| Welcome to our dazzling December newsletter |
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This winter, Walk Works will help you to discover the delights of walking in December and the joy of an outdoor jaunt in January. Winter gives us an entirely different perspective of our local landscape, showing off the intricate shapes of the bare trees and giving the verdant evergreens their moment to stand out and shine. There is a subtle, quiet beauty in a winter landscape. With less ground foliage and fewer leaves on the trees increasing visibility, we can see for miles and miles, making the vistas and viewpoints really incredible. Also, the frost and snow gives the footpaths that magical sparkle and satisfying crunch underfoot.
Getting motivated to walk outside when it's grey and wet can be a real challenge. Walk Works are here to help you to get out walking as much as possible, to realise the beauty in the mud (yes, really!) and the benefits of walking in the cold.
We are walking EVERY Friday in December and also in January 2026 because we 100% value the magic in staying active, being out in nature and staying connected with others at this time of year. So wrap up warm, lace up those boots and imagine how you will feel afterwards, with a mug of something warming as you thaw out beside the fire and cosy up under a blanket. Walking works! Join us if you can, we always love to see you. |
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🎄Christmas GIFT VOUCHERS🎄 |
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'Tis the season to be buying your loved ones the very special gift of a walk! You'll know, it's never JUST a walk. Spread the joy of a Friday morning walk for friends, relatives or anyone else you think would benefit from the chance to meet new people, explore their local area and enjoy some end of the week nature therapy.
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Gift vouchers can be made up to any value, and are also available to buy for our other nature inspired events, including our Walking & Vineyard Tours in 2026. Who doesn't love a unique 'experience' gift!?
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Walk Works Henley Vineyards Trail
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A scenic walk and vineyards tour, with tastings, pairings and wine education |
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Our much anticipated Walk Works Henley Vineyards Trail 2026 dates are out! |
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🥂2 Vineyards🥂 Saturday 21st March - Fairmile to Oaken Grove Vineyard, 1pm - 4pm Saturday 18th April - Fairmile to Oaken Grove Vineyard, 1pm - 4pm 🥂3 Vineyards🥂 Saturday 16th May - JoJo's, Stonor Valley and Oaken Grove Vineyard, 1pm - 6pm Saturday 25th July - JoJo's, Stonor Valley and Oaken Grove Vineyard, 1pm - 6pm 🥂4 Vineyards🥂 Saturday 6th June - JoJo's, Stonor Valley, Oaken Grove, Fairmile Vineyard, 10am - 5.30pm 🥂Friday EVENING sunset walk and tastings🥂 Friday 14th August - Oaken Grove to Fairmile Vineyard, 6pm - 9pm These wine tour dates tend to disappear faster than a good bottle on a Friday night 🍾 so grab your place now and make sure you don’t miss the ones you fancy - and while you’re at it, why not treat someone you love to an experience they’ll be talking about for ages?
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What's coming up in December... |
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Our next Friday walk, 12th December from The Herb Farm, Sonning Common, with refreshments afterwards in Pierreponts cafe! |
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Join us on Friday 12th December for this glorious 6.5km route starting and finishing at The Herb Farm in Sonning Common. The walk explores the hamlets and villages of Kidmore End, Gallowstree Common and Sonning Common, all knitted together by a series of beautiful footpaths. We are very excited to be stopping in at The Herb Farm and the festive Barn Shop to peruse the gifts and treats, decorations and even Christmas trees that are for sale here. We will enjoy coffee / cakes / sandwiches / soups thanks to Pierreponts who run the cafe in this warm, relaxed, friendly space. £12pp, click the link below to book your place
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Join us on Friday 19th December ON THE BUS! for an epic 8km walk from The Unicorn in Kingwood. We are always conscious of keeping our carbon footprint low, car sharing where possible, and so our last walk of 2025 is one where we are actively encouraging everyone to get the bus to the start point. The 25 bus from Reading via Caversham stops right outside The Unicorn pub meaning this mode of transport is very convenient indeed! GREEN FRIENDLY FACT: Taking this journey by bus saves 1400g of Co2 compared to driving. That's the same as keeping a fridge running for 51 days!
The route itself is an absolute stunner, featuring the Christmassy pine trees of Kingwood Common, Satwell, Witheridge Hill, Greyhone Wood and Bear Wood. The Unicorn are offering us a festive sarnie lunch deal, too which will be a real treat.
£12pp, click the link below to book your place.
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🎄Winter walking tip... Treat yourself with a winter picnic, with flasks of coffee or soup and cosy blankets! |
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November 2025 highlights... |
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A Festive Walk and Vineyard Experience Saturday 22nd November |
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Our Festive Walk & Wine Tasting event was a real triumph. Featuring some fairly wild, inclement weather and an intrepid group of brilliant people, all up for the challenge of the 8km walk and in high spirits throughout. We started our afternoon walking from Stonor Wine Farm to JoJo's Vineyard, via Russell's Water and Maidensgrove Common, along the Chiltern Way, high up over the Stonor Valley. When we arrived at JoJo's there were two delicious wines to taste along with 4 English cheeses, and fabulous Tamsin from Wine Curious, sharing her knowledge of the wines and how they complimented our savoury snacks. The second leg of the walk took us back to Stonor Wine Farm where we paired festive sweet treats with 2 of Emily's wines, in her beautifully decorated barn. Tamsin continued to wow us all with her knowledge of the English wine scene and we were all in awe of these two incredible vineyards, each with their own story and magic. Here is what some of our attendees had to say: |
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"A new way to do a wine tasting! Would highly recommend." "I just loved being outside in nature, the beautiful views, the fresh air, the trees, I didn’t even care that it rained!" "A great walk, delicious cheese & wine and an engaging expert meant that I came away nicely tired, nicely full and nicely educated!" "From the magnetic and uplifting energy of Tamsin to the fresh crisp Bacchus at JoJos and the sparkling zing of Emily’s Cuvee not to mention the fairy lights and everyone on the walk - it was such a lovely day and I learnt so much about wine! Who knew that wineries and vineyards are actually two different things!" "These walks never disappoint! This one was so well put together with so much positivity and care, you can tell that everyone involved in organising these do it from a place of love." |
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Checkendon and Blue Tin Produce |
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We had a record turnout of 38 walkers for our hike around Checkendon and Ipsden. This is always a popular one, with 9km of varied walking, the beech trees just beautiful any time of the year, sweeping views over towards Cholsey, Wallingford and Didcot, sheep, horses, interesting sculptures, and a real gem of an old pub, the Black Horse - hidden away in the woods. But the real wow factor, stopping off half-way for coffees and cakes and the chance to look around the brilliant Blue Tin Produce farm shop. If you haven't been before, there are numerous ways to walk there from Checkendon recreation ground car park 💚 |
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Walk Works Team Walk Stantec Ecology Team |
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In early November, we had the pleasure of guiding a brilliant team of ecologists from Stantec, on an 8km route around Goring & Streatley, including, by special request, up to the Hartslock Nature Reserve and high up on the orchid slopes overlooking the river Thames. What struck us most wasn't the scenery (though it IS stunning), but the conversations that emerged the moment people stepped away from their screens. No agenda. No slide decks. Just people walking side-by-side, reconnecting as humans. That's where the magic happens. We saw teammates who rarely get the chance to meet in person sharing stories, swapping ideas and finding common ground. Barriers dropped, energy lifted and the sense of connection was palpable. It was a reminder that sometimes the simplest tools; fresh air and movement, and genuine conversation can create the strongest bonds. |
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If your team is spread out, hybrid or simply in need of a rest, a Walk Works guided walk in nature might be exactly what you need.
"I continued to feel energised and appreciative of nature, and excited to do the walk again with a friend" Kerry, Stantec |
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Walk dates for your diary... |
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Don't miss out on our special bumper month of Walk Works walks. We are walking every week in January, so grab your diaries and prioritise your health and wellbeing in the new year. |
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9th January - Crowsley Park, 7km, 3 hills
16th January - Caversham, 6.6km, 2 hills (featuring a 'take-over' from the girls at Spill!)
23rd January - Rotherfield Greys (The Maltsters Arms) NEW ROUTE 30th January - Hambleden (Stag & Huntsman) NEW ROUTE |
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13th February - Nettlebed (Cheese Shed) NEW ROUTE 27th February - Henley, Aston and the deer park (Flowepot) NEW ROUTE |
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