www.berkshirewalkers.com and www.berkshirewalkers.org.uk
75th Anniversary Walks Programme
This year is the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the Ramblers and to celebrate the event the Ramblers are inviting members of the public to join them in a series of walks in beautiful Berkshire. All of the walks described here are led by experienced leaders from the various Rambler groups based in Berkshire. The walks take place between March and October 2010 and vary in length from 3 miles to 8 or more.
- All are welcome to join us: just turn up ten minutes before the departure time. There is no need to tell us you are coming.
- Do be sure to wear clothing suitable for the terrain and the weather.
- For the longer walks you may wish to bring a packed lunch or if there is a pub-stop you may wish to enjoy a snack purchased on the day.
- Well-behaved dogs are permitted, provided the instructions of the leader are followed.
- Should you have a need to know more about a walk, ring John on 01344 421002.
Months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
March 2010
Sunday 14th March - Reading Town, 5 miles, gentle. (3 hrs)
Host: Loddon Valley Group. Start at Rivermead Leisure Complex at 10:30am. To get there by foot from Reading train station, walk to the north side and exit through the multi-storey car park and turn left into Vastern Road. At the first roundabout turn right into Caversham Road and at the next roundabout turn left into Richfield Avenue and the leisure centre is on the right. (There is ample car parking at the Complex)
The gravel terraces at the confluence of the Rivers Thames and Kennet provided an ideal position for the original Reading settlement and in June 1121, King Henry I decided to found a Cluniac Order Abbey in Reading, whose Church was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas A'Becket in the presence of Henry II. Following the execution of the last Abbot as a traitor in 1539, King Henry VIII made part of the monastic buildings into a Royal Palace. When Parliament besieged the town in 1643, a lot of the Abbey was destroyed to enable the construction of defensive works. Beside Reading Abbey is Reading Gaol where Oscar Wilde languished between November 1895 and May 1897 for improper sexual practices. While in prison, Wilde wrote 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' about a man hanged there for the murder of his wife. In his memory, the Oscar Wilde Walk has been created below the modern prison and next to the Kennet and Avon Canal. The canalization of the Kennet and Avon Canal was completed in 1810 to link the Thames to Bath and Bristol. The opening of Brunel's Great Western Railway took most of the commercial traffic away and the canal gradually fell into disrepair. It has since been restored and was opened again in 1990.
The walk takes us along the Thames, past Caversham Lock to the mouth of the River Kennet. We then walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal into Reading town, passing Blake's Lock Museum. There are several interesting bronze statues along the route, which passes along Oscar Wilde Walk into the Abbey ruins. After exploring the ruins, we walk through Forbury Gardens, into the churchyard of St Lawrence's. We return to the starting point along the opposite bank of the Thames. This walk is almost all on paved surfaces and so walking boots are not necessary. Trainers or stout shoes may be better.
Sunday 28th March - Standford Dingley and the River Pang, 5 miles, gentle with one steep hill (3 hrs)
Host: Pang Valley Group. Start at Black Barn, Rushall Manor Farm at 10:30am BST. (Note that the clocks go forward at 1am on Sunday 28th March) To get there by car, take the road off the A340 Pangbourne to Theale road, signposted to Bradfield. From the crossroads in the centre of Bradfield, go downhill on the Yattendon road and then, at the next crossroads, turn left along Back Lane. Pass Scratchface Lane on the right and take the next right up a gravelled track to the farm.
Rushall Manor Farm is the centre of the John Simonds' Trust, which hosts thousands of children each year learning about the countryside. It is close to Stanford Dingley, one of Berkshire's most beautiful villages. The village church of St Denys has probably been in existence for over a thousand years: the font is Norman and there are relics of the original Saxon church within the inner walls. The main structure is 12th century with a 15th century, white, wooden bell tower and a 18th century brick east end. The Bull, one of two inns in the village, dates from the 15th century. Stanford derives from Saxon 'stony ford' of the River Pang, now crossed by a bridge in the village. The River Pang is an excellent example of a chalk stream. It is home to a diverse population of wildlife and plants, with its source in the high chalk down at East Ilsley. It can be dry at the head of the valley for lengthy periods, but below the Blue Pool near Stanford Dingley, the river never fails.
Our walk starts from the Black Barn, Rushall Manor Farm, and crosses fields to the village of Stanford Dingley entering the village close to the church. The route is then downstream by the Pang, passing a small version of the Blue Pool where springs bubble up from the sandy bottom; the Blue Pool itself is no longer accessible. Rotten Row is reached and then there is a steep uphill road to reach a footpath into Stanford Wood. Later, there is a downhill section to a Bradfield College playing field; the College buildings and the tower of Bradfield church can be seen on the right. We take a pleasant stroll up the river and then alongside a wood. When the river is crossed again, a look upstream will reveal two channels, one of which may be dry, but the other is the flow from the Blue Pool. A gentle uphill walk leads us back to the Black Barn.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
April 2010
Saturday 10th April - Punch Bowl and the Great Park, 5 miles (2 hrs) or 8 miles (4 hrs), gentle
Host: Windsor and District Group.
Start at Bishopsgate Road, Englefield at 10:00am for the long walk or 10:45am for the short walk.
Bishopsgate Road is off the A328, Runnymede to Englefield Green road, on the right from Runnymede.
Park at the far end for the 10am start; for the 10.45 start, follow signs to Savill Gardens from Bishopsgate Road - a fee will be payable.
Windsor Great Park, together with the adjacent Windsor Forest, covers 15000 acres. Together with the adjacent Windsor Forest, this was the hunting ground for royalty and guests of Windsor Castle. Nowadays, much of the Great Park is given over to farming (both arable and livestock); red deer were reintroduced, after a long absence, by Prince Philip. Without doubt the crowning glory of the park is the Valley Gardens, created by Sir Eric Savill, head gardener of the parks, after whom the spectacular visitor centre and adjacent garden is named.
The Valley Gardens are home to the largest collection of rhododendrons in the northern hemisphere and are a wonderful sight in the spring. The punchbowl, a natural amphitheatre, is particularly impressive with its Japanese azaleas of every hue, slightly earlier, camellias and magnolia provide a riot of colour, complemented by swathes of daffodils. The Valley Gardens flank Virginia Water Lake, created by the Duke of Cumberland after the defeat of the Scottish Jacobites at Culloden; the pictured obelisk was erected in his honour. At the time, Virginia Water was the largest man-made lake in the British Isles. Scenes from Harry Potter films were shot here and recently, Robin Hood , a Ridley Scott film starring Russel Crowe and Kate Blanchett.
Our long walk starts from Bishopgate Road at 10am; if you prefer the shorter one, join us at the Savill Gardens visitor centre at 10:45 (fee payable). In the walk, we will explore large parts of the Great Park, including the Valley Gardens, Virginia Water and the Punch Bowl. This is a walk to remember - bring your camera!
Saturday 24th April - Dorney Court and the Jubilee River, 6 miles (3½ hrs), gentle
Host: East Berks Group. Start at Dorney Court Walled Garden Centre at 10:30am. To get there by car, leave the M4 at Junction 7 and head for Maidenhead on the A4. Turn left on the roundabout after 1km onto the B3026. Take the first right, marked Dorney Reach and the entrance to Dorney Court and the Walled Garden Centre is 220m on the left. From Maidenhead, the roundabout for the B3026 is towards Slough on the A4, then follow the above directions.
Dorney Court, the early Tudor style manor house of Dorney village, is listed in the Domesday Book and has been the home of the Palmer family for thirteen generations. Nearby stands the grade 1 listed Church of St. James the Less, originally dating back to the 13th century, which we hope to have open for a brief visit on the day of the walk. In contrast to Dorney Court, the walk will pass the rowing centre at the recently completed Dorney Lake, which will host the rowing and sprint canoeing events in the 2012 Olympics. On the northern side of the lake, over 30,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted and wild flower meadows created. The walk then continues to the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, pictured here, and Boveney Lock. The Jubilee River, named for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, is a hydraulic channel constructed to alleviate flooding in Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton. At the time of its construction, it was the largest man-made river project ever undertaken in Britain, and the second largest in Europe. The River has been well landscaped, including an area of wetlands, rich in water birds, with a walkway to give good views of them.
Our walk takes us from the car park and cafe at Dorney Court Walled Garden Centre past Dorney Court, and a detour to the church, to the end of the Rowing Lake. After walking through the arboretum, a footpath brings us to the River Thames where we pass the Waterman's Church before taking a break at Boveney Lock. A paved track and field paths take us to the Jubilee River, and along a gravelled track to return to the car park. There is an optional detour around the wetlands area.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
May 2010
Sunday 9th May - The Old Rectory Gardens, 4 miles (3 hrs) or 6½ miles (4 hrs), gentle
Host: West Berks Group. Start at the field next to St. Michaels' Church, Farnborough, Berkshire at 10:30am. To get there by car: from the M4 Junction 13 take the A34 towards Oxford, after about 3 miles exit on the slip road signposted to West Ilsley and Ridgeway. At T-junction in village turn left to Farnborough. Park in the field next to church.
The c.1749 rectory is pictured below; its gardens are a series of immaculately tended rooms. The garden rooms contain an explosion of colourful, textured herbaceous borders, an arboretum, boules, rose, pool and vegetable garden. The stunning views across the countryside create a perfect setting for the rectory, once home of John Betjeman. It is in memory of Betjeman that John Piper created a window in nearby St Michael's Church. The Garden is open to the public in aid of charity from 2:30pm until 5:30pm (Adults £3.50, Children free). Take the opportunity to view the beautiful John Piper stained glass window in the church.
Our walk takes us via an ancient track (Old Street) towards the small hamlet of Catmore, where those wishing to do the shorter walk take a right turn and have the opportunity to visit the tiny 11th century church of St Margaret before returning via local paths to Farnborough. The longer walk continues on Old Street and Ilsley Down riding route to Redlane Wood, where we join Green Lane and Woolvers Borders, which brings us back to Catmore and an opportunity to visit St Margaret's Church, before returning to Farnborough via local paths.
We would like to thank Mr Michael Todhunter for allowing us to park in the field next to St Michaels' Church.
Saturday 22nd May - Cookham and Winter Hill, 5¼ miles (3 hrs), gentle with a gradual slope
Host: East Berks Group. Start at Paddock car park by Cookham Church at 10:30am. To reach the Paddock car park by car from Maidenhead Bridge on the A4, join the A4094 passing Boulter’s Lock to Cookham Village. 70m after passing Cookham High Street on the left and round a bend turn left into Church Gate towards the church. The car park is straight ahead past the church towards the Parish Office then right through a five-bar gate (signposted). Grid Reference for the Paddock car park is SU896855.
Winter Hill, near Cookham Dean, offers fine views over the River Thames, with Marlow in the west and Bourne End in the east. Its steep chalk slope descends to the north to Cock Marsh, a National Trust Common, beside the river. Four burial mounds stud the marsh, where in the 19th century the remains of an Anglo-Saxon man were unearthed. Cattle graze the rich grass of the floodplain, whilst water fowl breed on the lower ground. Kestrels, sparrow hawks and red kites can be seen soaring above the hillside.
The ghost of the legendary Herne the Hunter is said to ride on Cookham Common, the sound of his horn and baying hounds terrifying the villagers. Cookham village began in Saxon times when it became necessary for people to move towards the river in order to protect themselves from marauding Danes. The Norman invasion brought peaceful times and by 1287 the abundant clay nearby supported a brick and tile industry. Cookham has seen industrialization come and go, leaving a popular, but tranquil village with a wealth of 16th to 18th century black-and-white timber and red brick houses.
Our walk takes us from Cookham Moor north-west along the edge of, and over Winter Hill Golf Course, then by field paths to the scarp face of Winter Hill. After admiring the view we gently descend to the River Thames. There will be time for a refreshment stop at the walker-friendly Bounty public house by the river, before continuing along Cock Marsh to Cookham Church. Our walk finishes with a stroll along the interesting Cookham High Street, back to Cookham Moor.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
June 2010
Sunday 13th June - Veteran Trees on Bucklebury Common, 5 miles (3 hrs), gentle
Host: Pang Valley Group. Start at Bucklebury Common at 10:30am.To get there by car: take the Bradfield to Upper Bucklebury road and use the car park on the left, half-a-mile beyond Chapel Row; it has a height-restriction gate.
Bucklebury Common lies on a gravel ridge between the Pang and Kennet Valleys. Much of the common was open heathland until the mid 20th century. Its particularly acid soils favour the growth of birches, oaks, Scots pine and heathers. More than seventy veteran trees on the common have been recorded by the Woodland Trust: several are over 200 years old, and there is an oak stub which is probably 600 years old. Perhaps the most famous tree on the common is The Coronation Oak, a pollarded sessile oak, which started life in Tudor times. In 1902, Edward VII's coronation was celebrated with a picnic for 1200 people in its shade, giving it its name. There are also elegant beeches, one of which is believed to be about 260 years old. Bucklebury Common veteran trees are valued features in the landscape of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Our walk starts from a car park between Chapel Row and Upper Bucklebury. We cross Bucklebury Common Nature Reserve in a south-westerly direction and then turn north for a visit to The Coronation Oak. We walk through Bucklebury Farm, Bushnells Green and King's Copse, before turning south through Nine Elms to reach the avenue leading to Chapel Row; this magnificent wide avenue is lined by about twenty-five veteran trees. Finally our route crosses Lower Common, passing Wellingtonia which are huge, but only about 150 years old, to return to the starting point.
Saturday 26th June - Walbury Hill and Combe Gibbet, 5 miles (3 hrs), or 10 miles (5 hrs), hilly
Host: Berkshire Walkers. Start at Kintubry Station at 10:30. To get there by train: there are regular trains from Reading and Newbury. To get there by car: drive along the A4 from Newbury towards Hungerford. Take the left turn to Kintbury about ½ of the distance between the towns. The car park is on the right, just beyond the level crossing there is a charge to park.
Walbury Hill is the highest point in south-east England, standing 974ft above sea level; it is situated on the chalk down that, until recently, marked the border between Berkshire and Hampshire. The downs have marked a border since the Iron Age, leading to a string of hill forts along their length: the one on Walbury Hill encompasses an impressive 33 hectares. It would once have been surrounded by a timber wall, though all that remains of the fort are its defensive ditches, cut into the side of the hill. The border is also the site of Combe Gibbet, where, in 1696, the lovers George Bromham and Dorothy Newman were hanged for double murder. The tail of their dastardly deed varies from source to source: by one account a Mad Thomas witnessed George and Dorothy murder George's wife and son on Combe Hill. The gibbet was raised to execute justice and exhibit the pair to the world. Since that time, the gibbet has become a local feature and has been replaced several times, though never again used.
On a clear day, Combe Gibbet and Walbury Hill offers a view across almost all of Beautiful Berkshire, from Hungerford in the west, to a distant Maidenhead in the east, and north to the Ridgeway.
Our walk takes us from the village of Kintbury, south across fields and small woodlands, towards Walbury Hill. We will pass through Lower Green for lunch time. The intrepid of the group will then climb the steep path to Combe Gibbet and on to the summit of Walbury Hill; those left behind will have a short time to look around Lower Green and its 13th century parish church, St Michael's. The two groups will meet up again in Inkpen Common for the return walk to Kintbury.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
July 2010
Sunday 11th July - Ufton Court, 5 miles (3 hrs), or 9 miles (5 hrs), gentle
Host: Mid Berks Group. Start at Aldermaston Wharf Station at 10:30am. To get there by train: there are regular trains from Reading and Newbury. To get there by car, drive along the A4 from Reading to Newbury, there is a roundabout signed for Aldermaston. Take the turning, and follow the road over the humped-back bridge and past Aldermaston Wharf village green. The railway station is on the road to the right. If you cross the canal, you've gone too far!
The Elizabethan house at Ufton Court overlooks the Kennet Valley: it is a reminder of the most picturesque of Elizabethan times in Berkshire. The mansion we see today was built around an even older house in about 1570. It has nineteen gables, each with a massive chimney and traceried window: three priest holes were secreted around its interior. The house boasts of literary links with poets like Alexander Pope, whose poem The Rape of the Lock is about beautiful Arabella Fermor, who lived at Ufton Court in 1712.
Our walk starts from the railway station at nearby Aldermaston Wharf. We will climb gently out of the Kennet Valley, along paths through grassy fields to Ufton Court. At Ufton Court, you can opt to take a short route back to Aldermaston, dropping back into the valley via Padworth, or you can continue on to the small villages of Ufton Nervet and Ufton Green. Both options will return to Aldermaston via the Kennet and Avon Canal, and each will have its own leader.
Sunday 25th July - The Thames: Henley to Hambleden Lock, 5½ miles (3 hrs), gentle with a gradual slope
Host: Loddon Valley Group. Start at the car park to the left of Henley Town Hall at 10:30am. To get there by train: there are regular trains from Twyford to Henley. To get there by car: on the A423 from Maidenhead or the A321 from Wargrave.
In 1771 James Wyatt erected a summer house on a small island in the Thames between Hambleden and Henley. As this summer house is based on the design of a classical temple, the island has become known as Temple Island. This distinctive folly (pictured), set against a background of the trees, has become the elegant starting point for the Henley Regatta Races. In 1829 the first boat race between crews from Oxford and Cambridge took place along this stretch of the river between Hambleden Lock and Henley Bridge. This led on to the Regatta being established in 1839, and when Prince Albert became its patron in 1851 it became the Henley Royal Regatta. Temple Island has now been acquired on lease by the Regatta Stewards.
Our circular walk starts in Henley and after crossing over Henley Bridge, picks up the Thames Path on the Berkshire side of the river Thames. The walk then follows the river along the course of the Henley Royal Regatta, past Temple Island and on to Hambleden Lock. The walk returns inland passing the Flower Pot Hotel in Aston then over high ground overlooking the Greenlands Estate, which is the largest single area protected by National Trust covenants, given by the third Viscount Hambleden in 1944 to protect the landscape and buildings. The final part of the walk is through Remenham Wood and along higher ground overlooking the Thames before returning to the start across Henley Bridge.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
August 2010
Saturday 14th August - Wellington College, 5¼ miles (3 hrs), gentle
Host: South-East Berkshire Group. Start at the Eagle House School car park at 10:30am. To get there by train: from Sandhurst Station, turn right and walk until you reach a roundabout. Turn left up the Crowthorne Road. Walk up the hill, past two sets of lights (one pedestrian), and you will find the school on the left. To get there by car: from Crowthorne, drive through the High Street and follow the road towards Sandhurst until you reach a dip and the school is on the right. From Sandhurst (Camberley) pass a parade of shops on the right (Coop, Sue Ryder), turn right on the mini-roundabout and - see train.
Eagle House School began as a prep school in 1820 in Hammersmith. It moved to Sandhurst in 1885, after a short period in Wimbledon. The (pictured) nearby Wellington College is celebrating its 150th year: twice as old as the ramblers! Wellington College was founded by Queen Vicoria and Prime Minister The Earl of Derby in 1859 as the national momument to Britain's greatest millitary figure, the Duke of Wellington, who also served the country with distinction twice, as Prime Minister.
We have arranged access for our walk to the grounds of Wellington College, which is not usually open to the public. Our walk through the woods of the campus of Wellington College will start with a visit to the front of the school. We will then walk beside their impressive lakes and circumnavigate the perimeter of the estate. Our route takes us through the Ambarrow Court woods, before reaching the Horseshoe Lake. The waterside walk gives good views of the whole lake and activity of the bird life. We return to the Wellington College grounds and walk through the woodland back to Eagle House. On arrival at the car park, tea will be served with the schools infamous cookies: a must after a gentle walk!
By kind permission of the Masters of Eagle House and Wellington College.
Sunday 29th August - Ascot, Short: 4 miles (2 hrs), Long: 6½ miles (3 hrs) gentle
Host: South-East Berkshire Group. Start at the Free car park (No. 6) at the west end of Ascot High Street at 10:00am. To get there by train: Ascot train station is a short walk from the start. To get there by car: the free car park is on the A329.
There are few sporting venues that can match the rich heritage and history of Ascot Racecourse. Since the first meeting on Saturday 11 August 1711,
Royal Ascot has established itself as a centrepiece of the British social calendar and the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in the world.
The racecourse was laid out by William Lowen. The first permanent building was erected in about 1794 by George Slingsby, a Windsor builder.
It held 1,650 people and was used until 1838. Ascot Racecourse closed in September 2004 for a major redevelopment: the largest of its type
in Europe. The new grandstand at Ascot Racecourse (pictured) is something truly spectacular, taking the sporting complex to a whole new
level and making for the ultimate racing experience.
The official opening of the new grandstand took place on Tuesday 20th June 2006, the first day of the Royal Meeting, with an opening speech
from Her Majesty, The Queen. The redevelopment came in on time and on budget.
We will start with a short walk along the High Street, past the old fire station, now a funeral parlour, and turn down Course Road into Edwardian Ascot. After a brief glimpse of the new grandstand, we will take the tunnel under the railway at Ascot Station. Our walk passes through a modern industrial estate to some enclosed footpaths and over footbridges in South Ascot. We will walk along the along unmade-up Coombe Lane, past Tom Green's picnic area to the parkland of the Tetworth Hall area. We will see the magnificent gates to the old course, and the mighty pillars that are rumoured to have carried cables, stopping the enemy landing on the course in the 2nd World War. Crossing the 'hallowed turf' itself, we will get a first real glimpse of the iconic, new, pearl of the stand, finished in 2007. The heath, Three Castles' Path and heliport to the Burleigh estates of Ascot, provide a fascinating contrast between old and new housing development on our return to the starting point.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
September 2010
Sunday 12th September - Snelsmore Common, Short: 4 miles (3 hrs), Long: 6½ miles (3 hrs) gentle
Host: West Berkshire Group. Start at the large car park at Snelsmore Country Park at 10:30. To get there by car: From Newbury take the B4494 towards Wantage. The entrance to Snelsmore Country Park is found on the left, opposite entrance to Mary Hare School.
Snelsmore Common is, at 250 acres, Berkshire's largest remaining tract of heathland. On its southern boundary sits Donnington Castle, originally the home of Richard Adderbury the Elder. It was later bought by Thomas Chaucer, son of Geoffrey Chaucer; who is said to have visited and to have written parts of various works under, the long since felled, 'Chaucer's Tree'. The castle came into royal hands and both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I visited in their time. It played a major role in both Battles of Newbury, where its guns succeeded in guarding the major routes from London to the West and Oxford to Southampton.
Up the Lambourn from Donnington Castle, the small village of Bagnor is the site of The Watermill, which is now a privately owned repertory theatre. The converted watermill retains many of its original features: wooden beams and corn chutes protrude incongruously through the lighting arrays; the waterwheel can be viewed through a screen on entry to the auditorium.
Our walk follows well defined tracks through gorse heather and woodland to the remains of Donnington Castle, from there we make our way to Bagnor, home of the Watermill Theatre. Those doing the shorter walk have the opportunity to pay a visit to the Blackbird Inn before returning to Snelsmore via local woodland paths. The longer walkers continue past The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor Manor and across Boxmoor Common to Winterbourne Church, before returning to Snelsmore.
Sunday 26th September - Windsor, Short: 5 miles (3 hrs), Long: 8½ miles (5 hrs) gentle
Host: Windsor and District Group. Start at the Car park at Queen Anne's Gate to Windsor Great Park at 10:00am. To get there by car: head south out of Windsor on the A332, the car park is just as the road enters the park.
Most visitors will associate Windsor with the Castle and the Royal Family; however there is much more to the town than this association. The oldest building in Windsor is Clewer Parish Church. Of Saxon foundation, its chapel bears the name of Sir Bernard Brocas, Lord of Clewer Manor who, in 1385, gave land in trust to the Church: Shakespeare refers to him in Richard II. In the churchyard is the grave of Sir Daniel Gooch, the Chief Locomotive Engineer of the Great Western Railway and later chairman: he was responsible for laying the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866 on the steamship, The Great Eastern. Nearby is the Mill House, once the home of Jimmy Page of the Rock Group Led Zepplin, and later in the '70s occupied by actor, Michael Caine. The Camm family lived in Alma Road: Sydney, born in 1893, designed the Hawker Hurricane Fighter of WWII; his brother Fred, became a journalist and was the author of all the magazines with Practical in their title, namely, Wireless, Mechanics, Motoring and Householder, etc.
Our walk starts with the northern section of the 'Long Walk', into Windsor Town and to the River Thames. We walk through the western edge of Windsor, seeing much of interest en route, before returning to the start point, where those wanting the short walk will depart; those remaining for the long walk will continue along the southern section of the Long Walk to the famous Copper Horse, an equestrian statue with King George III.
Click here to see the Berkshire Walkers Walks Programme
October 2010
Sunday 10th October - Wokefield Park, Short: 4 miles (3 hrs), Long: 8 miles (4 hrs) gentle
Host: Mid Berks Group. Start at the car park at Fairground Field, central Mortimer at 10:30am. To get there by train: The Fairground Field is a 15 minute walk from Mortimer railway station (at Stratfield Mortimer). To get there by by Bus: Reading Buses to Tadley pass through the centre of Mortimer, near the car park.
Fairground field in central Mortimer is a wide green expanse, with football and cricket areas and a children's playground; it remains true to its name as fairs are held regularly twice a year. Stratfield Mortimer's history is long. It lies north of a Roman Road and in 1509 the village and surrounding area were part of a marriage settlement to Katherine of Aragon. The route of our walk passes an area, where, three hundred years later, Rev James Morgan leased an acre of land and had a windmill built so local farmers did not have far to take their corn to be ground. From Windmill Road we enter Starvale Woods where fine Sweet Chestnut trees, Oak and Firs contrast with small lakes as we cross Wokefield Common. We reach fields rising gently and giving views of Wokefield Park and its stately house.
From the fairground field in central Mortimer, we enter the Starvale Woods and cross Wokefield Common.
We reach fields, rising gently and giving views of Wokefield Park and its stately house.
If you want to do the shorter walk, we will follow a slight descent, passing near Mann's Farm, to continue through the woods.
This branch of the walk returns to the start via Fairground Field.
Our longer walk passes Mann's Farm and heads to Wheat's Farm, near Tun Bridge. We turn west to pass St Mary's Church and follow the path
by the Foudry Brook to Tanhouse Bridge. This route returns to the start via Admiral's Copse.
Sunday 24th October - The Lambourn Downs, 7 miles (4 hrs) hilly
Host: The Berkshire Walkers. Start at the free car park in Lambourn (on the High Street) at 10:30am. To get there by car: take the A4 west from Newbury and turn onto the B4000 at the roundabout of the junction with the A34. The B4000 leads directly to Lambourn.
Lambourn in West Berkshire was once an important market town. It is thought to date from the reign of King Alfred. Lambourn's mixed prosperity over the years has left it as the quintessential English village: a church, market square and former coaching inn, serving the occupants of the small cottages along its streets. The village is nestled in the Lambourn Downs, the escarpment to the north of which is the traditional border with Oxfordshire. These rolling grassy downs are our final point for our selection of Beautiful Berkshire.
The walk takes us up the High Street to the church and joins the Lambourn Valley Way in a south-easterly direction leaving the village, then heading up hill to Beachdown Farm and Eastbury Down. We will then walk past the gallops and head south towards the village of Eastbury where we will stop for a pint at the pub. After which we will head up toward Cleeve Wood and back to Lambourn via White Shute and Hungerford Gap.
We will have a picnic stop somewhere between the gallops and Eastbury village before getting to the pub. The walk includes 247 metres of ascent but the pace will be sensible so that we can enjoy the views.