What we’re about
The Berkshire Walkers are a walking and social group aimed at people in their 20s and 30s and is part of The Ramblers.
We are based in Berkshire, mainly around Reading, Newbury and Slough, and provide walks at a variety of lengths on weekends and summer evenings. We also have regular socials such as pub meets, meals out, ten-pin bowling and trips to museums and places of interest. All are welcome to join the Berkshire Walkers for a walk, whether you are already a keen walker, or just starting down the path.
Your first three walks are FREE for new members. We are part of the Ramblers and we are always keen to meet new members. You can join here.
Annual membership is exceptionally reasonable (just over £3pm on Direct Debit). Membership also gives you access to our social events that aren't advertised on Meetup and socials happen at least two-three times a month. With membership, you can also join any of the other 500 Ramblers groups, including other Berkshire groups and those nearby in Surrey, Sussex, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire.
Joining The Ramblers in general brings all the benefits of being part of the UK's largest walking organisation, with discounts available in many walking shops (e.g. 15% at Cotswold Outdoor). You will also receive a magazine 4 times a year, about walking in the UK and things that affect your rights to walk through our amazing and varied countryside. Your membership fees also contribute to The Ramblers' efforts to promote walking as a healthy pastime, to campaign for access and to fight for maintained access to our rights of way. What's not to like?
Not all our members are on Meetup, so there will be more people on walks than are shown on Meetup. For a general idea, we typically get 10–20 people on our walks. Please note that our social events are not usually listed on Meetup: our socials are for our walkers only (including those new to the group with an interest in joining), and can be found on our website.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Newbury—Thatcham via water meadows & Greenham, 11.4mi, easy/moderate RESCHEDULEDNewbury, Newbury
A linear walk around the Newbury and Thatcham area that will take us through some of the meadows and fields as well as Greenham and Crookham Commons.
This walk has been rescheduled from 6th April due to the strike action at GWR on that date.
This walk will be led by Michael.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: medium. Ascent: 86m.
Walk details
Part of this walk will be walking through Greenham and Crookham Commons, which were originally opened in 1942 by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Second World War. It was then later heavily used during the Cold War, where it was used as a base for nuclear cruise missiles. After this ended, the base was closed in September 1992. During this time, the airfield was known for the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, which was held outside its gates in the 1980s in protest against the stationing of these nuclear cruise missiles situated on the base. In 1997, both Greenham Common and Crookham Common were designated as a public parkland, although many remnants of the former airbase still remains. In recent years, Greenham Common has been used in many films and TV shows, including the most recent instalments of the Star Wars franchise, as well as a business park for a wide range of companies.
(The rescheduling of the walk to "Star Wars day" brings a fortuitous connection on that front, for any fans in the group – "May the Fourth be with you"!)
To celebrate the long military history of Greenham and Crookham Commons, these will be integrated in today's walk. We’ll start of by walking along the River Kennet towards Northcroft Park, which we’ll then walk through towards Moor Lane to take us into the water meadows and then back towards the River Kennet. From here, we’ll be walking through a couple of fields next to the Enborne Road, which will take us up a hill into Wash Common, where we’ll then walk through a couple of playing fields and through Sandleford Park. Afterwards, we’ll walk through a housing estate towards Greenham and Crookham Commons, which we’ll be passing through towards another field, and the latter of these will take us to our finishing point at Thatcham station. At the end of the walk, there’ll be an option to stop off at The Swan pub, which is just a stone’s throw away from the station.
Travel details
By public transport
The best train to get from Reading is the 09:33 GWR departure, which arrives in Newbury at 09:54.
If you're coming from the Wokingham or Sandhurst direction, then the GWR connecting service arrives into Reading at 08:57 in time for the 09:05 GWR stopping service to Newbury, which arrives at 09:34.
By car
There is plenty of parking spaces at the multi-storey next to the side of the station we're meeting at. On a Saturday, it costs £4.40 to park for the whole day.
Please note, as it's a linear walk, you'll need to take a train back to your car at the end if driving. (Alternatively, you can park at Thatcham station and take a train to the start of the walk.)
Notes
- Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
- It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
- Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.
- Bank Holiday Blue Pangbourne, 6.5 miles, easyPangbourne, Reading
Join us for a leisurely Bank Holiday Sunday walk around Pangbourne and Whitchurch Hill with views across to Purley and the River Thames, weather permitting. This easy walk sees us head up out of Pangbourne over the River Thames to join the footpaths of the local countryside. Along the walk we hope to see large clusters and carpets of bluebells…
This walk will be led by Jason.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: gentle.
Walk details
The walk will start from Pangbourne station and take us over the River Thames via Whitchurch Bridge, past the beautiful St Mary the Virgin Church at Whitchurch. Heading up the hill we join the local paths and join the Chiltern Way footpath.
We pass through Collins End and walk through Bottom Wood and onto Long Ground Plantation. Here we should be able to see plenty of bluebells in all their glory!
Once we reach the top of Straw Hill we will get amazing views across to Purley and the River Thames (weather permitting). We now have to walk down the hill – it is fairly steep downwards so we will take our time here. If this is muddy please be careful!
We will walk past Hardwick House and get to see the alpacas at Bozedown Farm. How many different colours of alpacas will you get to spot?
As we come back into Whitchurch Hill we will head back over the Whitchurch Toll Bridge crossing the River Thames and back to Pangbourne station.
Travel details
By public transport
From Reading, catch the 11.26am train which will arrive at Pangbourne at 11.34am.
From Didcot Parkway, catch the 11.12am train which will arrive at Pangbourne at 11.26am.
By car
Free parking is available at the car park opposite the Lamborghini Garage in the centre of Pangbourne. This car park is only a couple of minutes’ walk from the station (where charges do apply).
The train station has its own car park but charges will apply – you can use the APCOA app to pay for parking. We would recommend downloading and setting up the APCOA app in advance – will save you time on the day of the walk.
Notes
- Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
- It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
- Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.
- Flower Power 2: Revenge of the Rhododendrons, 10 miles, moderateVirginia Water, Virginia Water
This 10-mile linear walk from Virginia Water includes the full length of Windsor Great Park, from south to north, the Valley Gardens in full bloom, and finishes with the Long Walk to Windsor Castle!
This walk will be led by Tom H.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: medium. Ascent: 138m.
Walk details
After a couple of miles of pavement walking, we’ll enter Windsor Great Park. We’ll walk an almost full loop of Virginia Water Lake, taking in all the main features - the impressive Cascade, the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna, and the Totem Pole (this could be the final chance to see the Totem Pole standing, as it is due to be laid to rest during 2024). The highlight, though, will hopefully be the Valley Gardens, where the azaleas and rhododendrons should be in full bloom and at their most colourful!
After the Totem Pole, we’ll turn north to pass the Obelisk Pond and the visitor centre for the Savill Garden – the café there may make a suitable drink stop if numbers permit. It’s not far from there before we’ll reach the edge of the Deer Park, and start enjoying broad views across the Thames Valley towards Windsor Castle. From the Copper Horse we will be able to see the rest of our route laid out in front of us: the Long Walk to Windsor Castle. The final three miles will be along this dead straight driveway, and we will probably wonder why that castle never seems to get any nearer!
Travel details
By public transport
Please catch the 10.09 train from Reading (Wokingham 10.23, Bracknell 10.30) if travelling by train. At the end of the walk, we will return from Windsor and Eton Central, changing at Slough.
As this is a linear walk, and because Virginia Water and Windsor are on different rail lines, please note when you buy your rail tickets (if travelling by train) that you will need to buy a single from (e.g.) Reading to Virginia Water and a single from Windsor to Reading. Please DO NOT buy a return to Virginia Water.
By car
Parking is available at Virginia Water station, and in the Memorial Gardens car park next door (charges apply at both). Alternatively, please park considerately in the surrounding streets. At the end of the walk, you can return to your car by getting the train from Windsor and Eton Riverside, changing at Staines to reach Virginia Water.
Notes
- Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
- It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
- Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.
- Slough to Hayes & Harlington (Grand Union Canal Slough Arm), 8.5mi easy/moderateSlough, Slough
This linear walk will take us along the full length Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal to Hayes & Harlington station.
This walk will be led by Michael.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: medium.
Walk details
The Slough Arm is a short branch of the Grand Union Canal (GUC) from West Drayton into Slough. The nearly 5-mile long branch opened in 1882 to serve the brick-making industry, with the last commercial traffic was carried in 1960. As any plans to fill it in were opposed on a local level, the Slough Arm was re-opened in 1975 for recreational use, and it has remained in use ever since.
Today’s walk will follow the full length of the Slough Arm as well as some of the main Grand Union Canal. From Slough station, we’ll walk along the B416 Stoke Road, which is where the Slough Arm ends and where we turn right to join the canal. After leaving Slough, we’ll pass the nearby Langley station and walk through the Iver Cutting, which will then take us under the M25 motorway. Shortly after this, we’ll pass the Packet Boat Marina and the end of the Slough Arm, where we’ll then cross over the main Grand Union Canal and turn right onto it. This will take us pass West Drayton station and parallel to the Great Western Mainline (GWML). Near the end of the walk, we’ll pass Lake Farm Country Park before we get to Station Road, where we turn right to walk toward our finishing point at Hayes & Harlington station. Just as we turn off the canal towards the station, we’ll have the chance to stop off at The Old Crown pub for a pint, as it’s only a stone’s throw away from the station.
Travel details
By public transport
The recommended train from Reading is the 10:29 Elizabeth line service that arrives in Slough at 10:51.
By car
Although there's parking spaces on both sides of Slough station (charges will probably apply), the northern car park is a lot smaller than the southern car park. If you want to park here, you're better off getting there on the earlier side to guarantee a space. As it's a linear walk, you'll need to take a train back at the end of the walk to pick up your car.
Alternatively, park at Hayes & Harlington (again, charges will probably apply) and take a train to the start of the walk.
Notes
- Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
- It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
- Please contact the leader directly if you are delayed on the day or can't find the group (find contact details on our website). We are unlikely to respond to Meetup comments or messages sent on the day of the walk in enough time to be helpful.
