More than £1,200 raised for charity during community’s 40th annual Christmas walk

More than 100 people joined a village’s 40th annual Christmas walk in aid of charity.

Nearly 150 people of all ages from Highclere and East Woodhay walked for almost three hours with their dogs through the Highclere Estate and surrounding countryside on Wednesday, December 27.

They helped to raise £1,218.50 – including £500 in match funding from Centrica plc – for Sue Ryder, a national charity providing palliative care and bereavement support to families.

The cherished tradition, organised in partnership with the Highclere Society and East Woodhay Society, also saw walkers treated to mulled wine and mince pies during a refreshment stop halfway through the walk.

“It was excellent,” said Nicola Meadows, one of the organisers. “It [the refreshments] are very warming when you're on a chilly walk in December, so we’re always grateful for them, and for the support of The Highclere Red House where we started and finished.

“For the last few years, we’ve done a walk up to East Woodhay and back, and this year we went through the Highclere Estate.

“It was a slightly shorter route on the way back than we normally do because some parts of the countryside are just too foggy to cross.”

And she explained the choice of charity this year was also personal to co-organiser Alistair Mitchell, whose late father Horace Mitchell, a founding member of the walk, received compassionate care from Sue Ryder last year.

“Seeing everyone come together for such a meaningful cause is truly heartwarming,” she added.

“The generosity of the community never ceases to amaze us, and it’s what makes this event so special year after year.”

The organisers encourage more volunteers to join to help keep the tradition alive.