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- Kingsclere and Watership Down, 7 miles, easy/moderateSt. Mary's Church, Kingsclere
Join us for a gentle walk through the hills, exploring the beautiful countryside around Kingsclere which inspired Watership Down.
This walk will be led by Shannon & Michael.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: gentle. Ascent: 200m.
Walk details
We'll head south out of Kingsclere and up onto the hills. From there, we should have panoramic views of the countryside which inspired the novel Watership Down. We'll continue west along the ridgeline for several miles, enjoying the scenery over lunch, before heading back down and into Kingsclere.
Travel details
By public transport
Bus number 32 runs between Newbury and Basingstoke via Kingsclere hourly on a Saturday: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/South/Basingstoke/5th%20May%202024/Basingstoke%2032_05-05-24.pdf
From Newbury, catch the 32 from Newbury Wharf at 10:40, which arrives into Kingsclere (St. Mary's Church) at 11:05.
From Basingstoke, catch the 32 from the Bus Station at 10:40, or from opposite the train station at 10:44, which arrives into Kingsclere at 11:10.
From Reading, you can choose to either go via Newbury or Basingstoke: there are regular trains to both places, and we will wait for both buses to arrive.
By car
There a few car parking spaces opposite the church, but if these are full, you can turn by McCoys, and you'll find Anchor Road Council Parking with about 25 spaces. This parking all appears to be free from what I can find online, but please check when you get there.
Notes
- Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
- It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
- Please contact the leaders 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.
- Yuletide Wanderlust: A Christmas Trip to Exeter (EXTERNAL BOOKING REQUIRED)Exeter Cathedral, Exeter
For this festive weekend away, we’ll be travelling down to the Devon city of Exeter, where we’ll be visiting the Cathedral’s Christmas market. We’ll be doing three walks around the Exeter area, with two of them being based around the River Exe estuary. Like with some of the walks we do in Berkshire, these walks will pass other stations along the way, and so there’ll be options to drop out any of the walks if needed.
If you’re interested in coming, please complete this form to secure your place, as well as showing your interest on Meetup, by Saturday 30th November. The trip is limited to 31 places, including the trip leader. Everyone’s welcome to sign up to this trip, regardless of how much walking experience you have or how long you’ve been a Ramblers member. Like with other BW trips, you have to be a member of the Ramblers to take part, but members of other groups are also very welcome to join us.
These details are abbreviated to fit on Meetup – please see our group website for more complete information.
Itinerary:
Friday’s walk: Topsham to Exmouth, 6.5 miles, easy – 14:10 start.
- This walk will take us along the eastern edge of the Exe estuary via Exton and Lympstone.
Friday evening social (venue TBC).
Saturday’s walk: Joint walk with the Devon Bootlegs Ramblers from Exeter St David’s to Dawlish Warren, 12.4 miles, easy/moderate. – 09:30 start.
- This walk will take us along the Exeter Ship canal before taking us along the western edge of the Exe estuary via Powderham and Starcross.
Sunday’s walk: Teignmouth to Dawlish Warren, 5.2 miles, easy – 09:45 start.
- This final walk will take us parallel the railway through Dawlish, which comes with a view of Lyme Bay.
Accommodation:
You’ll need to book your own accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights. Here are some suggestions for you to book:- Globe Backpackers, Holloway Road (Near Exeter Quay).
- Premier Inn Exeter Central St Davids (Next to St David’s station).
- Premier Inn Exeter City Centre (Near the Cathedral).
Travel to / from Exeter:
By train:
If you plan to do the walk on Friday afternoon, the recommended service from Reading is the 11:01 GWR departure that arrives at Exeter St David’s at 13:07. For those who live in the Newbury area, this same train will depart from Newbury station at 11:16.For those who live in South Oxfordshire, it’ll be easier to get the train from Didcot Parkway, which sees regular GWR departures towards Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. At either of these stations, you then change for a CrossCountry service towards Exeter St David’s, and going this route will take you just over 2 hours. After the walk on Sunday, there’s a regular number of trains departing from St David’s station towards Newbury, Reading, and for those who needed it, Didcot Parkway.
By car:
If you plan to drive, the fastest route from Reading is along the M4 towards Swindon, Bath and Bristol, where you’ll reach junction 20. Here, turn off the M4 to join the M5, and follow this towards Taunton and Exeter. An alternative route to the M5 would be to head towards the M3, where you then travel southbound to junction 8 (just after Basingstoke) to join the A303 to Taunton, and you then join the M5 at junction 25.These details are abbreviated to fit on Meetup – please see our group website for more complete information.
- Winchester City Walk & Christmas Market, 5 miles, easyWinchester Station, Winchester
This 5 mile route takes us on a tour of the historic landmarks of King Alfred's Winchester.
This walk will be led by Alex.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Pace: gentle.
Walk details
We start our walk at Winchester station heading towards St Bartholomew's churchyard and Hyde Abbey Garden which reflects the abbey church and marks the site of Alfred the Great’s medieval tomb.
We continue our walk meandering the streets of Winchester taking in the historic sites before crossing the grounds of the Cathedral where we shall return to at the end of our walk to enjoy the Christmas market!
After the Cathedral (and depending on the recent weather conditions!) we stroll along the River Itchen before heading to St Giles Hill view point giving us a panoramic view of the city.
After taking in the view we head back to the Cathedral via the Abbey Gardens in time to enjoy the Christmas market.
Travel details
By public transport
From Reading take the 11:52 train arriving in Winchester at 12:26.
By car
Parking is available at Winchester station – charges apply.
Winchester also has various Park&Rides that cost £3.50 for the whole day.Notes
- Please note: there is NO lunch stop on this walk.
- 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.
