Ramblers Association
The North Hampshire Downs Ramblers group is part of the Ramblers Association. We walk mostly in Hampshire and the surrounding countryside. Our group enjoys both walks and social activities.
The group normally walk on Tuesday, Saturday and occasional walks on other days of the week , which are sometimes a bit shorter for those who do not want to walk the longer distances. The walks cover areas in and around Basingstoke as well as sometimes going further afield. Now that COVID restrictions have been relaxed walks are now going back into the programme. Although we do now ask walkers to register with the walk leader before the walk and most walk leaders are having a maximum number of walks who can attend the walk. The details for each walk are on the walks calendar on the website.
On our Tuesday morning walks, which are typically 6- 7 miles, we continue to attract quite a number of walkers.
Our Saturday walks tend to be longer, with fewer walkers, and can sometimes take most of the day. Our walks have included walking a linear walk from Bentley to Winchester in 4 stages , around Kingsclere and Upper Wield, Bentworth area.
Not only walking …
As well as the walks, the group also enjoys social activities, this includes an Annual Summer Picnic, Boys lunches, and Ladies walks and lunches, and the group occasionally organise weekends and days away. The men have just come back from a 3 day break in Dorset and intend another break around Arundel next year. The ladies have a walking trip in London booked for next April
The group have an active path patrol group, who report problems to the local council and also do some work on the paths, which can be as varied as checking waymarking and replacing waymarking discs, minor clearing or even repairing stiles and gates. To date this group has replaced 20 plus gates in conjunction with the local council.
Interested in finding out more
If you are interested in finding out more about the North Hampshire Downs group, there is more information on our Website. www.northhampshiredownsramblers.org.uk.
If you are new to walking and want to give us a try, or already walk, you would be given a very warm welcome by the Group. We hope to see you soon!
If you are interested in joining the Ramblers we suggest you come along for a couple of walks with the group first to get a taster. Do contact the walk leader before turning up for the walk. Membership details are available from the Ramblers’ national website: www.ramblers.org.uk. As a member of the Ramblers you can also access walks by other groups, the rambler’s website will give you information on walks within a specific radius of your postcode, so you can walk with other groups if they are more suitable on a particular date
Ramblers Charity England & Wales No: 1093577 Scotland No: SC039799