Wednesday Group

This group arranges weekly walks led by experienced members, the distances
vary between 4 and 8 miles.
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.

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