I've noticed that "walk", the Ramblers Association magazine, has a website of its own.  I've added a link to it on the information page of our website.

Mid-Berks Newsletter - May 2008 - edited extracts

[Note: Contact details & surnames have been removed from these extracts - see the printed version of the newsletter for these.]

Some of the enjoyable events that have taken place so far in 2008.
Our New Year’s Lunch at ‘The Inn at the Ford’ arranged by Paul was well-attended. The morning walk had to be altered slightly because of flooded paths; even more remarkable was the ambulance, the heavy vehicles with winches attached and more than one police car outside the Inn when we arrived. A motorist [not one of our party of course.!] had attempted to drive across the ford; he had to be rescued but his car was swept down river. We settled down to enjoy our meal after that! At our Social Evening in March, Carl Felton of Reading RSPB gave an excellent Illustrated Talk packed with detail; I have never heard nightingales sing more beautifully. It was pleasing that some new members attended and chatted over the usual wine and cheese. We have had a wide range of walks with solid numbers attending and  in spite of the rain and mud expected at this time of year there have been many good days to enjoy and we still have the Walking Trip to Malhamdale to look forward to! Again, thanks are given to the Walk Leaders and Committee Members who make our programme possible.

First a welcome to members who have joined recently, names in the printed newsletter; thank you for your support and we hope to meet you soon. Also congratulations to two other members (again names in the printed newsletter); in my many Mid-Berks years, I cannot remember two of the Group’s members becoming a married couple; prosperity to you both.

May to August events feature several usual items. In June and July are two evening walks. Please let leaders know a week in advance if you intend to have a meal after the walk. For two ‘Figure of eight’ walks (June and August) bring sandwiches if you are doing both am and pm sections. Food is not always available at a Pub near-by. For the walk with London Blind Group on July 27 please let Elizabeth know if you will pick our visitors up at Reading Station. Look out for the well-established Treasure Hunt Walk from Beenham on 24 of August. Come and help Mid-Berks win back the Cup from the lively group of Pang members who won it last year and enjoy the tea provided by members of both Groups. Remember also Jean’s August Bank Holiday walk with its stop en-route for a drink and baguette. Two words of caution; parking places are more and more difficult to find. Please, Please take care you do not park where you obstruct entrances to driveways, foot or bridle paths.    

                                                      Walking Holidays .

Haytor [on Dartmoor] October 8th 2008 -  3 nights -  cost £202 p.p. well booked, no more single rooms but a few twins available. Phone Monica (number in printed newsletter) if interested.

Derwentwater [Lake District] Spring 2009 – April  27 2009 – 4 nights - £248 p.p. To book send deposit of £35p.p. Cheques made payable to MID-BERKS RAMBLERS and sent to Monica (address in the printed newsletter).

Mendip Hills;12 October 2009 for 4 nights; details in the Autumn Programme;


         News from Ramblers Headquarters  -  Two Changes that could affect us all.
1 - Walk Britain – The Handbook and Accommodation Guide of the Rambler’ Association will no longer contain Accommodation information- this will move to the internet, so we suggest you keep the 2008 edition if you sometimes use it; it will not be out-dated too soon. 
2 -  The South East Walker magazine will not continue to be published; some of its material may be transferred to Walk magazine. Editors Les Douglas and David Sharp have given us a delightful magazine for very many years and we are sad to see it go.

Mid-Berks Newsletter - January 2008 - edited extracts

[Note: Contact details & surnames have been removed from these extracts - see the printed version of the newsletter for these.]

Since my last newsletter was written the following are some of the events that have taken place. On August 26, the well-established Treasure Hunt Walk from Beenham was attended by so lively a group of Pang members that they won the Cup for the first time. However the delicious tea was enjoyed by all and Ken and Jenny and those who contributed from Pang were thanked.

Jean's August Bank Holiday walk on the 27th, with its stop en-route for a drink and baguette, also added to the social atmosphere.

A wide range of walks during the Autumn kept us busy; Phoebe's second and different visit to Richmond in September took some of us away from 'home' and then thirty of us spent four sunny days in Abingworth in October.

Mid-Berks AGM in November was well-attended. It was followed by the most absorbing illustrated talk, about their recent visit to Namibia, by Thelma and Paul. Close up shots of animals, large and small, birds, plant life and scenery, were shown and described.

For the future - The Boxing Day and the New Year's Day walks are open to the Public as usual. See if you can persuade friends or children to come along - we do need members! These walks will be at a gentle pace as most of the short ones in the rest of the list will be. This was considered in Area AGM discussion. It is clear membership is dropping not only in Berkshire but also Nationally. New members do not always renew at the end of their first year. Could we be even more friendly than we have been in the past?  When we meet for walks do we gravitate to people we know and ignore those new to us? Will more slower walks help? Note that I have given the date of the next Mid-B committee meeting [March 19th 08] in the Walks List as a reminder that all walk leaders could sort out walks for May onwards by that time. We have a fairly full programme this time but always welcome new leaders! Notice that rather more walks begin at 10.00 than in earlier programmes.

Thanks as always to all who lead walks and organise our activities. We would not have a programme without you !

NewYear's Lunch 2008 - Sunday 13 January - at 'The Inn at the Ford -Lands End' PH, found south-east of Charvil GR . Short walk start - 10.30; park at the side of the Inn. Ask Paul for a menu if you have not seen one. Names and choice of menu to Paul by Jan 5th - contact details in printed version of newsletter.

Walking Holidays - the holiday to Malhamdale - 14 April 2008 is fully booked.

Haytor [on Dartmoor] October 8th 2008 -  3 nights -  cost £202 - still some places [but no single rooms left. Book with Monica by sending a deposit of £25.00 by 28 December 07. Cheques must be made payable to MID-BERKS RAMBLERS and sent to Monica, contact details in the printed version of the newsletter.