PROGRAMME OF WALKS OFFERED – January to March 2012

You are advised to check times of public transport before use.

New members: we always stop for a picnic lunch on Wednesday walks.

Wed 04 Jan – Meet 10:30am Dinton Pastures [GR SU784718]. Meander round one or both lakes. Lunch by the lake if the weather permits. Visit the cafe afterwards if you wish. 2-3 miles. Tel: 986 8915, mob: 07972 604666.

Sat 07 Jan – Meet 10:00am Kingwood Common, Red House Square, opposite Hazel Grove [GR SU694823]. 10 miles via Stoke Row, Highmoor and Checkendon. Tel: 01491 680109, mob: 07835 872791.

Sun 08 Jan – Meet 10:30am Pangbourne Meadow recreation ground car park [GR SU637767]. 7 miles via Mapledurham Lock, Sulham Wood and Tidmarsh. Tel: 986 8915, mob: 07972 604666.

Wed 11 Jan – Meet 10:30am junction Long Lane and Dark Lane, Tilehurst. 5 miles via Purley and Pangbourne. Tel: 947 3713, mob: 07803 357737 or tel: 942 8952.

Sun 15 Jan – Meet 10:00am West St. car park in centre of Marlow [GR SU847864, SL7 2LS], next to Thai Square restaurant. 8 miles via Davenport Wood, Hollowhill Wood, Hog Wood and Millbank Wood to Medmenham and then back along Thames path via Harleyford. Bring lunch or use pubs at the end. Tel: 07771 877456.

Wed 18 Jan – Meet 10:30am Ibstone on grass verge at road fork [GR SU757926]. 7 miles via Twig Side, Penley Wood, Wellground Farm, Hale Wood. One steep climb at end of walk. Tel: 962 1710.

Sat 21 Jan – Annual General Meeting. See Newsletter. (Members).

Sun 22 Jan – Figure of 8 walk. Meet 10:00am or 1:30pm at Rushall Manor Farm [GR SU584723]. Morning: 7 miles via Rushall Farm, Bradfield, Rotten Row, Jennetts Hill and Stanford Dingley. Afternoon: 4 miles via Stanford Wood, Clay Hill, Stanford Dingley and Kimberhead Farm. Tel: 978 7703, mob: 07752 785411.

Wed 25 Jan – Meet 10:30am Middle Assendon [GR SU739858]. 6 miles via Bix Bottom and Maidensgrove. Hilly. Tel: 969 3449 or tel: 926 8035, mob: 07982 048387.

Sat 28 Jan – Linear Walk via west Reading parks. 09:22 No. 26 bus to Sainsbury’s, Calcot. Walk starts at 10:00am from bus stop. 10 miles via Little Heath, Arthur Newbury Park, McIlroy Park, Prospect Park to 83KA for lunch (bring food, tea/coffee provided) and K&A Canal to the Oracle. Walk crosses bus routes at several points enabling early departures. Tel: 950 7696, mob: 07810 364161.

Sun 29 Jan – Meet 10:30am Beacon Hill car park just off A34 [GR SU463575]. 6¾ miles via Beacon Hill, Old Burghclere and Burghclere. Steep climb up Beacon Hill. Bring lunchtime food and drink. Tel: 962 1710.

Wed 01 Feb – Meet 10:30am Ewelme Recreation Ground car park [GR SU647912]. Walk via Cow Common, Swyncombe Downs and Ridgeway. 7 miles. Tel: 962 1710.

Sat 04 Feb – 10:48 a.m. train to Hungerford (check timetable). 7-8 miles via Standen Manor, Bagshot, Stype Grange, Long Walk Wood (less than ¼ mile!) and K&A canal. Bring packed lunch. Tel: 926 4134.

Wed 08 Feb – Meet 10:30am Woodcote Village Hall car park [GR SU645821]. 5½ miles via Braziers Park and Bottom Farm. Tel: 01491 681284.

Sat 11 Feb – Meet 10:00am The Four Horseshoes PH, Checkendon [GR SU663829, RG8 0QS]. Please park carefully in the pub car park. 7 miles via Scotts Farm, Stoke Row, Wyfold Court, Hook End. Optional pub lunch at finish. Tel: 9475074, mob: 07972 580232.

Sun 12 Feb – Meet 10:00am at the bus shelter Cookley Green [GR SU697902, RG9 6EP]. 10 miles via Pishill, Watlington Park, The Ridgeway and Swyncombe (hopefully for tea and snowdrops). Tel: 950 7696, mob: 07810 364161.

Wed 15 Feb – LINEAR WALK, London. 9:39am train to Clapham Junction arr. 10:50am (buy a ticket to Waterloo), leader will join at Earley station. Meet at the back of the station, Grant Rd. Walk via River and Battersea Park. Optional visit to RHS Flower Show in Vincent Sq. (£3-4 non members) 6 miles. Tel: 926 8035, mob: 07982 048387.

Sun 19 Feb – Meet 10:00am Goring Village car park behind the Catherine Wheel PH [GR SU 599807]. About 11 muddy miles taking in bits of the Thames Path and Great Chalk Wood. Tel: 941 1310.

Wed 22 Feb – Meet 10:30am Nettlebed Kiln [GR SU702868, RG9 5AX]. 7½ miles via Cookley Green, Swyncombe (lunch with hopefully snowdrops), The Ridgeway – steep up – Ewelme Park and Digberry Lane. Tel: 950 7696, mob: 07880 660961.

Sat 25 Feb – Meet 10:00am Hambleden car park [GR SU785865] adjacent to the Stag & Huntsman. About 10 miles via Turville and Southend. Unrecce'd. Please bring food and drink. Tel: 987 2496.

Sun 26 Feb – Figure of 8 walk. Meet 10:00am at Hurley village car park (Opposite church) [GR SU825841] or 1:45pm at top of Honey Lane (near Dew Drop Inn) [GR SU825815]. Morning: 7 miles via Frogmill Farm, Cockpole Green, Remenham Hill and back along the Thames. Afternoon: 4½ miles via Knowl Hill, Bridleway Circuit, Warren Row and Pudding Hill. Tel: 978 7703, mob: 07752 785411.

Wed 29 Feb – Meet Friar Street, stop FC (near Monk’s Retreat pub), 9:52am No 850 bus to Henley. Walk starts 10:45am from Henley Town Hall, via Remenham Woods and Thames Path. Return buses 0:26 and 0:56. 6 miles. Tel: 986 8915, mob: 07972 604666.

Sun 04 Mar – Meet 10:00am Hambleden village car park behind Stag & Huntsman [GR SU785865, RG9 6RP]. 6-7 miles via Medmenham and along the Thames to Mill End. Bring sandwiches or pub at the end. Tel: 07890 361862.

Wed 07 Mar – Meet 10:30am by the Pot Kiln pub at Frilsham Common [GR SU553731]. 6 miles via Stanford Dingley. Tel: 948 2418, mob: 07968 717538 or tel: 947 3713.

Sat 10 Mar – Annual Dinner. Details in Newsletter. (Members).

Sun 11 Mar – Meet 10:00am Whitchurch Hill Recreation Ground [GR SU638788]. 6 miles via Crays Pond, Goring Heath and Path Hill. Tel: 947 1118, mob: 07768 923841.

Wed 14 Mar – Meet 10:30am at Boveney car park [GR SU937777]. 5 mile walk across the Thames fields to Eton and return along the river bank.
Tel: 988 2515, mob: 07530 454221.

Sat 17 Mar – Meet 10:15am Pamber End primary school [GR SU606581]. 6 miles via Rawlings Farm and Wyeford, coffee stop. Tel: 926 8035, mob: 07982 048387.

Wed 21 Mar – Meet 10:30am Littlewick Green, nr. Maidenhead [GR SU838800, SL6 3RA]. Park with care around Green opposite The Cricketers Pub. 6 miles via Hall Place Farm, Robin Hoods Arbour and Maidenhead Thicket. Tel: 947 3923, mob: 07843 228502.

Sat 24 Mar – Meet 10:00am Aston Rowant nature reserve car park [GR SU732966]. 9½ miles via The Ridgeway, Bald Hill, Shirburn Hill, Upper and Lower Vicars Farm, some hilly bits. Bring lunchtime food and drink. Tel: 962 1710.

Sun 25 Mar – Meet 10:00am White Hill car park, 1½ miles south of Kingsclere on B3051 [GR SU516565]. 12 mile walk southwards across the Downs via nowhere in particular. Tel: 988 2515, mob: 07530 454221.

Wed 28 Mar – Meet bus stop EM Blagrave Street for 9:35am No 1 Newbury bus. Walk Aldermaston to Cunning Man. 7 miles. Tel: 959 4373.

Sat 31 Mar – Meet 10:00am Cookley Green bus shelter [GR SU696902]. 12 miles via Ewelme park, Harcourt Hill, Potters Hill and Ewelme, returning over Swyncombe Down. Tel: 01491 680109, mob: 07835 8727911.

Shorter walks, please

The length of walks was discussed at the last committee meeting in November 2011 and we decided to request that leaders consider putting on shorter walks.

Most importantly, this is because new members often prefer to try out a short walk before graduating to longer ones when they are confident of their fitness.

A programme with a succession of walks of 7-8 miles and upwards could be discouraging to potential newcomers.