If you had asked me a few years back about the pleasure of walking I would have stared at you with an open mouth and a very puzzled expression. Sheep farming after all is just walking or shouting at the collies who always know better how to work sheep than the farmer does. We are doing a job. It’s not always a pleasure, we can’t cancel if the weather’s inclement. Never once did I count the steps that were done every day to see the mileage. Oh no. We had to count the sheep and if any had disappeared, doing things that only sheep can do, we had to walk the boundaries again! Never once did I see a cafe with coffee and cakes or better still a pub for a meal.
So it was a great surprise to me when I moved to Reading (which promptly went into lockdown) and looked to see if there were any activities that I could join that fitted in between Granny duties. The only thing that I felt at all confident about joining were walking groups, not of course just because they walked, but because they stopped to eat and drink, occasionally at pubs. This I was absolutely confident was something I could do.
Since then I have had many great walks with the Pang Valley Ramblers, not to mention meals, the most recent being one of the most perfect. Weather just right, walk not too long, interesting garden to exclaim at, and finishing with an enormous proper tea with all the things a tea should have and, of course, the stimulating company which goes without me having to mention it.
We parked beside Mattingley church itself a fascinating Tudor building and then walked across fields past llamas to Dipley Mill where standing on the bridge we watched the fast flow of spring water and envied the beautiful flowers and trees in the Mill garden. We continued across West Green common to West Green House and gardens (which no longer belongs to the National Trust but members can still enter free for the rest of this year). Here there was a facility of great convenience for some, and the garden looked as if it is a must to visit in the future. After passing the impressive red brick house we continued across dry rutted fields back to Mattingley.The eleven walkers then drove a short way to Riseley Tea Rooms, where we were joined by seven non-walking Pang members. The tables were laid out in a U shape as if a wedding party was expected. The white tablecloths were embroidered, with dainty tea cups and saucers. (I’m not sure if the decor quite matched my attire as I had forgotten to bring shoes so under the dainty table there was at least one pair of boots.)
We enjoyed individual different teas in their own tea pots, sipped delicately or slurped depending on the mood. These were accompanied by a delicious variety of sandwiches, cakes and macaroons. After the popular “B” quiz that taxed our brains and gave our feet a rest, we were spoiled with warm homemade scones and a choice of different jams. It was a great way to spend a Saturday with many thanks to the walk leaders, quiz master, and the tea organiser. Both the walk and the tea were equally enjoyable.
Gill