Saturday Walk - Aldermaston to Woolhampton via Frilsham: West Berkshire Downs - ancient woodlands, commons, pretty villages, historical pubs, chalk streams, water meadows, heathland, end via landscaped park or Kennet canal

DAC is away...

Length: 23.2 km (14.4 mi) [longer walk possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 407/404m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours

Toughness: 5 out of 10 

 

Take the 09.32 Cheltenham Spa train from Paddington, change at Reading (09.55/10.12, Newbury Train, usually departing from Platform 2), arriving Aldermaston at 10.25. 

Return trains from Woolhampton (Midgham Station): xx.23 (change Reading), or xx.27 (change Newbury, but takes longer). Buy a Midgham return.

 

This walk explores a surprisingly quiet part of the commuter area that is West Berkshire, less than an hour from Central London. It is an undulating landscape with some fine views over unspoilt countryside - the West Berkshire Downs, which are part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and consist of a mix of ancient woodlands, commons, fields and pretty villages with pleasant, historical pubs. The route passes through the chalk stream river valleys of the Kennet, the Bourne and the Pang, where you’ll also find some evidence of traditional water meadows. A long section of the walk leads through the elevated Bucklebury Common, one of the largest commons in Southern England. In the main this consists of a variety of woods, but you’ll also walk through one of Berkshire’s largest heathlands and see part of a famous Avenue of Oaks.

At the end there is a choice of finishes either through the landscaped Midgham Park or along the Kennet & Avon Canal. Carrying map and compass is recommended, as there are plenty of paths in the woods and on the heath.

A westerly extension leads through more fascinating, undulating woods and the large and impressive Neolithic hillfort site of Grimsbury Castle. This version of the walk (26.8 km/16.7 mi, more if you lunch in Hermitage) is rated 7/10.

Lunch: The Pot Kiln in Frilsham (9.7 km/6.0 mi, food to 14.30, a table has been booked for 13.00) or on the extended walk, The Fox Inn and The White Horse, in Hermitage, but they are off-route and add 2.3 km (more for the 2^nd pub), see the pdf for details. 

Tea: The Cottage Inn in Upper Bucklebury (17.2 km/10.7 mi), The Angel Inn or The Rowbarge Inn in Woolhampton (near Midgham Station).

 

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.260