In Reverse and map-led if you want to be sure of a place at The Pot Kiln!
Length: 22.7 km (14.1 mi) [longer walk possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent:
430 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours
Toughness:
7 out of 10
Take
the 09.30 Bristol Temple Meads train from Paddington, change
at Reading (09.55/10.12, Newbury Train, usually
departing from Platform 1), arriving Aldermaston at 10.25 and Midgham
at 10.29.
From
Ealing B’way take the 09.05 Didcot service, change at Reading (09.50/10.12).
Return
trains:
xx.27 until 19.27, then 20.19, 21.16 hours (change at Reading, 55-62
minutes journey time). Trains are calling Aldermaston 4 minutes later.
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.
An
optional 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 8/10. “
Lunch: The Pot Kiln in Frilsham (9.7 km/6.0 mi) or The Cottage Inn in Upper Bucklebury (17.2 km/10.7 mi, food to 15.00).
This version of the walk (26.8 km/16.7 mi, more if you lunch in Hermitage) is rated 8/10. “
Lunch: The Pot Kiln in Frilsham (9.7 km/6.0 mi) or The Cottage Inn in Upper Bucklebury (17.2 km/10.7 mi, food to 15.00).
Lunch
(if walking in reverse): The
Pot Kiln in Frilsham (13.0 km/8.1 mi), regarded as one of
Britain's best country pub restaurants (a table has been booked), or The Bladebone
(food to 14.30) in Chapel Row (5.1 km from the end).
On the extended walk, other lunch options exist in Hermitage (The Fox Inn, food to 14.30, and The White Horse), but they are off-route and add 2.3 km (more for the 2nd pub), see the pdf for details.
Tea: The Angel Inn or The Rowbarge Inn in Woolhampton (for Midgham Station), The Butt Inn in Aldermaston Wharf (open all day).
On the extended walk, other lunch options exist in Hermitage (The Fox Inn, food to 14.30, and The White Horse), but they are off-route and add 2.3 km (more for the 2nd pub), see the pdf for details.
Tea: The Angel Inn or The Rowbarge Inn in Woolhampton (for Midgham Station), The Butt Inn in Aldermaston Wharf (open all day).
For
walk directions, map, photos, height profile, and gpx/kml
files click here.
T=swc.260
5 comments:
Hi. Newbie and a bit confused. Where do you think most people will start this walk? Thank you.
Aldermaston. We all meet on the platform at Reading waiting for the Newbury train, and it'll become clear then who does what.
Merci bien.
Da nicht für.
Smashing autumn colours early on in Midgham Park, and better still in some of the woods in the middle of the route, very vivid despite there being no sunshine at all. The mud situation was not too bad, most importantly it was never gooey or clingy, so in conjunction with the constant rain (as of 12.00), the gear stayed relatively presentable. Bucklebury Common was (perhaps surprisingly, judging by past experience) NOT under water, but later there was one pasture with plenty standing water and deeply-rutted-by-hoofs stretches, just before lunch.
Lunch at the wonderful Pot Kiln it was, of course. We arrived 15 minutes before the booking but our table was available straight away. All n=4 ordered the Venison Shoulder as their main course, and it was an allround delight, accompanied by some very nice red. After about 100 minutes it was time to move on, by then knowing that we'd have about an hour of walking in darkness to contend with. More stunning woods were to come (again with impressive mushrooms), a few corners of the route were cut when it was dark, as views weren't to be had anymore anyway and - close to Aldermaston station - one walker on dinner-for-the-kids cooking duty started to run to catch the 17.31 (which he did catch), us remaining 3 walked on to The Butt Inn to await the 18.31.
All in, the most fun you could possible have - with your waterproofs on...
w=constant-rain-from-noon
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