We are the Berkshire Weekend Walkers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
We will begin the walk in the village, passing the old well which was dug in 1853 by Lord Samuel Weare Gardiner for the benefit of his tenants. We will then take a path south from the village to join the Chilton Way. It takes us through the hamlets of Path Hill and Collins End and there are some sweeping rural views that are quite breathtaking in fine weather. There is a beautiful old pub at Holly Copse but after operating for 2 centuries it closes in 1870 so unfortunately we are a little bit too late to have a drink there.
We drop down and along a pathway at the bottom of Bottom Woods which feels very overshadowed by the steep impressive escarpment to the north. We will spend a little time in the historic village of Mapledurum, reliving scenes from the film The Eagle Has Landed, which was filmed extensively around the Church and Mill.
After a lunch stop we will head back to Whitchurch, passing some interesting places including the Ice house for Hardwick Hall, and Bozedown Alpaca farm. There will be a pub stop at The Greyhound in Whitchurch before we head back to Whitchurch Hill.
We will start the walk at 10:15 from the village green/recreation ground in Whitchurch Hill, north of Whitchurch-on-Thames and Pangbourne. There is plenty of off-road parking all along the Goring Heath Road side of the recreation ground. If for some unforeseen reason that parking is all taken then the quiet roads of Whitchurch Hill have unrestricted parking or there is a car park which is used for the Church and Village Hall off the main road up from Whitchurch. The Church borders the recreation ground.
Please bring plenty of water and a packed lunch as usual. On the pre walk we didn't encounter very much in the way of mud but if it rains much before the walk there are several places which could get mucky. There is 269 metres of ascent in total and one of the climbs is quite steep but short.
Village Green/recreation ground in Whitchurch Hill
