May be muddy in Mortimer, 10.5 miles, moderate

Calendar

When:

November 6, 2021 @ 10:00 am

2021-11-06T10:00:00+00:00

2021-11-06T10:15:00+00:00

Where:

Mortimer station

Contact:

Jonathan

Walk

Booking Required Circular Limited Spaces (20) public transport Walk

A 10.5 mile circular walk from Mortimer station passing through some varied scenery along various woodland tracks and farmland with a pub stop in the middle.

Walk details

Just in case the title of this walk doesn’t make it obvious, this walk may well be wet and muddy in places so please wear suitable footwear!

We start this walk from Mortimer station in Stratfield Mortimer, heading in a north-west direction across farmland to Wokefield Common and Starvale Woods. We will then pass through Holden’s Firs – managed and owned by the Englefield Estate which produces sustainable timber for a wide variety of uses such as construction, fencing, horse bedding and wood fuel (according to the signpost).

We will negotiate a very short stretch of rather overgrown and poorly defined public footpath in order to avoid a dangerous stretch of road and pop out on the Padworth Road just south of Cowpond Piece. Despite its name, we are unlikely to see any cows in this woodland – however if lucky we may spot a variety of other wildlife, or at the very least some dogs.

We then head along a public footpath alongside a disused quarry, where numerous signs warn of deep water, quicksand and venomous snakes! Providing we make it through these hazards we will eventually reach Mortimer West End where there will be the opportunity for a rest and a quick drink in the Red Lion pub. The remainder of the walk takes us along more farmland paths, tracks and pockets of woodland, eventually returning back to Stratfield Mortimer via St Mary’s Church.

Travel details

Train from Reading (09:38 arriving 09:51). Return trains run on the hour.

Mortimer Station car park (£2.30) or surrounding roads where permitted

Notes

If you or someone else from your household has COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend.
Please be considerate to other path users and step aside to let people past – and don’t forget to say ‘hi’ or ‘thanks’!
Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
If it’s a rainy day, please bring waterproofs.
Please feel free to contact the leader with queries about the walk, or if you are delayed on the day.

Booking details

This walk is limited to 20 walkers including the walk leader.
Do not turn up for the walk without booking, else we will have to turn you away.
Book a place on this walk by completing this Google Form. Booking will open the Wednesday evening before the walk.
If you have any queries, please email walkbookings@berkshirewalkers.co.uk.

Booking onto a walk

Most walks do not require advance booking, and you can just turn up on the day. We encourage those comfortable with Meetup to indicate there that you plan to come though, so that others can see there will be plenty of people there – this really helps to encourage new members to come along.
For the few which still have limited numbers, this is handled via Meetup. Follow the link to a walk’s Meetup page (or press 🎟 Register / 🎟 Tickets / 🎟), and mark yourself as attending.
Social and other events may have their own booking system – please see the event description.

Pace Guide

Gentle: led at a gentle pace with regular short breaks for water or rest. Should be suitable for anyone capable of the distance. (Expect 2–2.5 mph.)
Medium: led at an intermediate pace with fewer breaks but still suitable for most walkers. (Expect 2.5–3 mph.)
Fast: led at a quick pace with minimal breaks. May be a challenge for those with less fitness. (Expect 3 mph+.)

Speeds quoted are only a rough guide, including time spent on short water/rest stops and negotiating stiles/gates/roads etc. but not that spent on longer lunch or pub stops.