Various little walks

Walk on the Nettlebed Estate, 4.13 miles

11 March

Pleasant walk with Ray on a Sunday morning. We parked on Rocky Lane, a turning off the B481 just before Highmoor Cross. Walked down the lane for a little bit and then onto a path leading through the Nettlebed Estate. Did a pleasant circular walk of a few miles.

Towards the end of the walk we saw a house through the trees that may have been 'Merrimoles'. What a cute name. Images of happy little moles dancing.

Looking towards a house, possibly Merrimoles

I can’t find out much about the estate: it’s apparently around 2500 acres, it’s been owned by the Fleming family since the early 20th century when one Robert Fleming bought the estate and the house at Joyce Grove – he had the latter demolished and built the big pile that’s still there today and houses a Sue Ryder hospice. Robert’s grandson Ian wrote the James Bond books; there’s a bit about the latter’s association with Nettlebed (and South Oxfordshire) here. It’s believed that he either wrote, or came up with the idea for, the first Bond novel (depending on which source you consult) while staying at Kiln Cottage, formerly part of the estate but apparently sold to the Lucan family (of Lord fame) in 1960, and seemingly the site of a somewhat ridiculous boundary dispute in the mid-2000s; no idea if it’s still going on.

Map of the route below; our route shown in red. The top right of the route shows where the path passed close to the A4130 at Bix.

Walk near The Packhorse, about 3 miles

18 March

Some snow on the ground for this walk with Ruth. The Packhorse at Chazey Heath is currently a nice country pub, having variously been closed for a while and prior to that been a ‘Blubeckers’ (an episode best whitewashed over). According to the blurb, the Packhorse was once a farm on the Mapledurham estate dating back to the 1600s.

We parked in the pub car park and crossed the A4074 to take a footpath going off to the left of the 'JoeDaisy Guest House' (which according to their website is closing down in August this year). At the end of the path turned left onto Sheepways Lane.

Continued on, turning left onto a concrete track and crossing a large crop field. Followed footpaths past Caversham Heath golf course and clubhouse back to the A4074. Crossed over to go down Rokeby Drive. Made our way via Tokers Green Lane and Bardolph’s Wood back to the pub.

We had Sunday lunch at the pub, including a half of Stonehenge 'Sign of Spring' for me. Don't think I can quite get to grips with green beer.

Unusually, forgot my phone for this walk, so couldn’t track it and the photos are Ruth’s.

Walk from Reading to Henley, 9.5 miles

29 April

Another walk with Ray. We walked from Caversham down to the river and turned eastwards, passing Kennet Mouth. After the sailing club, we diverted away from the river into Thames Valley Park to follow a route Ray had cycled, passing the buildings of the Microsoft campus.

Followed a footpath that took us back to the river. Followed the Thames Path through Sonning to Shiplake Lock, where it leaves the river and takes the walker along Mill Road into Lower Shiplake, and then along Bolney Road, with its riverside properties, the last of which has an elaborate model railway in its garden. We passed this ridiculously narrow plot, which looked as though it's had an interesting little house built on it, though we couldn't get a good view from the road.

Rejoined the river path and followed it past Marsh Lock into Henley.

Looking up from Marsh Lock island towards Wargrave Road

Property for sale on Rod Eyot

Route shown below in red, with our starting point in green.

Walk from Woodley to Caversham via Sonning, 4.6 miles

6 May

Solo walk. Took the bus over to Woodley. Got off on Reading Road and walked to the Shepherds Hill roundabout. Crossed the railway and walked down Old Bath Road for a little way before returning to the A4 and crossing to go down Sonning Lane. Walked through the village centre and across the bridge.

The main road through Sonning village (the B478) is a bit of a pig for pedestrians – such pavements as there are are very narrow and once you’re past The French Horn and leaving the village, the pavements run out altogether and there isn’t even a verge, resulting in having to flatten yourself as much as possible against the hedge as cars whiz by.

Spring Lane

I turned down Spring Lane and followed this little road to where it meets the A4155 by The Flowing Spring. Relieved to see some steps going up directly opposite leading to a footpath, as this stretch would be even less forgiving for pedestrians than the road through Sonning. There’s a path (possibly only permitted, but thank you landowner, in that case) leading along the hedge line parallel to the road. Followed this briefly in the Caversham direction until I came to another footpath leading uphill to the right along the field boundary. Took this out of curiosity.

Path leading uphill towards Dunsden

Selfie

Turned left at the top of the path and after a short while emerged onto the minor road between Playhatch and Dunsden. Turned right into Dunsden. Sat down briefly on the bench on the village green to eat a slightly melted chocolatey snack. Left Dunsden via Church Lane and turned left onto the bridleway that leads to Foxhill Lane. Returned via the footpath to Caversham Park Village and caught the bus down into Caversham.

Route shown below in red, with my starting point in green. The watery bit in the middle is Caversham Lakes, with the boats of the Thames & Kennet Marina just visible in the lakes' south-western corner.