A bit About us
Goring Gap Walks were born in April 1998 out of a Power Walking Group run by Veronica Reynolds.
Veronica and GP Dr. Rhys Hamilton decided to form a Health Walk Group, similar to the one set up by Dr William Bird in neighbouring Sonning Common under the banner of the then Countryside Agency's Walking for Health Initiative (WHI).
Leaders were recruited and trained from within the power walk group and the timetable set.
The timetable was limited to four walks on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but in it's heyday expanded to include a longer, walk early on Saturday morning and included evening and afternoon walks.
Veronica's volunteer time came under pressure as the group expanded at a pace, and Bernard Novell took on some of the administration. Veronica finally relinquishing the role of Coordinator to Bernard in 2004.
A web site was set up and some of the regular leaders took on specific roles including record keeping, leaders rosters, publicity and finance.
In 2008 GGW celebrated their tenth anniversary with a series of special walks followed by a garden party.
The number of walkers continued to climb and more leaders were trained from within the group.
Numbers fluctuate year to year, often influenced by the weather.
The second generation web site that you are exploring right now was launched in January 2013.
At the end of the 2013 season we looked back at our records spanning ten years and were staggered to find that over that period we led 2,500 walks. The records also show that there were just shy of 50,000 'person walks' undertaken.
The group reached its peak in 2015 with 461 led walks and 5,615 person walks
In 2018 we celebrated our 20th year of health walking in Goring with a carvery lunch and afternoon tea events.
Health walks have been overseen by the Countryside Agency, Natural England and Ramblers, but the ethos remained unchanged until 2022 when Ramblers decided to close WfH and launch Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (RWW). This transition was completed in spring 2022 but was not a success for GGW.
Since Spring 2023 GGW have been part of South Oxfordshire & Vale District Councils Community Walks scheme, severing all ties with Ramblers.
GGW remain the most prolific walking group in South Oxfordshire.
Veronica and GP Dr. Rhys Hamilton decided to form a Health Walk Group, similar to the one set up by Dr William Bird in neighbouring Sonning Common under the banner of the then Countryside Agency's Walking for Health Initiative (WHI).
Leaders were recruited and trained from within the power walk group and the timetable set.
The timetable was limited to four walks on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but in it's heyday expanded to include a longer, walk early on Saturday morning and included evening and afternoon walks.
Veronica's volunteer time came under pressure as the group expanded at a pace, and Bernard Novell took on some of the administration. Veronica finally relinquishing the role of Coordinator to Bernard in 2004.
A web site was set up and some of the regular leaders took on specific roles including record keeping, leaders rosters, publicity and finance.
In 2008 GGW celebrated their tenth anniversary with a series of special walks followed by a garden party.
The number of walkers continued to climb and more leaders were trained from within the group.
Numbers fluctuate year to year, often influenced by the weather.
The second generation web site that you are exploring right now was launched in January 2013.
At the end of the 2013 season we looked back at our records spanning ten years and were staggered to find that over that period we led 2,500 walks. The records also show that there were just shy of 50,000 'person walks' undertaken.
The group reached its peak in 2015 with 461 led walks and 5,615 person walks
In 2018 we celebrated our 20th year of health walking in Goring with a carvery lunch and afternoon tea events.
Health walks have been overseen by the Countryside Agency, Natural England and Ramblers, but the ethos remained unchanged until 2022 when Ramblers decided to close WfH and launch Ramblers Wellbeing Walks (RWW). This transition was completed in spring 2022 but was not a success for GGW.
Since Spring 2023 GGW have been part of South Oxfordshire & Vale District Councils Community Walks scheme, severing all ties with Ramblers.
GGW remain the most prolific walking group in South Oxfordshire.
