THE
WALK
Distance: 7.5
miles
Time: 3/4 hours
Going: Moderate
Parking: In car park at top of golf course in Streatley
and there are several car parks in Pangbourne.
BBC
BERKSHIRE WALKING AND SAFETY
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Leave
the car park following the road up the hill.
Go
past the first footpath that leads into National Trust woodland
called 'The Hollies', and take the footpath after that, by wooden
bollards and a litterbin.
Follow
the footpath alongside the golf course on the right.
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| You'll
see these gates into the National Trust's Basildon Park |
Look
out for the stile on the right (it's quite easy to miss!).
Go
over the stile and onto the path, taking you onto a path with woods
on your left and a field on your right.
Cross
another stile on the right.
Look
out for the yellow arrow sign and follow the path down through the
crop field, parallell to the path you have just left.
The
path slopes downwards.
When
you get to the bottom of the field by the house, follow the path
to the right into another field.
Now
the house should be to your left.
When
you reach the tarmac road turn left.
Turn
right up the gravel track off the tarmac road, following the Byway
sign.
The
path climbs steadily.
When
the track forks, take the track to the right.
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| The
walk along the Thames is quiet and peaceful, apart from the
odd fisherman or two. |
When
the path meets the tarmac road, turn right onto the road, carrying
on up the hill.
Follow
the road, past Bennet's Wood Farm.
Look
out for the path on the left as the road swings to the right.
Take
the footpath, going over the stile.
The
path follows the field boundary to the right.
At
the far side of the field, cross the stile into the woods.
Keep
on the path going downhill into the woods.
When
you reach the footpath sign at the other side of the wood turn right,
keeping the fenceline on your left.
The
path climbs quite steeply.
When
you reach the road, turn left.
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| Messing
about on the river. |
When
you reach the t-junction on the bend, bear left towards upper Basildon,
onto a busier road.
The
road swings left.
Where
the road is crossed by two paths, take the one on the left to Hare
Green Farm.
Walk
over a cattlegrid.
As
you go into the stable yard, go past the gravel drive on your right
and look out for the stile, opposite the row of stables.
Go
over the stile and into the field, following the fenceline on your
left.
Keep
following the path as it slopes down the hill.
At
the bottom of the hill, you'll see dilapidated farm machinery to
the right, look out for the stile and
go across it into the woods.
Come
out onto the tarmac road with The Shooting School on your left,
and turn right.
You
are now on the driveway to The Shooting School, when this meets
the road look out for the stone sign to the school and turn right.
Turn
left up the footpath just past Laundry Cottage on the left and Hook
End Farm on the right.
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| And
more boats! |
The
path is a gradual climb and it swings round to the right.
As
you come out of the woods, cross the playing fields keeping to the
footpath on the left.
Continue
following the path with tennis courts to your right.
When
you meet Park Wall Lane, turn left towards Lower Basildon and Streatley.
Continue
following the road past Harley House on the left and ahead of you
see the brick gateposts, this is the back entrance to Basildon Park.
Stay
on Park Wall Lane with the flint wall on your right.
Keep
into the right-hand edge of the road, it's quite narrow, following
the road into Lower Basildon.
As
you meet the road, opposite the Murco garage, turn left towards
Streatley and Oxford onto the A329 and not right towards
Pangbourne and Reading.
Turn
right, signposted to church.
Follow
the road as it goes over the railway line.
With
farm buildings on your right.
As
you reach the farm houses, turn left down the footpath, with the
church through the trees on your right.
You
may feel that you are going in the wrong direction for Pangbourne
but you're not!
Turn
right following the footpath and signs for a swingbridge.
Cross
the stile and walk down towards the river.
When
you reach the river turn right walking in the direction of Pangbourne.
Look
out for Basildon Park on the skyline to the right.
Cross
the metal bridge into Beale Park.
Continue
to follow the path beside the river.
Follow
the path as it leaves the river and goes onto the road, turning
left towards Pangbourne.
Pass
the historic Swan pub on the left.
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| You'll
see this weir by The Swan pub in Pangbourne. |
This
part of the walk ends just by the railway bridge.
You've
completed
Part Eight of the Berkshire Way
Well
Done!
Berkshire
Way Part Nine
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