Our Programme of Walks and Events

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 in the free (English Heritage) car park on Wall Lane, just north of the remains of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum.

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. The route is mostly flat with just a couple of gentle inclines and some of the paths will be muddy!

Please bring a packed lunch and a drink as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Meeting Point: Windsor Great Park Open Air car park, A332
Post Code: SL4 2BD, Lat/Long: N51.4617°, W0.6155°, OS Map: SU962745

Meet for a 10:30am start at the Windsor Great Park Open Air free car park - the last one on the right if driving towards Windsor on the A332 through the park.

A nice winter walk taking in part of the Long Walk, down to the statue of George III on his Copper Horse, over towards Saville Gardens (toilet stop and a quick stop for a cuppa tea) onwards to Guards polo club, passing another bronze of Prince Albert, heading back to Cumberland Gate and through the Windsor Great Park, with a watchful eye for any deer and back towards the Long Walk with wonderful views of Windsor Castle (weather permitting).

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Lexi W. 07973 327 286

Meeting Point: Ockwells Park, Ockwells Road, Cox Green, Maidenhead
Post Code: SL6 3YU, Lat/Long: N51.5032°, W0.7358°, OS Map: SU878790

Meet for a 10:30am start in the free car park in Ockwells Park, Ockwells Road, Cox Green, Maidenhead. Its signposted from junction 9A of the A404.

A walk in East Berkshire seeing the 15^th-century Ockwells Manor and the medieval church at Shottesbrooke in its splendid parkland setting. Lunch stop in White Waltham either packed lunch or The Beehive public house. Expect some of the paths to be muddy.

Leader: Joyce (W&D) 07887 375 322

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

Park in the lay-by 150 yards south of the Rainbow Inn, Middle Assendon, which is 2.5 miles NW of Henley on the B480, for a 10:30am start.

The walk climbs fairly steeply through the Warburg Nature reserve then along the Bix valley and through Stonor House and deer park, returning via the Assendon valley. Overall ascent 850 feet.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leaders: Alistair and Pauline

Meeting Point: Hexagon Theatre, Queens Walk, Reading
Post Code: RG1 7UA, Lat/Long: N51.4539°, W0.9773°

No, not a trip to the Canadian Rockies, but a film night in Reading. The Banff Mountain Film Festival is a selection of adrenaline-packed films, featuring athletes and explorers as they venture to the edge of their limits in remote corners of the planet. Witness the world's best adventure film-makers telling stories of life-affirming journeys with mind-blowing wilderness cinematography - all from the comfort of a cinema seat! See https://www.banff-uk.com/ for details. Note that there is another set of films showing on 18^th March 2020 at the same venue.

Some of the BWs are also planning to visit. If you wish to go too, you will need to book your own tickets at https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/banff-mountain-film-festival-red

Meeting Point: Car park in Hambleden village, Henley-on-Thames
Post Code: RG9 6SG, Lat/Long: N51.5727°, W0.8688°, OS Map: SU784865

Meet for a 10am start at the car park in Hambleden village (by the Stag and Huntsman pub).

The walk is a westward loop around the Hambleden valley via Southend, Turville and across to Frieth for a pub stop at the Prince Albert. (For those on the walk I led last summer this is the other half of the loop we started then when approaching this pub from east.) The return from the Prince Albert is via Frieth to St Katherine's Convent then down through the woods to Pheasant's Hill and Hambleden. Sadly no tea and cake at the church in February!

Approx. 430m ascent. Some walkers may find a pole or two useful as the going can be slippery in places.

Leader: Keith A. 07766 275 377

Meeting Point: Bridge End car park Dorchester-on-Thames.
Post Code: OX10 7JP, Lat/Long: N51.6422°, W1.1647°, OS Map: SU578940

The Surrey and Beyond Ramblers group (SABRE) is teaming up with the Chilterns and Berkshire weekend walkers groups to hike the Thames Path from Oxford to London in fifteen sections of approx 10 miles each. (We are leading the sections from Goring to Reading on Sunday 23^rd Feb and from Reading to Henley-on-Thames on Sunday 1^st March.)

SABRE are leading the section from Dorchester-on-Thames to Wallingford with an option to return via the Chiltern Way. Start at 10:30am from the Bridge End car park, Dorchester-on-Thames (Free parking and toilets at start. If there's no space in the parking area, park on the High Street.)

We will follow the Thames for 5.5 miles from Dorchester to Wallingford. You could then get the bus back to Dorchester*. Or have lunch in Wallingford and continue for another six miles, walking back to Dorchester via Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and the iconic twin peaks of Wittenham Clumps.

* If you're travelling back to Dorchester after the 5.5 mile walk, there are buses from Wallingford Market Place (Stop A) to Dorchester Bypass, leaving at 15, 35 and 55 minutes past each hour. Fare is £2.20

Leader: Mark P 07833 703189

Meeting Point: Cowleaze Wood car park, near Lewknor, Oxfordshire
Post Code: OX49 5HX, Lat/Long: N51.6547°, W0.9524°, OS Map: SU725956

Meet at the Cowleaze Wood car park, near Lewknor, Oxfordshire, for a 10:30am start. There is no exact postcode, but HP14 3YL is somewhere north of the car park and OX49 5HX is west of it. The entrance to the car park is at the south end of this very long car park. It is best to park at the south end (turn right when entering the car park), as this is where the walk will start.

This is a circular walk with legendary views over the Oxford plain from this high escarpment and National Nature Reserve, with three short steep climbs (slightly challenging) and some gentler gradients. We go in and out of typical Chiltern woodland, rich in tall beeches, with open grassy meadows in between.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink. There will also be a pub stop in Christmas Common at the Fox and Hounds, which at times can be very busy.

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

Leader: Jane K 07881 805 156

Meeting Point: Wallingford Town Hall, Market Place, Wallingford
Post Code: OX10 0EG, Lat/Long: N51.5998°, W1.1244°, OS Map: SU607893

The Surrey and Beyond Ramblers group (SABRE) is teaming up with the Chilterns and Berkshire weekend walkers groups to hike the Thames Path from Oxford to London in fifteen sections of approx 10 miles each. SABRE are leading the section from Wallingford to Goring.

Starting at 10:30am from Wallingford's bustling Market Place, we pass several university boathouses and quickly find ourselves in lush countryside with only the river for company. The Thames Path detours through Moulsford, where we'll stop for snacks and a breather, before returning to the river for the prettiest stretch of the walk down to Goring, with the Berkshire Downs rising to the west.

Wallingford has several car parks. Most convenient for the walk is the Cattlemarket where you can park all day for £2. We'll cross the north side of the car park a couple of minutes into the walk. There's also all-day parking for £1.10 at the Riverside Car Park which is on the east side of Wallingford Bridge, a ten minute walk from the Market Place.

If you're coming by train, you could travel to Cholsey and then catch bus 136 to Wallingford, arriving at 10:36. If you would like us to wait for the bus, please text Mark.

If you need to get back to Wallingford after the walk, there are three options:

* bus 134 from Goring & Streatley Station to Wallingford Market Place

* train to Cholsey, then bus 136 to Wallingford

* a six-mile walk via the well-signposted Ridgeway path up the east bank of the Thames

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual. The towpath is boggy in places. You might find it useful to bring a pole or even wear wellies.

Leader: Mark 07833 703189

Meeting Point: Oatlands Road
Post Code: RG2 9EB, Lat/Long: N51.4058°, W0.94505°, OS Map: SU734679

Start at 10:30am, parking in the unmade Oatlands Road. Enter the road between Kwik Fit and the Esso garage.

This circular walk takes us through small woods and farmland and over the river Loddon. Along the way we pass the ruins of a church dating from 1860, as well as Swallowfield Park, grade II listed stately home built in 1689, which is now luxury apartments. This is a relatively flat walk, but the usual message at the moment applies 'likely to be muddy'.

Please bring a drink and lunch. We will stop for lunch in the area of All Saints church, Swallowfield.

Leader: Ann 07800 728 667

Meeting Point: Goring and Streatley railway station
Post Code: RG8 0ES, Lat/Long: N51.5213°, W1.1326°, OS Map: SU602806

The Surrey and Beyond Ramblers group (SABRE) is teaming up with the Chilterns and Berkshire weekend walkers groups to hike the Thames Path from Oxford to London in fifteen sections of approx 10 miles each. We are leading the section from Goring to Reading.

Meet outside the station office of Goring & Streatley railway station ready to start soon after 10:45am when the Oxford train arrives. (The Reading train arrives at 10:30am.) If driving, park at the Wheel Orchard pay-and-display car park behind the Catherine Wheel pub in Goring and walk up Station Road to the back entrance of the station. The Wheel Orchard car park is free on Sundays, whereas the station car park is £3.50 for the day.

We will join the Thames Path at Goring and follow it all the way to Reading, crossing the river at Pangbourne and finishing the walk at Reading railway station. The walk is mostly flat except around Whitchurch-on-Thames, where there are some short but steep hills. Trains back to Goring & Streatley leave Reading at 18 mins past each hour.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Meeting Point: Reading Railway Station
Post Code: RG1 1PT, Lat/Long: N51.4587°, W0.9732°, OS Map: SU714738

The Surrey and Beyond Ramblers group (SABRE) is teaming up with the Chilterns and Berkshire weekend walkers groups to hike the Thames Path from Oxford to London in fifteen sections of approx 10 miles each. We are leading the section from Reading to Henley-on-Thames.

Meet in the square outside Reading railway station (near the Three Guineas pub) for a 10:35am start. (The Oxford train arrives at 10:25 and the train from Henley arrives at 10:31.) If driving, it is cheaper to park in Henley-on-Thames and get the 10:00 train to Reading. The station car park is £3.50 for the day, but there are a few car parks in Henley that are free on Sundays.

We will join the Thames Path close to Reading station and follow it all the way to Henley, crossing the river at Sonning. The walk is mostly flat. Trains back to Reading (changing at Twyford) leave on the hour and on the half-hour.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leaders: Mike and Alison 07938 843660 (M) or 07929 149636 (A)

Meeting Point: St John Ambulance Centre, Church Road, Woodley
Post Code: RG5 4QN, Lat/Long: N51.4576°, W0.895°

A First Aid course tailored for walkers. It is presented by St John's Ambulance and is subsidised by the Berkshire Area Ramblers. It will be at the St John's Ambulance Centre in Woodley, starting at 6:30pm and lasts about three hours.

Please contact David Turner to book your place.

Organiser: David Turner 01189 774 184 or turnerd2(at)btinternet.com

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

Meeting Point: Hexagon Theatre, Queens Walk, Reading
Post Code: RG1 7UA, Lat/Long: N51.4539°, W0.9773°

Part two of the Banff Mountain Film Festival - a selection of adrenaline-packed films, featuring athletes and explorers as they venture to the edge of their limits in remote corners of the planet. Witness the world's best adventure film-makers telling stories of life-affirming journeys with mind-blowing wilderness cinematography - all from the comfort of a cinema seat! See https://www.banff-uk.com/ for details. Note that part one of the film festival was on Wednesday 29^th January at the same venue.

Some of the BWs are also planning to visit. If you wish to go too, you will need to book your own tickets at https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/banff-mountain-film-festival-blue

Meeting Point: Scutchamer Knob car park, south of East Hendred, Oxon
Post Code: OX12 8QU, Lat/Long: N51.5623°, W1.3404°, OS Map: SU458850

Start at 10:30am in the Scutchamer Knob car park (south of nearest postcode OX12 8QU) about 2.5 miles south of East Hendred.

The walk is in two parts, both with uphill sections, across open countryside and downland with lovely views.

Part 1 is 6 miles and loops south clockwise coming back up to the Ridgeway. It then goes west to the Wantage Monument before returning along the Ridgeway to the start and lunch.

Part 2 is 5 miles and loops anticlockwise to West Ilsley before ascending back up to the Ridgeway and back to the start.

Please bring a packed lunch if doing both parts of the walk.

Leader: Pete M.

Meeting Point: Crowthorne Railway Station, corner of St Francis Close and Duke's Ride
Post Code: RG45 6NZ, Lat/Long: N51.367°, W0.8189°, OS Map: SU823637

The walk starts at 10:30am from outside the Post Office on the corner of St Francis Close and Duke's Ride, opposite the eastern entrance to the railway station. (See maps.)

Parking at the railway station car park cost £2.00 for the day but there is usually some roadside parking available in Wellington Business Park and other nearby roads. The 9:59:train from Reading stops at Crowthorne at 10:13. (Return trains to Reading leave at 38 minutes past the hour.) Please check https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ nearer the time in case the timetables have changed.

This varied walk visits Ambarrow Hill, Horseshoe Lake and the Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve. We'll stop off at the 16^th century Queens Oak pub in Finchampstead for refreshments before exploring Finchampstead Ridges, an area owned and maintained by the National Trust. The walk may be muddy in places.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink as usual.

Leader: Sue B 07899 916 748