Our Scrapbook of Previous Walks

Walk 727 - Cookham and Cookham Dean

On Sunday 24^th August, seventeen Ramblers met in the NT car park at Cookham Moor, including three walkers from other local Ramblers groups and Monty, a well behaved dog. Unusually for a bank holiday weekend, the car park was relatively quiet.

Setting off across the moor towards Cookham village, we soon passed the artist, Stanley Spencer's house, easily spotted by having a blue plaque. Turning left at the end of the High Street, we walked through Holy Trinity churchyard, before turning left to follow the Thames path. The Thames at Cookham is especially attractive with houses of all shapes, sizes and designs on the opposite bank.

After about two miles, we left the Thames and headed south across a field and then west to ascend Winter Hill. This was the first of several ascents and we were rewarded with lovely views over the river towards Marlow and this proved to be the perfect place for a drink stop.

At the top of Winter Hill, we followed a narrow wooded path parallel to the Thames, which at times felt as if we were walking through a tunnel. Crossing a road, we then entered Quarry Wood with lovely open and undulating paths. Our next ascent was somewhat steeper than the first and the reason why the walk was described as Easy/Moderate (lots of easy walking on the level, interspersed with three moderate hills to climb).

Leaving Quarry Wood, we walked along the edge of a field, leading us towards Cookham Dean Common and Cookham Dean where there were many perfectly manicured hedges lining the road. On reaching the Church of John the Baptist, we took a footpath eastwards across fields towards Cookham Rise and past the Cricket Club.

The final leg of the walk was along residential roads, passing Cookham Station and a wonderful mix of interesting houses, quaint cottages and Victorian villas. Having started the walk at 9:00am, we arrived back at Cookham at midday. On reaching The Old Swan Uppers pub, eleven of us decided to stop for some well-deserved refreshment, with the remainder of the group saying their goodbyes.

In just 7½ miles, we'd enjoyed a real mix of different terrains, lovely views and managed 570 feet of ascent. See our route on OS Maps.

Thanks go to Sue for leading this walk and for writing it up.

Walk 726 - Curridge and Towards Newbury

On Sunday 17^th August, a lovely group of 16 ramblers met in the village of Curridge for an 8½ mile circular walk. One new rambler joined us and will hopefully return to our group again.

After a welcome chat and some interesting historical facts about Curridge, with clear blue skies overhead, we headed off towards Newbury on a footpath flanked by farmland and pastures with fine views across the countryside.

Crossing the B4009 at Shaw, on the outskirts of Newbury, we made our way up towards Stone Copse. Halfway up the hill we stopped at the edge of Messenger Copse in some shade to enjoy the view and were treated to some homemade cakes.

Refuelled we carried on to the top of the hill and took in the fabulous views towards the south where we could see Newbury Racecourse, Greenham Common, Watership Down and Beacon Hill.

Following footpaths towards Henwick Manor we were relieved to find that the cows and bull were nowhere to be seen so we continued as planned to the hamlet of Ashmore Green.

Just past Ashmore Green Farm we found suitable shade to stop for lunch by the side of a field dotted with sunflowers. The sunflowers were looking a little weary in the heat of the midday sun but a pleasant place to stop nonetheless.

After lunch we crossed the vast field of sunflowers towards Fishers Lane and crossed the B4009 again at Fishers Crossing.

Heading back towards Curridge on a Bridleway with open fields and a view of Beacon Hill (again!) in the distance, the option to cut the walk short was declined by all and we headed on towards Marsh Lane.

We passed Lanolee Farm where it is rumoured Oliver Cromwell stayed during the 2^nd Battle of Newbury in 1644.

Our walk then took us around the perimeter of Oakland Deer Park. This is a game processing plant and also a deer conservation reserve. The usual large herd of various species of deer were elusive, possibly taking shade in the woodland enclosed in the reserve. However, we did spot a few.

Back in Curridge we said goodbye to a few of the group as they headed the short distance back to the start while the rest of us went for a well deserved drink in The Bunk. Anne and I thoroughly enjoyed leading this walk with such a great bunch - thank you.

Thanks go to Anne and Hazel for leading this walk, and to Hazel for the write-up.

Walk 725 - Kintbury, Hamstead Marshall and Marsh Benham

With blue skies overhead and the prospect of a balmy summers day with the mercury set to hit 25°C, a good crowd of ramblers assembled outside Coronation Hall in Inkpen Road on Sunday 10^th August. This was Simon and Becky’s inaugural walk as leaders, and a group of twenty had been tempted by the 9½ mile walk. With sun cream being applied the walk brief was given under the shade of a tree. The assembled crowd was in good spirits.

The walk set-off out of the village up Inkpen Road branching off across pasture of Blandys Farm. With the cow herd safely tucked away from the organised route, the walk proceeded unimpeded. From there the route took us across farmland crossing Forbury and Burgess Lanes towards Kintbury Holt and then on to Hamstead Marshall with some lovely views across the Kennet Valley. With rising temperatures, regular breaks were taken to take fluids onboard.

The route then took us into Hamstead Park. Dating back to medieval times, the hamlet of Hamstead is listed in the Doomsday Book. Owned by William Marshall, advisor to five successive ruling monarchs, the park originally boasted a castle and with a deer park was a retreat for both Henry III and Edward III. These majestic park lands were the backdrop for our lunch stop, in the shade of one of the many oak trees looking out across the lakes with ducks, geese and herons to entertain.

After lunch we continued through the park and detoured up the hill to St Mary’s Church and the red brick gateways to the former 17th century manor house. We were treated to homemade flapjacks under the shade of a yew tree in the churchyard. Returning the way we came, we dropped down the hill to the River Kennet and the Kennet & Avon Canal where we gazed into the water looking for trout.

We then returned to Kintbury along the towpath of the Kennet & Avon Canal. Something of a suntrap, this is probably where the heat was felt the most, and on arriving in Kintbury, most took the opportunity to take refreshments in the beer garden at the Dundas Arms stretching out along the banks of the canal.

Suitably refreshed, we ambled along the canal and then up through the churchyard of Kintbury Church back to the where the cars were parked. A good time was had by all…. (See our route on Map Pedometer: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=991420)

Thanks go to Simon and Becky for leading their first walk for us, and for writing it up.

Walk 724 - Bradfield, Stanford Dingley, Rotten Row & Chapel Row

On Sunday 3^rd August, nineteen of us, including two new walkers trying us out, met at 9am outside the Bladebone Inn in the hamlet of Chapel Row for a 7.5 mile walk. The early start meant that we would hopefully enjoy walking in the cooler part of the day and we would avoid the rain that was forecast for the afternoon.

Before starting the walk, we learnt a few interesting facts about the area. The sign at the entrance to the inn is most unusual and local legend would have you believe that it was from a mammoth which terrorised the local inhabitants until as one, they trapped and killed it, burying the beast on the banks of the river. However, the bone is actually from a whale that was found at the beginning of the 17^th century in the Kennet valley and the bone is now encased in copper. The fact that it is hanging outside the inn is a mystery, but might suggest that the inn sold whale oil which was used in the 19^th century as oil for lamps.

The road to Chapel Row from Bradfield is lined with huge oak trees, which were planted to commemorate the visit of Elizabeth I to Bucklebury in 1568. Additional trees have since been planted in celebration of victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and again in 1972 to welcome Queen Elizabeth II. More recently Princess Anne planted an oak as a birthday present to the Queen Mother on her eightieth birthday and further rows of oaks were planted to commemorate the Millenium and to mark the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

For the first section of the walk, we headed northwest along the edge of Chapel Row Common to take a path northwards, past St Anne's Farm and St Crispin's Farm, enjoying lovely views over the Pang Valley. After passing a wonderful row of poplar trees, we then headed east, crossing a field to follow the path up through Kings Copse. On leaving Kings Copse, we passed some pretty cottages before continuing downhill along a shaded path. We soon arrived at a road, from where we headed east past some very tall sunflowers and then uphill through Jennetshill Wood, which is reputed to be haunted by a veiled woman who walks under the shelter of the trees. We soon arrived at a small cluster of houses in the picturesque hamlet of Rotten Row. Leaving the hamlet, a short but steep ascent led to a pathway between banks, creating the impression of walking through a tunnel.

Continuing through fields towards Fishers Copse and past Horse Leas, we then reached the extensive grounds and golf course belonging to Bradfield College, which dominates the centre of Bradfield and village life there. A footpath led us through woodland and an avenue of large trees, before joining the road into the village. At the crossroads we made two left turns and passed by the art department. Just past the village church, our route then took us along the River Pang before following paths along the edges of fields past Bradfield Hall Farm.

It was here that we headed northwest, crossing over the River Pang and walking through fields to join a road, before taking a footpath west between hedges and through fields of sheep to enter the very picturesque village of Stanford Dingley by the church. From Stanford Dingley, we followed the road to the west before taking a footpath south. A short stretch across fields took us back to the Bladebone Inn along the bridleway from which the walk had started.

By the time we arrived back at Chapel Row, it was several degrees warmer than when we set off. The walk finished with many of us enjoying refreshments at the Bladebone Inn or tea, coffee and cakes The Blackbird Café next door. Just as we were saying our goodbyes, the first drops of the forecast rain began to fall!

Thanks go to Sue for leading this walk and for writing it up.

Social Event - Ceilidh

As part of their 25^th anniversary celebrations, the Berkshire Walkers (20s and 30s group) organised a Ceilidh (Scottish or Irish organised dancing) and kindly invited us to join them. Some of us in our group started off in the BWs before the BWW group was formed, so it was nice to be included in their celebrations. It took place on Saturday 2^nd August at Pangbourne Village Hall.

Some of us were a little nervous about organised dancing, but each dance was explained by the caller before it started and instruction were given during the dance, so no expertees was required. Caution was soon thrown to the wind as we realised that none of us were experts, but we were all having fun trying. This certainly wasn't Strictly Come Dancing and no-one was judging anyone else.

Some soft drinks were provided, and at the half-time interval, a variety of cakes were served as part of the 25^th anniversary celebration.

Thanks go to the BW subcommittee that organised the Ceilidh

Social Event - Jurassic Adventure Golf

On one of the hottest days of the year (Saturday 12^th July) six of us took a break from our rambles to take on the light-hearted challenge of the Jurassic adventure golf course, complete with fibreglass dinosaurs and rock formations.

Petrina was the star of the show, getting two holes in one en-route to getting the lowest score.

Mark had a hole in one of his own, and we all had fun negotiating the humps twists and turns and awkwardly-placed tunnels that you usually get in crazy golf.

After that, we had drinks and lunch at the bar. Then, whilst most of us departed, Karen and Steve took on the shade-less pitch and putt course, in intrepid fashion given the oppressive heat!

Thanks go to Richard for organising the social event and writing it up. Steve provided the photos.

Walk 720 - Dinton Pastures

Seven intrepid ramblers gathered on Sunday the 7^th July for a 9 mile walk around Dinton Pastures and surrounding area. Setting off from the Berkshire Museum of Aviation we passed through the scenic Dinton Pastures but not without incident.

A willow tree had fallen into our path prior to us arriving, although it was easily traversable due to the light foliage and wide spread of the branches so we were easily able to walk through unhindered.

Once the fallen willow had been negotiated we continued through the scenic Dinton Pastures and on toward Whistley Green and Twyford.

By good timing we arrived in Twyford for our lunch stop in a coffee shop where the British weather struck again and gave the foliage some watering.

We let the weather pass and continued on our way back towards Dinton Pastures where the weather had cleared enough and the group observed some sailing on the lake.

From the water sports area we then completed a lap around the lake which brought us back on the approach to the start point. Thanks to Barry for leading us today on a very enjoyable walk.

Thanks go to Barry for leading his first walk, and to Stephen for writing it up.