THE
WALK
Distance: 7
miles
Grid reference at start: SU633767
Time: 3 hours
Going: Easy
Parking: There are several car parks in Pangbourne
and for the end of the walk leave a car at Reading Station
or Hill's Meadow car park. It is possible to do this walk
using public transport and catching a train from Reading to
Pangbourne.
BBC
BERKSHIRE WALKING AND SAFETY
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As
you leave Pangbourne railway station and meet the main road through
Pangbourne, turn left, going under the railway bridge, then turn
almost immediately right signposted to The Wharf, following the
footpath signs.
Keep
to the left of the metal railings.
Follow
the path round to the left, with Waterside House to your right.
Follow
the footpath straight ahead as you cross a driveway.
The
Boathouse Surgery is on your left.
When
you meet the road opposite a longstay car park, turn left.
Walk
towards the toll bridge, with The Boathouse Surgery on your left
and approaching the Adventure Dolphin Centre on your right.
Before
you get to Adventure Dolphin, look for the footpath sign on the
right taking you down through the car park of Adventure Dolphin,
towards the river.
You
will join the Thames Path, and it's signposted Thames Path Purley.
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| Messing
about on the river... |
Follow
the path, with the river on your left, through Pangbourne Meadow.
As
you leave Pangbourne Meadow, the path deviates slightly away from
the river to the right.
Continue
to follow this path into another large meadow.
You'll
go over a small concrete bridge and the railway line to Reading
is on your right.
 |
| Mapledurham
Lock is a hive of activity. |
Follow
the Thames Path past the weir and Mapledurham Lock, and look to
your left and you'll see Mapledurham House on the other side of
the river.
After
you've passed the lock, go through the wooden gate and take the
Thames Path diagonally right across the meadow, away from the river.
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| The
walk out of Pangbourne is extremely peaceful. |
Head
towards the metal gate,
and when you reach it, go through the wooden kissing gate to the
right of it.
Turn
left onto the gravel road and look out for a children's play area
on your right.
Continue
to follow signs for the Thames Path.
The
road becomes Mapledurham Drive and turns into a single track, tarmac
road.
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| Don't
anyone mention paté. |
You'll
reach a main road, which is Purley Village road to the right and
becomes
St Mary's Avenue on the left.
Turn
left onto St Mary's Avenue and at the junction turn right up New
Hill,
following signs for the Thames Path.
Follow
the path over a railway bridge.
When
you come to the junction with Hazel Road on the left, turn
left down Hazel Road, following the signs for the Thames Path.
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| You'll
see some stunning riverside properties on this walk. |
This
takes you into a small housing estate, past the junction on the
left with Huckleberry Close.
Pass
Duncan Gardens on the left.
Pass
Farmiloe Close on the left.
Pass
The Purley Park Trust on the left.
Pass
The Holt on your left, and shortly after that turn right down Skerritt
Way, following the Thames Path signs.
 |
| Swans
at Caversham Bridge. |
Keep
on the footpath on the left of the road.
Skerrit
Way becomes a cul-de-sac, so you'll reach a dead-end.
When
you do, look to the right and you'll see the path going
towards the main road.
Go
up the wide concrete steps, and when they reach the road, turn left
following the Thames Path signs.
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| These
geese take time out for a bit of sun-bathing. |
As
you approach The Roebuck Hotel and The Watermans Bar & Restaurant
on the left, there is a sign for the Thames Path, taking you down
alongside The Watermans, across a railway bridge and back onto the
river.
Follow
this and turn right following the Thames Path when you reach the
river.
The
path takes you through a commercial boatyard, keep following the
path alongside The Thames.
The
path passes through a meadow and you'll spot the green roofs of
the Rivermead Leisure Centre on your right as you approach Caversham.
As
you reach Caversham, you'll pass behind the Three Men In A Boat
pub and underneath Caversham Bridge.
Continue
along the path to Reading Bridge where this part of the walk ends.
You've
completed
Part Nine of the Berkshire Way
Well
Done!
Berkshire
Way Part Ten
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