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.
PLEASE NOTE: This event costs £15 per person. To purchase your ticket, you must complete the Google Form and transfer £15 per ticket to the BW bank account.
We hope you’ll join the Berkshire Walkers for our grand SUMMER SPECTACULAR Ceilidh on Saturday 2nd August. It will be an evening of ceilidh dancing, with Scottish Country Dance Band Strathallan providing the live music.
We hope to see as many past and present BW members as possible, as well as friends and family, and ramblers from our neighbouring groups. Please note, there's only 60 tickets on sale, so if you're interested in attending, please show your interest as soon as possible as well as buying a ticket.
Doors will open at 18:30 for a 19:00 start.
If you're planning on driving, there's a car park with limited spaces for those using the village hall on hire. Alternatively, there's a larger public car park opposite the village hall, where a parking fee of £1 applies. There are also regular train services from Reading and Didcot, with the station being roughly a 5-minute walk from the station.
For those of you new to ceilidh dancing – don’t fear! We’ll have a ‘caller’ – a person who will teach us the dance moves and shout out the moves we need to do next, making it easy for anyone to join in, no matter how much ceilidh dancing experience you have. We’ll have two sets of dancing from approximately 19:00 to 20:15, and 20:45 to 22:00.
To keep costs down, we won’t be providing food and drink, but you are encouraged to bring your own on the night. There’s also a Co-op down the road.
This event is being organised by the Berkshire Walkers 25th anniversary subcommittee team: Andrew, Ed, Georgia, Michael, Paul, and Shannon.
Terms & conditions. The Berkshire Walkers account is used only to streamline payments to suppliers. In the event of a supplier failure, Ramblers and Berkshire Walkers are not liable for reimbursement. We are not able to offer refunds for this event. By signing up for this event, you are accepting these T&Cs.
As far as we are aware, the BWs first hosted a ceilidh to celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary. This proved popular, so the group has held several ceilidhs since. We also held a ceilidh for the National Young Ramblers (NYR) weekend when we hosted it in Berkshire, which, in part, led to a ceilidh being a regular feature on NYR weekends. We therefore thought a ceilidh was the ideal way to celebrate the group’s successful 25 years!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Another evening on the Kennet & Avon Canal, 6.6 miles, leisurelyTheale Station, Theale
Today's evening walk is a repeat of a walk that I led back in October 2024, of which the details of it can be found here. In a repeat of it, we'll be walking along part of the Kennet & Avon Canal from Theale to Reading.
Starting at Theale station, we’ll be walking along the main road towards the canal, which we’ll turn left onto towards Reading. Once in Reading, we’ll continue along the canal to pass some industrial estates to take us to The Oracle, where we’ll then walk through the grounds of Reading Minster and the High Street towards Reading station. For those who want a pint at the end of the walk, we'll be stopping off at The Three Guineas.
Ascent: 10m.
Please see our website for more information about the group.
TRAINS:
If you're travelling from Reading, the recommended train to get is the 18:06 GWR service that arrives in Theale at 18:14. If you're travelling from Newbury, the recommended train to get is the 18:00 GWR service that arrives in Theale at 18:15.
DRIVING:
Theale station has a good sized car park, where parking fees apply. Please note, that as this is a linear walk, you'll need to travel back to Theale afterwards.
DOGS:
Dogs are welcome on this walk as long as they're kept under control.
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 in enough time to be helpful.
- Sandhurst Saturday Stroll, 6 miles, moderateSandhurst station, Sandhurst
We will head out of Sandhurst towards Horseshoe Lake before joining the Blackwater Valley Way to walk beside the River Blackwater where we will pass the many nature reserves on the Moor Green Lakes. We will then head up to Finchampstead Ridges through woodland heading towards Ambarrow Woods.
On leaving Ambarrow Woods we will head back into Sandhurst to end up at the Swan pub which has a mini cider festival featuring 20 different ciders.
Ascent: 75m.
This walk will be led by David A..
Please see our website for more information about the group.
Public Transport:
Please take the 10:24 train from Reading towards Gatwick Airport.
Parking:
Their is no car parking at Sandhurst Station but parking is available on local residential streets. Please park considerately.
Please bring a packed lunch.
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 in enough time to be helpful.
- BW go classical 3!Hexagon Theatre, Reading
Join us for an evening of classical music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hexagon in Reading.
They will be playing:
- Beethoven. - Fidelio Overture
- Brahms. - Violin Concerto
- Sibelius. - Symphony No.5
More details can be found here: https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/royal-philharmonic-orchestra-sibelius.
If you are a full-time student, tickets will cost £6. Otherwise, we intend to book £18 tickets. We will check availability when we book and will give out the £18 tickets on a first-come first-served basis.
If you’d like to come, please email chris@berkshirewalkers.co.uk to let us know, and transfer your money (£18) to the BW bank account by Sunday 15th June. BW website here.
The Berkshire Walkers account is used only to streamline payments to suppliers. In the event of a supplier failure Ramblers and Berkshire Walkers are not liable for reimbursement. Once you have paid, and the organiser has booked your ticket, if you then decide to cancel, you will only be eligible to receive a refund if we receive payment from someone else to take your place. By signing up for this event, you are accepting these T&Cs.
