About Us
The Reading Christian Rambling Club was started very informally in 1982 when a couple of friends who enjoyed walking in the countryside met a third walker through the fledgling National Christian Rambling Club. Numbers grew slowly at first, but within a few years a core group was established. There are currently about 60 members, with a core of about 30. We usually expect between 10 and 25 people on each walk, though on one occasion 57 people arrived - quite a headache for the pub landlord, but all were served in good time. During the course of one year over 160 different people attended one or more walks.
The group is affiliated to the National Christian Walking Club, and normally has a day-walk on two Saturdays each month throughout the year. Various group members take turns to lead the walks. Most walks are between 8 and 12 miles long, with a pub lunch. Walks start within a 25 mile radius of Reading, an area which includes sections of the Thames Valley, Berkshire Downs, Chiltern Hills and North Downs. Although you may need a car to get to the start of the walk, it is usually possible to arrange a lift from a convenient station if you contact one of the organisers in advance.
We also walk Long Distance Walks in stages over two to four years. So far the Ridgeway (in both directions), the Three Castles Way, the original Chiltern Way and its southern extensions, the South Bucks Way and the Oxfordshire Way have been completed. The group is currently walking along the Basingstoke Canal. These walks may be a bit longer (12 to 14 miles) and we usually have a packed lunch; also the start point may be more than 25 miles from Reading.
Once a year we have a planning meeting and social, and additional social events are arranged from time to time. Most years the group has a walking weekend in the summer, and individuals within the group have arranged several walking holidays. There have been various Long Distance Walks, including the White Peak Way, the Herriot Way and the Cumbria Way, a week walking in the Black Mountains and the Wye Valley, a narrow boat holiday, and several skiing holidays.
The group is affiliated to the National Christian Walking Club, and normally has a day-walk on two Saturdays each month throughout the year. Various group members take turns to lead the walks. Most walks are between 8 and 12 miles long, with a pub lunch. Walks start within a 25 mile radius of Reading, an area which includes sections of the Thames Valley, Berkshire Downs, Chiltern Hills and North Downs. Although you may need a car to get to the start of the walk, it is usually possible to arrange a lift from a convenient station if you contact one of the organisers in advance.
We also walk Long Distance Walks in stages over two to four years. So far the Ridgeway (in both directions), the Three Castles Way, the original Chiltern Way and its southern extensions, the South Bucks Way and the Oxfordshire Way have been completed. The group is currently walking along the Basingstoke Canal. These walks may be a bit longer (12 to 14 miles) and we usually have a packed lunch; also the start point may be more than 25 miles from Reading.
Once a year we have a planning meeting and social, and additional social events are arranged from time to time. Most years the group has a walking weekend in the summer, and individuals within the group have arranged several walking holidays. There have been various Long Distance Walks, including the White Peak Way, the Herriot Way and the Cumbria Way, a week walking in the Black Mountains and the Wye Valley, a narrow boat holiday, and several skiing holidays.