Wednesday Group

We use public transport when possible but also have a central pick-up point for car lifts.

Walks are enjoyed in the Chilterns and surrounding Berkshire countryside, including river banks and canals.

London walks are very popular, taking in parks and gardens, North and South Bank of the Thames, exploring places of interest en route, for example, City Hall and Somerset House.

An annual coach trip is arranged for visits to places of interest further afield. For example, we have been to Leeds Castle, Stowe Gardens and Beaulieu in the New Forest finishing with a riverside walk to Bucklers Hard.

Our year always finishes with a sociable walk and a great Christmas pub lunch.

‘Hello, I’m just taking my rabbit for a walk’

Reading ramblers have a strange encounter during their Selworthy holiday

Nineteen happy Reading ramblers assembled at HF Centre, Holnicote House on Saturday, 19th September. It is on the Somerset/Devon border, close to Selworthy Beacon.

We were all ready for a four-day break at the summer stately home of the Ackland family. The annual weekend away, with good weather ordered. We were welcomed by a cream tea, followed by a short walk to familiarise us with the local area. The National Trust owns this area, which is full of chocolate-box, picturesque cottages.

After a good night’s sleep, in very comfortable rooms, we were noisily awoken by the rooks, from Rookery Nook, at the bottom of the garden! After a hearty breakfast, and selecting a generous packed lunch we were off.

The ramblers divided into three groups according to age, experience and inclination, for the various Sunday walks which started across moorland to Selworthy Beacon. The weather stayed fine, dry and warm and we were treated to magnificent views over the Bristol Channel to Wales.

As we descended through the lush undergrowth in the woods, we saw an myriad of brightly coloured fungi. On the footpath to Selworthy Church, we met a local lady. She was taking her RABBIT for a walk (on a collar and lead). This must be a first!

Monday’s walks started from the top of Porlock Hill above Lynmouth Bay. We had a trip on the Victorian Cliff Railway, which is still run by water power. Continuing down into the tranquil East Lyn River Valley, to the Watersmeet National Trust tea rooms.

Due to an incontinent European and a chap who mislaid his mobile phone, our trip to the Valley of the (abridged to 2) Rocks was curtailed. Marion B climbed to the top of Rock (1) and gave us a brief summary of the glorious views that the wild goats had, and that the rest of us had missed! The weather was sunny and we ate ice-creams, whist waiting for the coach in Lynmouth Bay.

On Tuesday the coach stopped, and we got out to see the smallest listed building. It is AA Box 137. Those of us (who remembered the time when the AA patrolman saluted its motorist members) gathered round the box. Solemnly, in a nostalgic gesture, we saluted the box!

On Exmoor, those who were at the front of the party were treated to a brief glimpse of a small group of red deer disappearing into the woodland. The walks followed into valleys and then open fields across “Lorna Doone” country, returning to Holnicote House. The HF evening entertainments of Air Ambulance talk, quiz and dancing were enjoyed. The meals and walks were excellent. Thank you to Ann Walsh for organising another successful and enjoyable Reading Ramblers’ holiday.

Pam Lear

To find out more on the forthcoming walks and events of the Wednesday Group please look at our Walks Programme.