We Shall Train in the Beeches (joint with CYW/HO/SYW), 8.5 miles, easy/moderate

Calendar

When:

January 21, 2023 @ 11:15 am

2023-01-21T11:15:00+00:00

2023-01-21T11:30:00+00:00

Where:

Burnham Beeches Eco Café
Beeches
Lord Mayors Dr, INSIDE, Farnham Common, Burnham SL2 3TE
UK

Contact:

Angela & Jack

Walk

Circular easy/moderate joint Chilterns joint Oxon joint Surrey medium pace public transport Walk

This is the first training walk in the series leading up to the big 30 Miles For 30th Birthday, taking in the scenery of Burnham Beeches and surrounding fields and heathland. Anyone is welcome to join, whether or not you intend to train-up for the big 30 miler.

This is a joint walk with Chiltern Young Walkers, Hike Oxfordshire and Surrey Young Walkers. 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.

Walk details

We will take a leisurely start from Burnham Beeches Eco Café. Join us for a breakfast start (if you wish) at the Eco Café, between 10 and 11 am. The cafe serves a variety of light bites including bacon rolls, sandwiches, and pastries.

After refreshment we will make a start into Burnham Beeches Nature Reserve, taking in the forest scenery and crossing an old Neolithic settlement before heading out into Dorney Wood towards Littleworth Common.

We then cross Egypt Woods and head towards Hedgerley. After passing Hedgerley, there is an option for stopping for lunch at Hanging Wood.

We will then make our way towards Stoke Common, a stunning area of special scientific interest, where we will cross heathland towards Brockhurst Wood and landing in Farnham Common before the final ascent towards our start point at Beeches Way. Depending on the time and interest, there is an option of stopping at a kitty-themed cafe in Farnham Common.

Thanks to Irina for inspiring the walk title with her “We shall fight it in the Beeches!”

Travel details

By public transport

If coming from Reading and want to join for breakfast, please get the 8:57 train from Reading getting into Slough at 9:08, then get the X74 bus leaving Slough bus station at 9:25 getting in to Farnham Common Foresters Arms at 9:44. The main car park is then a few minutes walk away. Otherwise it will be the 9:56 train getting in at 10:07 and then the 10:25 bus from Slough bus station.

From Oxford please get the 8:32 if coming for breakfast, or 9:32 if just for the walk. This stops at Reading at the same time as above.

If coming from Buckinghamshire and joining for breakfast, the X74 bus departs from High Wycombe bus station at 9:25 and gets into Farnham Common at 9:54. Otherwise please get the 10:25, getting into Farnham Common at 10:54.

From Guildford and Surrey, unfortunately the options are more restricted as there is bus replacement service from Guildford to Reading on the day of the walk. The best option to make the start of the walk would be to get the 8:30 bus replacement service from Guildford which’ll get into Reading at 9:30 then get a train to Slough using the options above.

Please let the walk leaders know if you need advice on other public transport options getting to the main Burnham Beeches car park. The walk leaders are able to offer lifts to two people near Caversham (Reading).

By car

Parking available at Lord Mayor’s Drive in Burnham Beeches, where charges apply via Ringo app or old-fashioned paybox (it does take card). Please car-share if possible as with three other groups joining us, it may be quite busy! If the car park is full, there is also the Broadway pay & display car park about 10 minutes’ walk way.

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.