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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!

October 2024

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.

Sunday 6th October: 7 Mile Walk (easy/moderate)
Pyrford, Send and Old Woking

Meeting Point: Pyrford Common car park, Pyrford Common Road, Woking, Surrey
Post Code: GU22 8LE (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.3218°, W0.5251° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)
OS Map: TQ028591 (Click it to see it on an Ordnance Survey map on Streetmap.co.uk)

The walk starts at 10:30am at the car park in Pyrford Common Recreation Ground.

We head out of Pyrford Common and skirting the village we reach the Wisley Golf Course (one of two golf courses on this walk.) 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, taking in Walsham, Newark and Papercourt locks. We pass by the ruins of the Newark Priory before a lunch stop at Broadmead Cut. Walking through Old Woking we can visit a 12th century church, with a significant historical feature before heading back to Pyrford.

This walk has the capacity to be muddy in a few places, particularly over farmland, so best to be prepared with walking boots rather than trainers. There are several stiles, as well as undergrowth and stinging nettles (I will bring secateurs) so you might choose to wear long trousers. There are also cows in some fields, so no dogs on this walk please.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Ann W. 07800 728 667

Saturday 12th October: 10 Mile Walk (moderate)
Wargrave to Henley-on-Thames (Linear)

Meeting Point: Wargrave Railway Station, Station Road, Wargrave
Post Code: RG10 8EX (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.4988°, W0.8766° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)
OS Map: SU780783 (Click it to see it on an Ordnance Survey map on Streetmap.co.uk)

Meet at Wargrave Station for a 10:20 am start. If using the train from Reading, take the 09:59 to Twyford, then change onto the 10:15 train to Wargrave, which is on the Henley branch line. It's usually cheaper to buy a return ticket to Henley rather than two single tickets. If driving, there is free parking at Wargrave station and along Station Road.

Please note, this is a linear walk - and we will take a train (£3.80) or bus (£2) back to Wargrave at the end of the walk - both run every 30 minutes at the time of writing - trains at 00 and 30 mins past and the 850 bus runs at 20 and 50 mins past the hour.

Our walk will start with a visit to the White Cliffs of Wargrave, before heading through fields, woods and a nature reserve. We may be able to stop at the Velo Life Cafe in Warren Row for elevenses, and we'll pause again for lunch as we head downhill towards the River Thames. The route passes through the grounds of Culham Court, and Remenham Hill, before we reach our destination in Henley.

Please bring a picnic lunch and plenty to drink. No dogs please on this walk as there may be livestock along the route. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as some paths could be muddy after rain. The walk has 590 feet of ascent in total.

Leader: Ruth H. 07712 005 315

Saturday 19th October: 12½ Mile Walk (moderate/challenging)
Swinley Park and Swinley Forest

Meeting Point: Martins Heron railway station, Winkfield Row, Bracknell
Post Code: RG12 9TZ (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.4075°, W0.7243° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)
OS Map: SU888683 (Click it to see it on an Ordnance Survey map on Streetmap.co.uk)

Meet at Martins Heron station in time for a 10:35am start. We will wait for the arrival of the 10:09am departure from Reading, which is scheduled to arrive at 10:33am. The station car park is free for rail users; there is also some free parking available in nearby roads, but please park considerately and check signs for details of any restrictions.

We'll begin by exploring Swinley Park, before crossing the bridge and completing a circuit of the east half of Swinley Forest, passing the Mill Pond, Rapley Lake and Surrey Hill. Most of the walking will be easy, on flat, gravel paths, but a few sections early on are likely to be muddy, and there are a few short, steep inclines in the second half.

As usual, please bring a packed lunch, drink and appropriate footwear. In addition to the lunch stop, there is a café towards the end of the walk which we could stop at if it is not too busy. The walk finishes back at Martins Heron station, from where there are two trains an hour back to Reading.

Leader: Chris F. 07984 255 322

Saturday 26th October: 10½ Mile Walk (moderate)
Cholsey to Goring (Linear)

Meeting Point: Cholsey railway station, Station Road, Cholsey
Post Code: OX10 9QD (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.5697°, W1.1574° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)
OS Map: SU584859 (Click it to see it on an Ordnance Survey map on Streetmap.co.uk)

Meet at Cholsey station for a 10:15am start. If travelling by train, the 09:53 from Reading to Cholsey - arrives at 10:09 in time for the start of the walk. (Please check train times on www.GWR.com on the day)

Please note, this is a linear walk. If driving, we suggest parking in Goring and taking the 10:05 train from Goring to Cholsey (£4.10). Parking is available at Goring station RG8 0EW where charges apply, or park considerately nearby for free (e.g. Manor Road RG8 9ED).

Our route takes us from Cholsey, via Halfpenny lane and through Unhill woods where we'll find somewhere for lunch, before heading towards Aldworth. We may pause for an afternoon break here to visit The Bell Inn before continuing on to Goring via Westridge Green.

Please bring a picnic lunch and plenty to drink. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as some paths could be muddy after rain. The walk includes 866 feet of ascent in total.

Leader: Ruth H. 07712 005 315

November 2024

December 2024

Saturday 7th December: 6 Mile Walk (easy)
Ascot Heath and Great Pond
- followed (optionally) by Christmas Lunch

Meeting Point: Outside the Duke of Edinburgh pub, Woodside Road, Winkfield
Post Code: SL4 2DP (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.4299°, W0.6673° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)
OS Map: SU927709 (Click it to see it on an Ordnance Survey map on Streetmap.co.uk)

Meet outside The Duke of Edinburgh pub for a 10am start. Please park considerately along the roadside surrounding the pub and consider car sharing.

This flat walk takes us on tracks and footpaths, fields and meadows surrounding the hamlets of Woodside, Brookside and Burleigh. We pass gated properties and small cottages, before crossing Ascot Heath where we follow the Three Castles Path across the world famous Ascot Racecourse. From here we enter Sunninghill Park, winding through woodland paths to walk alongside the tranquil Great Pond.

Please bring a drink and snack. No need for packed lunch as the walk will finish by lunchtime.

Leader: Ann W. 07800 728 667

Saturday Afternoon 7th December:
BWW Christmas Lunch
- follows on from the 6 Mile Walk in Ascot

Meeting Point: The Duke of Edinburgh pub, Woodside Road, Winkfield
Post Code: SL4 2DP (Click it to see it on Bing Maps and use their route planner.)
Lat/Long: N51.4299°, W0.6673° (Click to see it on Google Maps and use their route planner.)

Our Christmas lunch is at The Duke of Edinburgh pub and will start at 1:30pm. Put it in your diary now! ;-)

Details of menu, price and how to book will follow...

Organiser: Jane

Saturday Afternoon 21st December:
The Return of the Reading Pub Crawl!

In years gone by, when we were residents of Reading, we occasionally led a pre-Christmas pub-crawl for the group, and we thought it about time it was brought back! The venues serve real ale or craft beer but other drinks, including soft, are available.

1) 12:15pm meet up at Castle Tap, 120 Castle Street, RG1 7RJ (near bottom of Castle Hill on right when heading uphill, having crossed over the IDR from central Reading)
2) Lunch Stop: Street-food at Blue Collar, Hosier Street, RG1 7QL. Choose from four kitchens with covered heated beer garden and draught beer from Double-Barrelled brewery: food purchase on individual basis on the day with no prior booking made. https://www.bluecollarstreetfood.co.uk/blue-collar-corner
3) The Allied Arms, 57 St Mary's Butts, RG1 2LG
4) Phantom Brewery, Meadow Road, RG1 8LB
5) The Greyfriar, 53 Greyfriars Road, RG1 1PA
6) Three Guineas, Station Approach, RG1 1LY

If you are unable to join us from the start, but would like to do so later in the afternoon, please call one of us for our location, which can't be predicted as not a timetabled event!. Please note this social won't be going on late into the evening as allegedly we're maturer and wiser than in days of old!

Leaders:
Adam 07709 032516
Jude 07585 234836

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.


Booking of Social Events

Please remember that our social events are organised by volunteers, so your co-operation is greatly appreciated. For some events the organisers need to know in advance who is going so they can make the necessary bookings etc. If you wish to attend a social event that specifies a deadline then please contact the organiser before the deadline otherwise you will be putting them to extra trouble and it may not be possible to change the booking anyway.

If there are still some spare places on an event after the specified deadline has passed, a bulletin will be sent out, otherwise you must assume you are too late. (Please don't try to sneak in by contacting the venue and changing the booking without the organisers knowledge or consent!)

Also, if you are booked on an event and then find you are unable to make it after all, please let the organiser know so that they don't wait around for you, and as they may be able to offer the place to someone else.

Thank you very much for your co-operation.