Programme of Walks and Events

Sunday 7^th October: 8¼ Mile Walk - Goring on Thames (moderate)
- Joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers

Meeting Point: Car park behind The Catherine Wheel, Station Rd in Goring
Post Code: RG8 9AT, Lat/Long: N51.5218°, W1.1371°, OS Map: SU599806

Park in car park behind The Catherine Wheel, Station Road in Goring (free on Sundays).

Starting at 10:30am the walk leaves Goring to walk through the attractive woodland of Great Chalk Wood, passing Stapnalls Farm, Coombe End Farm and Beech Farm, returning along the Thames Path to Goring. Beautiful views, some steep hills.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leader: Diane L.

Sunday 14^th October: 9½ Mile Walk - Simons Wood, Finchampstead Ridges and Eversley (moderate)

Meeting Point: Simons Wood car park, Wellingtonia Avenue, Finchampstead
Post Code: RG45 6AE, Lat/Long: N51.3647°, W0.8334°, OS Map: SU813634

Meet at the Simons Wood car park on Wellingtonia Avenue for a 10:30am start.

A moderate walk on easy footpaths passing Finchampstead Church, Eversley Cross, Moor Green Lakes and Finchampstead Ridges. There will be a lunch stop half-way round. Please bring packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leaders: Colin 07738 911 507 and Sue 07931 291 552

Sunday 21^st October: 7 Mile Walk - Sonning Common, Henley-on-Thames (moderate)

Meeting Point: Junction of Sedgewell Road and Peppard Road, B481, Sonning Common
Post Code: RG4 9TA, Lat/Long: N51.5206°, W0.9802°, OS Map: SU708806

Meeting Point: By the shops at the junction of Sedgewell Road and Peppard Road, B481 in Sonning Common. Parking may be found in Sedgewell Road or in the long lay by on Peppard Road (I cannot remember seeing any parking restrictions but please do check).

Starting at 10:30am, this is an extended version of a walk I first led in 2006 consisting of a varied mixture of open landscape with extensive views of the Chiltern hills and woodland including some short sections of the Chiltern Way. The walk takes us to the periphery of Henley-on-Thames and back via Rotherfield Greys and includes some very short hills.

A lunch stop will be had overlooking a particularly scenic valley in the parish of Rotherfield Greys before a pub drink at the Maltsters Arms. We return to Sonning Common via an area known as Stony Bottom.

Please being a packed lunch and a drink.

Leader: Mike 07938-843660 or before the day on 01635-863831

Sunday 28^th October: 6½ Mile Walk - Silchester and Pamber Forest (easy)

Meeting Point: English Heritage car park on Wall Lane, Silchester
Post Code: RG7 2HP, Lat/Long: N51.3616°, W1.0882°, OS Map: SU635628

Start at 10:30am GMT* in the free (English Heritage) car park on Wall Lane, just north of the remains of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum.

*Note that the clocks go back an hour this weekend.

This circular walk follows part of the wall of the Roman town, visits the Amphitheatre and explores a bit of Pamber Forest. The route includes a section of the Brenda Parker Way. There will be a picnic lunch stop about halfway round and a pub-stop three-quarters of the way round.

Please bring a packed lunch and a drink as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Sunday 4^th November: 8½ Mile Walk - Pangbourne Circular Walk (easy/moderate)

Meeting Point: Car park at Pangbourne Village Hall, Station Road, Pangbourne
Post Code: RG8 7AN, Lat/Long: N51.4842°, W1.0883°, OS Map: SU634765

Starting at 10:30am from the Pangbourne Village Hall car park on Station Road, which is free on Sundays.

Trains: Waterloo 08:57 to Reading 09:58 to Pangbourne, gets into the station at 10:22 (correct on the 5/10/18 but please check the train times before your journey). If coming by train please could you let Ann or Kathy know. Pangbourne station is just round the corner from the car park.

Commencing on the Thames Park National Trail, past Coombe Park into woods with a view over the Thames. Hartslock nature reserve is potential lunch stop, with good views of the Thames below, an alternative would be woodland slightly further on. Further woodland and fields to Whitchurch and back to Pangbourne. Good footpaths and several inclines. There is the option of a pub stop on route after lunch or at the end of the walk back in Pangbourne.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

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

Sunday 11^th November: 9 Mile Walk - Lardon Chase, Hartslock Nature Reserve and the Holies (moderate/hard)

Meeting Point: Car park at top of Streatley Hill, B4009, Streatley
Post Code: RG8 9RB, Lat/Long: N51.5218°, W1.1618°, OS Map: SU582806

Meet at the car park on right-hand side at the top of Streatley Hill for a 10:30am start.

A lovely walk with great views up and down the Thames. Has a couple of steep climbs. Starts by dropping down Lardon Chase into Streatley and Goring then follows the Chiltern Way to Hartslock Nature Reserve. Return via the Thames Path back to Goring and across the river to the National Trust Reserve of The Holies.

Bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leaders: Colin 07738 911 507 and Sue 07931 291 552

Sunday 18^th November: 8 Mile Walk - Hartley Wintney and West Green (easy/moderate)

Meeting Point: Monachus Lane car park in Hartley Wintney
Post Code: RG27 8NN, Lat/Long: N51.3071°, W0.9002°, OS Map: SU767570

This is a repeat (but in reverse direction) of a walk held last December which was shortened due to heavy rain.

Meet for a 10:30am start at Monachus Lane car park in Hartley Wintney, signposted from the A30. This car park is free on Sundays.

The first part of the walk follows the Brenda Parker Way from Hartley Wintney to West Green Common where we will stop for lunch. The walk then continues to Dipley (where we will take a short detour to look at the mill) and returns to Hartley Wintney via Hazeley Heath. Optional refreshments at the Waggon and Horses in Hartley Wintney afterwards.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leader: Denise 07748 766 371

Sunday 25^th November: 11½ Mile Walk - The 'Turkey' Walk / Maidenhead Thicket (moderate)

Meeting Point: Free car park on Henley Road, near Junction 9b on A404(M)
Post Code: SL6 4LQ, Lat/Long: N51.5209°, W0.7654°, OS Map: SU857809

The walk starts at the earlier time of 10:00am from the free car park on Henley Road, near Junction 9b on A404(M).

From M4 turn right, from M40 turn left, at Junction 9b A404(M) Maidenhead Thicket roundabout (A4 Bath Road). At the next roundabout turn left on to Henley Road. Car park is on the left a short way along Henley Road. If you reach a turning on the right for Pinkneys Drive you've gone too far! (Note post code is approximate and will take you to further along the Bath Road. Please use maps links above to view the car park location before setting off.)

A varied walk taking us through commons, over farmland and via the agricultural college where we may see horses, rabbits, emu and kangaroo. On to High Wood, which affords fine views over the countryside, then descending to join the Thames river path and locks to Marlow where we have our lunch stop. We then ascend Winter Hill and on to the interesting and noisy Copas Turkey Farm. Further footpaths, woods and commons then lead us back to the start point.

Please bring packed lunch and drink. Cafe and toilets are also available at the lunch stop.

Walk leaders Ann 07800 728 667 and Kathy 07794 406 438

Sunday 2^nd December: 8½ Mile Walk - Whitechurch Hill & Goring Heath (moderate)
- Joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers

Meeting Point: Car park at Pangbourne Village Hall, Station Road, Pangbourne
Post Code: RG8 7AN, Lat/Long: N51.4842°, W1.0883°, OS Map: SU634765

Starting at Pangbourne village hall at 10:30am, after (not before) the arrival of the 10:22 train from Reading.

Over the toll bridge and east to Hardwick Hall. Then via Collin's End to the Alnott Almshouses, Path Hill, Coombe End farm, and the Hartslock Overlook. Return via the Thames Path to Pangbourne.

Bring a packed lunch and something to drink as usual.

Leader: Peter W

Sunday 9^th December: 11 Mile Walk - Windsor, Runnymede and Old Windsor (moderate)

Meeting Point: Alma Road car park (by the railway bridge) Windsor
Post Code: SL4 3HU, Lat/Long: N51.4834°, W0.6146°, OS Map: SU962769

The walk starts at 10:00am from the pay and display car park by the railway bridge on Alma Road. (Parking charges are £8 for the day, so consider car sharing, however they sometimes waive the parking charges over the Christmas period, so check nearer the time.)

We will walk along the Long Walk up to the Copper Horse stature and head for Bishops Gate. There will be a pub stop at the Harvester in Old Windsor followed by a lunch stop on the towpath by the river. Then we will walk along the towpath heading towards Datchet and back to Windsor through the Home Park.

Bring packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leader: Greg 07780 945 591 or 01753 842 171

Saturday 12^th January: 4½ Mile Walk - Yattendon Walk and Brewery Lunch/Drink (easy)

Meeting Point: West Berks Brewery car park, Yattendon
Post Code: RG18 0XT, Lat/Long: N51.463°, W1.2023°, OS Map: SU555740

January blues and feeling in need of an easy walk followed by a meal or perhaps just a drink after all the Christmas activity or maybe you have a new year resolution to walk for fitness and be more sociable? – Yes? – please sign up with Mike, No? – come along anyway and let Mike know – the food and beers are rather nice!

Starting at 10:30am from the West Berks Brewery which is just south of the village of Yattendon (see signs for the shop which is based at an old dairy farm) but north of the M4 this is an easy short walk taking in the village and parish of Yattendon and includes a mixture of farmland, woodland and some country lanes.

There will be no lunch stop on the walk but still a drink stop, the idea is to have lunch or just a drink at the West Berkshire Brewery tap room and kitchen (https://www.wbbrew.com/the-brewery/) directly after the walk at around 12 Midday – 12.30.

I have reserved a table for 12. If you wish to stay for a social meal and optional drink or drink only please pass your name(s) to Mike ideally before Saturday 5th January by emailing mdd150407@gmail.com (that is with digit zero) or texting advising your name(s) and if you are coming along for the meal and drink or just drink. The 12 booked places will be allocated in booking order with priority given to those eating a meal. Please do attend if you say you are coming along, If you are not in the first 12 I may be able to increase numbers otherwise it is a case of taking your chance of getting a seat – the tap room though is quite large so there is a reasonably good chance you will get a seat but it may not be directly by the table booked.

There is a choice of meals normally available in the region of £9-£14, order your meal and drinks individually at the bar. See an example menu at https://www.wbbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Menu-August-18-1.pdf

For the walk please still bring a drink.

Leader: Mike 07938-843660 or before the day on 01635-863831