Newbury to Theale River Kennet walk, 13.7 miles, easy/moderate

Calendar

When:

February 17, 2024 @ 9:30 am – 3:45 pm

2024-02-17T09:30:00+00:00

2024-02-17T15:45:00+00:00

Where:

Newbury station (Station Road / south side)
Newbury RG14 5DG
UK

Contact:

Michael

Walk

easy/moderate Linear medium pace public transport Walk

This nearly 14-mile linear walk starting at Newbury station follows the beautiful River Kennet to Theale village centre.

Advance booking is not required, but if you plan on attending this walk, please indicate this on Meetup if you can, so others can see that there will be plenty of people going.

Pace: medium. Ascent: 0m.

Walk details

We will start at Newbury station, where we will walk along the main road for a little bit before joining the River Kennet next to Victoria Park. From here, we walk along the footpath alongside the River to take us through Thatcham, Woolhampton and Aldermaston, and eventually ending in Theale. At the end of the walk, there will be the option to have a drink at The Bull pub on Theale High Street, which is easily accessible to the station.

Note: a short diversion away from the canal via road may be required in the Aldermaston area due to bridge maintenance, but this will not significantly affect the length of the walk.

Travel details

By public transport

The recommended train to get from Reading is the 09:02 GWR service to Exeter St David’s that arrives in Newbury at 09:17.

By car

There is limited parking on the Station Road side, which costs £6.60 for the day. On the other side, there is a multi-story car park that costs £4.40 for the day.

Notes

Please bring a packed lunch and a drink.
It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.
Please feel free to contact the leader with queries about the walk, or if you are delayed on the day.

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.