Earley Town Council launches ‘Walks Around Earley’

Earley Town Council (ETC) has launched ‘Walks Around Earley’ – a series of 14 accessible walks in and around Earley, designed to enable residents of all ages to get outdoors, keep fit and enjoy the Town’s facilities. These walks can be accessed through the Earley Town Council website where they are available to download (free) as PDFs to be printed off or used on smart phones or tablets.

The Covid-19 pandemic, associated lockdowns and the government focus on health has highlighted the important part outdoor exercise plays in maintaining physical and mental health. Lockdowns have also emphasised the need for access to public green space for people who do not have outdoor space of their own. Earley is fortunate in having many attractive green spaces and an extensive network of paths. Our aim is to ensure that everyone is able to make full use of these to improve their general wellbeing.

Mary Bather, Steve Vale, Grant Kelly and Keith Brill, volunteers from the local Loddon Valley Ramblers Association, worked with ETC Cllrs Andrew Long and David Ireland, to plan, trial and publish comprehensive route instructions for 14 walks together with maps and photographs. The walks range in length from 1 mile to 9 miles and between them cover Lower Earley, Maiden Erlegh, Whiteknights Park and Old Earley. All walks are accessible by bus and car, and details of possible car parking places and bus stops, together with refreshments outlets where appropriate, are included. The walks are family friendly and will suit everyone from the youngest (supervised) to the more mature, and all in between. Two of the walks are designed for wheelchair users.

Town Mayor of Earley, Cllr David Hare, congratulated everyone involved in the project, saying: ‘In these difficult times, when getting out to exercise is important, it’s great to see how quickly the Walks Around Earley project has produced some excellent walks. I fully support its aims and would encourage all residents to download the walks and explore those parts of Earley with which they are less familiar.’

Christine Harvey, Chair of Loddon Valley Ramblers, said: ‘The Ramblers are delighted to have had the opportunity to share their passion for walking with Earley’s residents and do something for members of the community.’

Our message to all residents of Earley is – whether you are a parent with toddlers or teenagers, whether you are working from home or commuting during the week, whether you are retired or just have some time on your hands, do take a look at the walks on offer and choose one that suits your capabilities so that you can get outside and enjoy Earley!

You can download the walks from the Town Council website