We are the Berkshire Weekend Walkers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Today we will explore the idyllic countryside and quiet lanes of the area to the west of the villages of Goring and Streatley taking in some expansive views and fingers crossed a visit one of the most iconic pubs in our area.
Please aim to meet at Goring and Streatley station for 10.15am ready for a prompt 10.30am departure. The walk leader should be on the 09.55 train departure from Reading arriving in Goring 10.08 am. Note that if this service is delayed or cancelled for any reason this may slightly delay the start of the walk.
The route today takes us up a steep hill out of Streatley. We will pause at the top where weather permitting the views should be far reaching and the yellow gorse potentially beginning to bloom in its magnificence. We continue onwards through a mixture of soft terrain and taking care on the tarmac country lanes before arriving at Aldworth sometime after lunch.
There is an option to pause to have a look inside St Mary's Church., a fixture of a number of BWW walks over the years. This is now the final resting place of Marianne Faithful. The walk leader does not intend to stop at the church itself but rather continue the short distance to the pub. The Bell is a majestic place to sup some liquid refreshment and suitably recognized when winning CAMRA's pub of the year in 2020. The walk leader aims to pause in Aldworth for approximately 60 minutes to giving people to either have a slightly extended pub stop or visit the church or both.
Suitably refreshed we will continue on more footpaths and tarmac lanes pausing for water breaks as and when desired before returning to Goring. Should there be suitable demand the walk leader could be happy to be persuaded to have a post walk drink at the end.
Please bring packed lunch and plenty of water. Also strong footwear recommended as route takes in some short and on one occasional steep climbs.
