Programme of Walks and Events

Sunday 3^rd February: Walk - THIS WALK HAS BEEN CANCELLED
- Watership Down, Sydmonton and Kingsclere, 9.5 miles, moderate

Meeting Point: Free car park on White Hill, Kingsclere, near Newbury
Post Code: RG20 5PX, Lat/Long: N51.3054°, W1.2608°, OS Map: SU516565

THIS WALK HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

This walk has been rescheduled for Sunday 17th March.

Meet at the car park at the top of White Hill, on the B3051 about a mile south of Kingsclere village. Please note that the postcode is for the stables between Kingsclere and the car park. Continue past the stables and up the hill to find the car park entrance on the left, opposite a long lay-by on the right. (Use the lay-by if the car park is full.)

This walk follows the gallops along the top of Watership Down before descending into Sydmonton. Next we will pass Watership Farm and Nuthanger Farm before heading into Kingsclere, where we will have our pub-stop. Finally we head back up to White Hill, via Freemantle Park Down.

The walk is quite hilly, with about 1000 feet of ascent in total. There will be a picnic stop about half-way round. Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

Sunday 10^th February: 6 Mile Walk - Ascot Heath and Great Pond (easy)

Meeting Point: Ascot 6 Free car park in Ascot High Street
Post Code: SL5 7HB, Lat/Long: N51.4104°, W0.6699°, OS Map: SU925687

Meet for a 10:30am start at the free car park area at the eastern end of Ascot High Street (A329), it is located next to the Guy Salmon dealership, marked 'Ascot 6 FREE' on a blue signpost.

This is a circular walk that gives us the opportunity to walk across the world-famous racecourse instigated in 1711 by sporting monarch, Queen Anne. It is also a chance to wander through woods and by the huge lake in Sunninghill Park. There may be an opportunity for a pub stop at the Rose and Crown.

Please bring packed lunch and a drink.

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

Leader: Jane K 07881 805 156

Sunday 17^th February: 7 Mile Walk - Pangbourne and Mapledurham Lock (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: N51.4839°, W1.0881°, OS Map: SU634765

Park and meet in the car park in the centre of Pangbourne, on Station Road. (This Pay and Display car park is free on Sundays.) The walk starts at 10am and will finish in time for a late lunch.

The walk follows a lovely stretch of the Thames Path from Pangbourne to Mapledurham Lock then fields and woods, returning to Pangbourne via Tidmarsh and the River Pang. Bring a snack and a hot drink. Plenty of opportunities for lunch in Pangbourne on our return. (You may wish to book somewhere in advance.)

Leader: Diana L. 07866 053 215

Sunday 24^th February: 10 Mile Walk - Newbury's Secret Garden (moderate)

Meeting Point: Newbury Railway Station, Cheap Street, Newbury
Post Code: RG14 5DG, Lat/Long: N51.3977°, W1.3229°, OS Map: SU472667

The walk will start from Newbury railway station, on the north side, at 10:20am, shortly after the arrival of the 9:37am service from Reading. The walk leader aims to be on this train so if the service is delayed for any reason then the start time of the walk may be affected. There is plenty of parking available at the station although charges apply.

The mainly flat route first takes us through Newbury town centre, before picking up the iconic Kennet and Avon Canal. We can wonder and romanticise about the changes of use this now peaceful waterway has experienced over the centuries whilst strolling past the many canal boats that are moored up.

The route takes us past the village of Enborne and the church before entering Hampstead Park, our "Secret Garden". Here will be a good opportunity to pause and reflect as we enjoy the beautiful rolling fields of West Berkshire and likely to be our lunch stop.

We leave the fields behind and tackle some quiet country lanes that enable us to connect up with our next section, a gentle stroll through the rather pretty village of Bagnor that rests alongside the River Lambourne. Moving on we conclude our walk by paying a visit the 14th Century Castle at Donnington. It is rumoured both Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth once stayed here. It is a small ruined structure and there is no fee to enter but well worth a look round, which will take no more than a few minutes.

We return to Newbury where the aim is to have a pub stop at the CAMRA endorsed Catherine Wheel, a favourite among our sister group The Berkshire Walkers due to its fine array of ales and selection of gins that our available.

Please bring a packed lunch and something to drink.

The walk leader owns a Network Railcard and can take up to three other people with it. If anyone wishes to travel via train and make use of a discounted ticket please get in touch with the walk leader a few days in advance.

Leader: Dan H. 07761 192 509

Sunday 3^rd March: 8 Mile Walk - Nettlebed, Highmoor and Crocker End (moderate)
- Joint walk with the Pang Valley Ramblers

Meeting Point: Near the Brick Kiln, The Green, Nettlebed
Post Code: RG9 5BA, Lat/Long: N51.5756°, W0.9888°, OS Map: SU701867

Park near the Brick Kiln, on The Green or The Old Kiln roads, ready for a 10:30am start.

We will take the footpath past the church and cross Stoney Bottom to Highmoor. Then through woods to Broomsden Farm and return via Crocker End. There is one steep ascent and two stiles.

No dogs please, except registered assistance dogs. Bring a packed lunch.

Leaders: Jo and John S. 01731 054615

Saturday 9^th March: 6 Mile Walk - A Surprise Find in Wickham (easy)

Meeting Point: Welford & Wickham Primary School, Welford Road, Wickham, Newbury
Post Code: RG20 8HL, Lat/Long: N51.4444°, W1.4313°, OS Map: SU396718

Parking may be found along the Welford Road. If travelling from junction 14 of the M4, take the A338 towards Great Shefford and Wantage and then shortly turn right onto the B4000 road. You will find the Welford Road, which is the left turn on a crossroads after going over the M4 and just beyond the Five Bells pub.

Starting at 10:30am from the school for a rare visit to the West Berkshire parish of Welford, conveniently located near Junction 14 of the M4.

The circular walk consists of a mixture of a pleasant slightly sunken tree lined footpath, farm tracks, a nice valley view and quiet country lanes. It includes a few easy short hills including the remote Radley Bottom where we will have a short break for a mini snack and drink.

Near the end of the walk our route passes the Wickham village church, provided there is nothing taking place in the church and it is open there is an opportunity for those that wish to briefly see something rather unusual inside a UK church… if you like a surprise, desist researching before the walk!

At the end of the walk there is an option to visit the nearby Five Bells pub, which is not only Cask Marque accredited, but it has a particularly wide range of drink options.

For the walk please bring a small lunch and drink.

Leaders: Mike 07938-843660 or Alison 07929-149636

Sunday 17^th March: 9½ Mile Walk - Watership Down, Sydmonton and Kingsclere (moderate)

Meeting Point: Free car park on White Hill, Kingsclere, near Newbury
Post Code: RG20 5PX, Lat/Long: N51.3054°, W1.2608°, OS Map: SU516565

Meet for a 10:30am start at the car park at the top of White Hill, on the B3051 about a mile south of Kingsclere village. Please note that the postcode is for the stables between Kingsclere and the car park. Continue past the stables and up the hill to find the car park entrance on the left, opposite a long lay-by on the right. (Use the lay-by if the car park is full.)

This walk follows the gallops along the top of Watership Down before descending into Sydmonton. Next we will pass Watership Farm and Nuthanger Farm before heading into Kingsclere, where we will have our pub-stop. Finally we head back up to White Hill, via Freemantle Park Down.

The walk is quite hilly, with about 1000 feet of ascent in total. There will be a picnic stop about half-way round. Please bring a packed lunch and drink, as usual.

Leader: Rob C. 07786 116 988

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