Bramley to Hook, around Reading

Start : Bramley Railway Station (LS13 4EX) Grid ref. SU 655 694

(S) From Bramley station, turn right at the road and right again on the footpath with the village bakery on the left.

(1) Opposite the playground, turn left on a residential road. Pass the duck pond on the right and emerge onto Bramley Green with the main road on the left. Keep ahead along the pavement and cross Bramley Green Rd.

(2) Cross the main road into Folly Lane. Turn right on the track (which can be very muddy) to a lane. Turn right.

(3) At Lillym ill Farm turn left on the footpath. Bear left.

(4) Soon turn right through the car park to cross the bridge over the River Loddon. Cross the stile and bear right almost to the field boundary. Turn right along the field edge.

(5) Just before the powerlines turn left over the bridge. Keep right of the solitary mature oak, on the rising ground. The line of the path is not obvious. Keep in the same direction (South-East) to a stile and footpath sign. Bear left to the second stile and follow the grassy track to the busy A33.

(6) Cross carefully (and quickly) to the footpath opposite. Keeping the same direction (South-East) along several field edges to a swing gate at the corner.

(7) Cross and turn left. Soon turn left again through a second swing gate. Bear left along the edge of the wood until reaching the lane at a crossroads in Hartley Wespall.

A short detour across the junction on the left will take you to the pretty 14th century church of St Mary's which has a fine view over the Loddon valley.

(8) Otherwise, turn right into a quiet lane which is closed to through traffic (A). Continue along the lane for about a mile until it bends sharply to the left with a house on the left and the track on the right.

(9) Soon bear right at the footpath sign along the edge of the wood.

(10) At the corner turn left, still at the wood edge.

(11) Cross the road and immediately bear right across the field. From this elevated height of 300ft, the radio mast at Hannington can be seen through trees on the right, marking the line of the North Hampshire Downs.

Enter the churchyard of Rotherwick church (B) with its ancient gravestones and old trees. The church dates from the 13th century. Turn left for the popular Coach & Horses pub.

(12) Pass the Coach and Horses and turn right at the footpath sign. Cross the field dotted with splendid old oak trees. At the cross track keep ahead over the ditch and pass Runten's Farm. Ignore the footpath on the left and at the junction with track bear right alongside copse.

Keep ahead through the swing gate along the edge of North Runten's Copse and at the next junction bear right with Shirlan's Copse on the left.

(13) Continue into the built-up area. Keep ahead on an obvious footpath line across several roads, then along a minor road to reach the A30.

(14) Cross carefully to the footpath slightly on the left. At the main road cross to Hook Railway Station opposite. (E)

Start : Bramley Railway Station (LS13 4EX) Grid ref. SU 655 694

Maps : Map OS Explorer 144

Find more information and walks at Round Reading Walks website here.

(A) There are snowdrops here in season. At the pleasant open area where the Loddon runs close to the road, it is possible to view the mill-race at Hayes Farm where a "viewing window has been thoughtfully provided. There was an old flour mill on this site mentioned in the Doomsday Book.

(B) Rotherwick : On the east side of the village is the green and duck pond, and also the old post office/stores, the oldest building in Rotherwick, possibly dating from the 14th century. Its beams were cut with an axe, not sawn. Along The (wide) Street to the left are other interesting old properties. Children have been taught in the school for nearly 300 years and the 16th century Coach & Horses was once the village smithy.