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Our Programme of Walks and Events

Coronavirus Pandemic Measures
The UK Government has imposed a Rule of Six that limits the size of groups meeting up outdoors to six people except for a few specific activities. Organised walks led by Ramblers Association groups such as ours are exempt from the Rule of Six provided that we comply with some extra regulations.
Everyone attending any of our walks must book a place on the walk in advance and non-members of our group must also provide contact details. We are required to keep these for 21 days after the walk in case they are needed for track and trace purposes. See the Ramblers website for more details.

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 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! It is much more accurate to put Lat/Long co-ordinates into your Sat Nav if you can. (Most of them can accept Lat/Long input. Have a look in the manual.)

November 2020

Sunday 1st November: 6 Mile Walk - Ascot and Great Pond (easy)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 12* (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six.

The walk starts in Ascot at 10:40. The 09:51 train from Reading arrives in Ascot at 10:18, and it is a 10-minute walk from the station to the car park where the walk starts. (If you are arriving by train and there is a delay, please contact the walk leader and we will wait for you.)

A mostly flat walk that takes in the famous racecourse and surrounding hamlets of Ascot. Through woods with views of the lake in Sunninghill Park and following a short stretch of the Three Castles Path on our return.

Please bring a drink and snack - we will have stops, but no long lunch break planned. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for use in emergencies and for use on public transport, if that's how you are getting to/from the walk. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

If you would like go on this walk, please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk We will get back to you to let you know if you have a place or not. (If all places have gone, we'll ask if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out.) Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place. If you have a question about the walk, please contact Kathy, but booking a place must be done by email to Rob.

Leader: Kathy 0779 440 6438

December 2020

Saturday 5th December: 6 Mile Walk - Wasing Park, Brimpton and Enborne River (easy)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 12* (including the leaders). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six.

Starting at 10:30, our walk takes us along tracks and a wooded landscape before arriving at St Nicholas' church in the main Wasing Estate park overlooking the Kennet valley. In the estate there is likely to be a herd of cattle with calves so we will if required give them a wide berth to pass them. The leaders request that you do not bring your dogs on this walk.

After leaving the parkland we reach the village of Brimpton, a lunch stop will be had just after the St Peter's church which is a landmark from many miles away. Our return route takes in a pleasant meadow setting with the meandering River Enborne, a river that at times forms the border between Berkshire and Hampshire and eventually flows into the River Kennet. We pass through some ancient woods and the peaceful Ashford Hill National Nature Reserve.

One part of the reserve in particular can be a bit muddy and wet under foot following rain so boots are recommended. Please bring a packed lunch and drink. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for emergencies. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

Sorry! This walk is now fully booked. Please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out. Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place.

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

Saturday 12th December: 9½ Mile Walk - Bedwyn and Shalbourne (moderate)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 6 (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

Starting at 10:15, the walk heads out of Bedwyn towards picturesque Shalbourne largely utilising public footpaths, meadows and bridleways - some paved. It then moves towards and through the old Stype estate and down to a very pleasant part of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Minor hills and four stiles on the way. Very limited time on roads and those we encounter are almost car free. Overall a very scenic part of Wiltshire. Option of pub stop at the end at the highly rated Three Tuns pub. Bedwyn and Little Bedwyn are interesting in themselves and the historic churches I explored are deserving of a look at. (This walk is accessible by train and by car.)

Please bring a packed lunch and drink. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for emergencies and/or if you are getting to and from the walk by public transport. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

Sorry! This walk is now fully booked. Please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out. Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place.

Leader: Ian B. 07908 963 870

Sunday 13th December: 9 Mile Walk - Henley-on-Thames and Aston (moderate)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 15* (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six.

Starting from Henley-on-Thames at 10:30 we'll cross Henley Bridge and climb the hill towards Aston, then pass through a turkey farm and the deer park and down to the Flowerpot Pub where we may be able to stop for a drink if the regulations permit on the day, but you currently need a mask in order to buy drinks to take into the beer garden. From there we'll descend to the river and find a place to eat sandwiches and walk back into Henley along the river.

Wear boots or shoes and clothing suitable for the local weather. Please bring a packed lunch and a drink. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for emergencies and/or if you are getting to and from the walk by public transport. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

Sorry! This walk is now fully booked. Please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out. Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place.

Leader: Lawrence 07764 976 377

Sunday 20th December: 9½ Mile Walk - Windsor, Datchet and Jubilee River (moderate)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 12* (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six.

Starting at 10:45, soon after the arrival of the train at Windsor & Eton Central station, the walk will pass through Datchet and Herschel Park before joining the Jubilee River. Then it will go via Eton Wick to Boveney before returning to Windsor along the Thames Path.

Please bring a packed lunch and drink. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for emergencies and/or if you are getting to and from the walk by public transport. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

Sorry! This walk is now fully booked. Please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out. Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place.

Leader: Christine F 07514 138 737

January 2021

Sunday 3rd January: 12 Mile Walk - Bury Down, Stanmore and West Ilsley (moderate)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 15* (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six.

Starting at 10:00 from Bury Down, we head west along The Ridgeway for a couple of miles, then turn south along the wooded Wether Down to Lands End. We head up Old Street before reaching Stanmore and turning north with good views across the Downs (hopefully toward West Ilsley for a pub stop if regulations permit). The route back takes us quickly up to The Ridgeway, then under the A34 and back to the car park. A slightly shorter route may be followed if the pub is not an option.

Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink. Also, please bring a face covering/mask for emergencies. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser. The leader can offer a lift from Reading for one person if the appropriate precautions are observed.

If you would like go on this walk, please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk We will get back to you to let you know if you have a place or not. (If all places have gone, we'll ask if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out.) Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place. If you have a question about the walk, please contact Keith, but booking a place must be done by email to Rob.

Leader: Keith A. 07766 275 377

Sunday 10th January: 7 Mile Walk - Watlington and Christmas Common (moderate)

Under current Ramblers rules and government restrictions, all people on a walk must give contact tracing details before the walk. We are also limiting the number of people attending each walk. The limit for this walk is 12* (including the leader). You must book your place in advance to attend the walk.

*Note that Ramblers walks are currently exempt from the government's Rule of Six, but this may change.

The walk starts in Watlington at 10:30. On our walk we will take in the flat country surrounding the town as well as the higher country around Christmas Common. There is one quite long but steady ascent and one steeper and shorter descent, which will give us the chance to greet everyone slogging up the hill. Weather permitting this walk will give us some of the best views in the Chilterns.

Please bring a packed lunch drink. You are required to bring a face covering/mask for use in emergencies. We recommended you also bring hand sanitiser.

If you would like go on this walk, please email Rob at booking@berksww.org.uk We will get back to you to let you know if you have a place or not. (If all places have gone, we'll ask if you want to be put on the reserve list in case someone else drops out.) Please do not turn up to the walk without having booked a place. If you have a question about the walk, please contact Nigel, but booking a place must be done by email to Rob.

Leader: Nigel E. 07484 260819

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.

If you are unable to check the website before attending a walk, it would be wise to call the walk leader/event organiser to confirm that the details haven't changed.

If you wish to reproduce any of the events from this programme in a local paper, magazine or elsewhere on the Internet, please contact us. Your reproduction could become incorrect and misleading if we update the programme and were not able to alert you of the changes. Also we would like to extend the courtesy of informing our leaders that their walk has been more widely publicised, so that they may expect more attendees than usual.

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.