THE
WALK
Distance: 4.75
miles
Grid reference at start: SU369621
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Going: Moderate
Parking: Car park at Combe Gibbet and find a suitable
place to park in Hamstead Marshall.
BBC
BERKSHIRE WALKING AND SAFETY
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 |
Park
at Combe Gibbet car park, and follow the path behind the car park,
signposted Wayfarers Walk.
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| The
footpath on the left is the first one you come to |
Follow
the path up Walbury Hill, and take the footpath on the left.
After
you've gone over the stile, head diagonally left across the field
(there was no marked path when we did the walk in August 2002).
You'll
see another stile ahead, go over this. It was very prickly and overgrown
here when we walked this route.
Follow
the path on top of a ridge and through the field.
You'll
reach another stile, go over this which takes you through a wooded
area and down to the road.
When
you reach the road, cross over, following the footpath.
It
goes through a wooded area and comes out in a field.
 |
| The
walk goes through lots of open countryside |
Turn
left and walk around the edge of the field.
The
footpath ends by Park House and you'll meet the road here.
Walk
out onto the road past the sign for West Woodhay.
Take
the road on the left, signposted to Kintbury.
Keep
on this road past Furze Park, and take the footpath signposted on
the left.
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| The
footpath leads into fields |
About
50 yards into the footpath you'll go through a fence/gate.
Almost
straight after you go through this fence, turn right. It wasn't
signposted when we did the walk but it is the correct way!
When
you come out of the wooded area, keep to the left following the
fenceline.
You'll
meet a stile, go over it and cross a small wooden bridge.
You'll
go over another stile, and follow the footpath sign going diagonally
right across the field towards the pylon.
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| The
walk goes mainly through fields |
As
you get closer to the pylon, you'll see a stile to the left of it.
Go
over it and you'll come out on a road. Turn right.
At
the t-junction, turn left.
Shortly
after this, take the footpath on the right.
Continue
straight ahead, go over several stiles.
Follow
footpath straight through the middle of the field, NOT left
- even though this is where there is a signpost.
 |
| The
path was quite overgrown |
When
the path ends, turn left and go along the edge of the field.
When
you reach the road, turn left.
After
about 100 yards turn right down a footpath, opposite a house with
brown timberframed windows, called Vergers Holt.
Walk
straight across the middle of the field, heading for the stile.
Go
across the stile, and you'll cross a small wooden bridge over a
stream.
Cross
another stile.
 |
| Be
prepared to cross many stiles! |
Walk
diagonally right across this field, heading for the stile.
You'll
meet a road turn right, and almost immediately left, onto a footpath.
Go
through the gate on the left and follow the footpath.
Follow
the footpath sign straight through the field.
Great
Holt Copse is on your left.
Walk
to the end of the field, and you'll see a stile hidden away on the
left.
Go
over the stile, and you come out into a clearing. Several paths
cross here.
You
want to take the one signposted to the right, going through the
woodland.
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| This
is the last field you cross on the walk |
Take
the stile at the end of the path, which brings you out into a field.
Follow
the footpath and go through the gate at the end. This takes you
past the DogsTrust (Formerly National Canine Defence League ) on
the right.
Follow
this road and you reach the main road, with the White Hart Inn and
Restaurant opposite.
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| The
Hart Inn is where you finish this section of the walk |
You've
completed
Part Three of the Berkshire Way
Well
Done!
Berkshire
Way Part Four
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