestock Hill (easy/moderate)

Meeting Point: Fleet Railway Station, Minley Road, Fleet, Hampshire
Post Code: GU51 3QY, Lat/Long: N51.2903°, W0.8313°, OS Map: SU815552

Meet in the car park on the south side (station office side) of Fleet railway station for a 10:30am start. Parking costs £2.10 for the day on Bank Holidays. There are cafe and toilet facilities at the station.

The walk follows the edge of Fleet Pond, follows a section of the Basingstoke Canal and crosses several areas of woodland and plantation forest. The walk includes Norris Hill and Pyestock Hill, but despite their names, these are more like gentle inclines. There will be a picnic lunch stop and a pup stop about half-way round.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Sunday 28^th April: 7½ Mile Walk - Blewbury and Chilton (moderate)
- Joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers

Meeting Point: Recreation Ground car park, Bohams Road, Blewbury, Oxford
Post Code: OX11 9HB, Lat/Long: N51.5664°, W1.2431°, OS Map: SU525855

Meet for a 10:30am start at the recreation ground car park. Drive through Blewbury on the A417 and park in recreation ground car park off Boham's Road opposite Savages Garden Centre.

We will walk along Coffin Way to Upton, via Chilton then up on to the Downs with a fairly steep descent back to Blewbury.

Please bring a drink and packed lunch, as usual.

Leaders: Alistair and Pauline L. (PVR)

Sunday 5^th May: 8 Mile Walk - Henley to Marlow (moderate)

Meeting Point: Car Park on Pound Lane, opposite Malthouse Way, Marlow
Post Code: SL7 2AE, Lat/Long: N51.5689°, W0.7765°, OS Map: SU848862

Meet ready to start at the main exit of the Pound Lane car park at 10:45am promptly - if you are late do not expect the leader to be waiting for you as we have a bus to catch! The car park (at the time of the walk submission) has a charge of £3 for up to 6 hours. Alternative road side car parking may be found further west along Pound Lane and it's side roads heading away from the high street.

This is a linear walk so first we will travel on the 11:04am bus to Henley-on-Thames, the fare for this was £3.80 when pre-walked in March 2019.

If you wish to join the walk at Henley-on-Thames please meet at The Angel on the Bridge pub by the bridge at 11:25am but note that the precise time we will meet you cannot be guaranteed due to the earlier use of a bus and neither can it be guaranteed that anyone will be able to take you back at the end of the walk. (There is an hourly bus.)

Having arrived at Henley, possibly around 11:25am, we will first walk by the River Thames to Mill Weir and the picturesque village of Hambleden. From Hambleden, after a lunch break, we will head back to Marlow via the very scenic Chiltern Way/Shakespeare Way trails. Our route back will be a mixture of open views and woodland including a few hills - it is after all, the Chiltern Hills.

Once back in Marlow there will be various options to stop at a pub or coffee shop for refreshments.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink.

Leader: Mike D 07938 843 660

Sunday 12^th May: 7 Mile Walk - Warfield and Northern Lanes (easy)

Meeting Point: Frost Folly Country Car Park, Wellers Lane, Warfield
Post Code: RG42 6EN, Lat/Long: N51.4458°, W0.7452°, OS Map: SU872726

Meet for a 10:30am start at the Frost Folly Country Car Park, Wellers Lane, Warfield. Approximate post code RG42 6EN.

This is a fairly gentle walk through fields and country paths with some really pretty views of the Berkshire countryside. This walk also includes walking down Ashmore Lane, reputed to be one of the prettiest lanes in the borough.

There is an opportunity for a pub stop at the end of the walk. Please bring lunch and a drink as usual.

Leaders: Ann and Kathy 07800 728 667 or 07794 406 438

Sunday 19^th May: Walk - Twyford

Details to follow...

Leader: Sue H.

Sunday 26^th May: 8 Mile Walk - Friday Street, Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill (moderate)

Meeting Point: Free car park on Friday Street, Abinger Common, Surrey
Post Code: RH5 6JR, Lat/Long: N51.2003°, W0.3903°, OS Map: TQ125457

Meet at Friday Street car park for a 10:30am start. As this is slightly out of our normal area (but well worth the drive), both leaders are offering lifts from Reading (leave 09:00) and Winnersh/Wokingham (leave 09:15). Please ask Sue and Jane by the Thursday night.

To get to Friday Street from the main Guildford Road (A25), take a left turn marked Abinger Common, Friday Street, Leith Hill. After passing houses on the right, going through a rather dramatic cutting, passing a road junction on the right, a footpath on the left and reaching a large house on the right, take an extremely sharp left hand turn signposted Friday Street. The signpost is somewhat hidden in the trees and is very easy to miss. After about 400m, look out for the car park on the right, before the lake.

This is a circular walk through the Greensand hills of Surrey, with one short climb (slightly challenging) and some gentler gradients, so this walk will seem longer than its 8 miles. Please note it can we wet underfoot in some areas. We will stop at Leith Hill Tower, with its fine views south over the Sussex Weald. The tower is free to National Trust members (don't forget your card), or £2 to none members. The small cafe has refreshments and nice homemade cakes.

Please bring packed lunch and a drink. We will stop at the top of Holmbury Hill. There will be a pub stop in Holmbury-St-Mary.

New and prospective members are welcome to come and find out what we're about.

Leaders: Jane 07881 805 156 (Reading) and Sue J 07931 291 552 (Winnersh/Wokingham)

Sunday 28^th July: 11 Mile Walk - Goring on Thames (moderate)
- Joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers

Meeting Point: Goring and Streatley railway station, Gatehampton Road, Goring
Post Code: RG8 0ES, Lat/Long: N51.5215°, W1.1328°, OS Map: SU602806

Meet for a 10:30am start at Goring and Streatley railway station. The station car park is £3.30 on Sundays. (The nearby Wheel Orchard car park, by the Catherine Wheel pub, is free on Sundays, and it's about 7-8 minutes walk to the station.)

This moderately paced walk passes over the Thames beside the picturesque lock at Goring before climbing steeply to the Trig Point on Lough Down where we can take time to recover our breathe while enjoying views of the Thames below. From here we descend onto the ancient Ridgeway and then begin the steady assent above Thurle Down to Streatley Warren. Leaving the Ridgeway here we pass through Ham Wood before descending gently through Unhill Bottom to Moulsford and the Thames, then back to Goring.

Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink.

Leader: Steve H. (PVR)