Speen and Donnington Circular

Start : Newbury Bridge (RG14 5EX) Grid ref. SU 471 671

(S/E) From Newbury Bridge, walk North along Northbrook Street (which becomes The Broadway) for 440m. This is the main shopping area in Newbury.

(1) At the clock tower, bear left (West) into Oxford Street, at the mini roundabout continue ahead (North-West) on Oxford Street until you reach Waitrose, cross over the large roundabout (North) and continue on Oxford Road (B4494). Continue on for 840m until you cross the River Lambourn.

(2) After you cross the bridge, look for the sign for Donnington Castle, and turn left (North-West) into Castle Lane. Continue along Castle Lane for 670m until you reach the car park for Donnington Castle. After exploring the castle, take the southern footpath around the base of the hill, a track from the castle runs southwestwards to this path at the tree line.

(3) The path then continues North-Westwards through the trees. This path will exit the trees and turn Westwards onto a golf buggy path, take care, follow this golf buggy path across the bridge over the A34. Turn left and walk to Bagnor. At the fork in the road by the pub (closed at the time of writing) double back (South-East) and cross the River Lambourn again.

(4) After the second bridge, turn left (South-East) onto a public footpath signposted Lambourn Valley Way. Continue Eastwards passing under the A34 once more, then immediately turn right (South) following the footpath running parallel to the A34. After passing the pond on your left, join the paved lane, and follow this until you reach Lambourn Road. Turn left and walk South-East along Lambourn Road for 150m.

(5) After the 4th block of houses, turn right onto the public footpath between the gardens, this is still the Lambourn Valley Way. Continue South across the field and follow the footpath between the buildings to exit onto the A4 Bath Road. Cross the road and walk down Speen Lane for 150m.

(6) When you reach the large white house, bear right (South) onto the footpath. Look to your right to see the Lady Well, then continue South across the fields and then Speen Churchyard. On passing the church, turn left onto the road.

(7) After 100m at the road junction, take the footpath to your right through the kissing gate. Walk through the car park and then take the left path (South) straight across the field for 215m until you reach the hedgeline where you turn right (West).

(8) After 60m turn left onto a wider track (South) and continue to the river. Cross the River Kennet via the footbridges then turn left following the track.

(9) Cross the Kennet and Avon Canal by Guyers Lock and then follow Bonemill Lane along the canal towpath (East). Pass the Monkey Bridge and continue on the towpath. Cross the canal by the West Mills Swing Bridge and then continue to follow the towpath on the north bank of the canal back to the Lock Stock and Barrel pub (S/E).

Start : Newbury Bridge (RG14 5EX) Grid ref. SU 471 671

Transport: There are multiple car parks in the town centre and most buses stop at Newbury Wharf just a little further along the canal. The start point is also just a short walk from Newbury Railway Staton.

Facilities: There are public toilets and plenty of cafes and restaurants in Newbury but nothing along the route.

Accessibility: There are kissing gates and muddy fields along the route so it may not be accessible for all.

• Donnington Castle is a ruin having been destroyed by the Parlimentarians during the English Civil War.
• Lady Well - one of the many holy wells in the Berkshire area
• St Mary's Church, is a pretty church in Speen with a tranquil churchyard.
• Kennet and Avon Canal - this beautiful canal connects London to the Bristol channel and passes through some of the most scenic countryside.
• West Berkshire Museum - This is a gem of a museum housed in the old wharf buildings.
• Victoria Park - A lovely place to while away an afternoon, especially if there is a band playing in the bandstand.
• Highclere Castle - Just outside Newbury is the setting for Downton Abbey.