We are the Berkshire Weekend Walkers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
We will start the walk at 10:15am and head out of town passing under the disused railway bridge and edging a newish housing estate named after the Watership Down rabbits. The author Richard Adams lived in Whitchurch until his death in 2016. Before long, we enter beautiful open countryside which, despite being very close to the A34 quickly becomes very tranquil. Whitchurch is situated on the River Test and we pass over it several times on the walk taking in a couple of lovely old mills which were powered by the water, and four churches. There are some buildings of interest on the walk, including the longest thatched terrace housing in England.
The walk is in a sort of figure-of-8 configuration with the first part being approx 3½ miles and the second loop being more like 5½ miles totalling just under 9 miles. We will end at the Whitchurch Silk Milk where there is a lovely cafe, gift shop and toilet facilities.
The walk has a few gentle hills, plenty of mud and a few quiet lanes. Please bring lunch and snacks with you as per usual.
Meet for a 10:15 start outside the White Hart Hotel on the junction of Newbury Street and London Street in Whitchurch, Hampshire.
By train from Reading, take the 09:11, which stops at Whitchurch at 09:46, and it is then a 15 minute walk from the station to the meeting point. (Turn left onto Station Road and then right onto Newbury road, which will take you to the meeting point. See how to get there on Google Maps.)
There is free parking at the Winchester Road car park RG28 7HP, by the Library, which is a five-minute walk to the meeting point. The Bell Street car park RG28 7AE is very close to the meeting point, costs £4 for the day and has toilets. Parking at Whitchurch railway station RG28 7ED is £2.70 for the day. (See https://whitchurch.org.uk/getting-here/parking-disabled-access/ for more information on parking in Whitchurch.)
Meet for a 10:15 start outside the White Hart Hotel on the junction of Newbury Street and London Street in Whitchurch, Hampshire.
