9.9 miles / 15.9km
The morning route of this walk passes the remains of the Roman town of Calleva, while the afternoon heads through commons and woodlands to Aldermaston, where you can extend the walk along the canal.
Head west for an extra 2 miles to Midgham station and the Rowbarge Inn, or head the other way for 4 miles to reach Theale.
Trains
Paddington 10:04, Mortimer 10:51. Change at Reading
Return trains from Aldermaston: 16:27, 17:26, 18:27 etc change at Reading. The same train stops a few minutes earlier at Midgham, and a few minutes later at Theale (which also has a few other trains).
Mortimer and Aldermaston are on different lines from Reading, but a return to Mortimer should be fine - if not at most you will need a single from your return station to Reading.
Lunch
Calleva Arms, a Fullers pub on Silchester Common.
Afternoon stops
Tea rooms at Aldermaston Wharf
Rowbarge Inn, Woolhampton (by Midgham Station)
At Theale there are several pubs on High Street/Church Street - head up Station Road to get there.
T=1.33
4 comments:
11 minutes to change at Reading.
I remember running across Reading station to make that tight changeover on a previous visit.
I'm thinking of travelling from my home station via Basingstoke to arrive at Mortimer 1035; hope to see anyone who makes it at 1051.
Just n=4 of us gathered at Mortimer at the appointed time, on a w=pleasantly-sunny day. There was speculation that the lack of online seat availability on trains from Paddington to Reading had put people off, but there are tickets to be had at the station.
Anyway we enjoyed a great, varied walk with a peaceful rural start, intriguing Roman remains, rather watery blackberries, fungi spotting, a nice lunch pub by a village green and a contrasting afternoon heathland walk - more should try it! We did briefly talk about the possibility of walking further along the canal but opted for a welcome and high quality tea and cake at the Aldermaston tea rooms.
The 1627 train to Reading was slightly delayed, and my companions egged me on to try and make a 0 minute connection at Reading West for the hourly train back to Basingstoke, but I got the Ealing train from Reading instead. Thanks for posting!
Enjoyed the walk - highlights sunshine, roman stuff and fish ladder. (added some of my pics to the flickr group)
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