The Royal Oak circular, Yattendon

Start : The Royal Oak, Yattendon (RG18 0UF) Grid ref. SU 552 745

(S/E) Walk about 250yds past the pub and take a marked footpath immediately to the left of the church.

(1) This kinks right then shortly left with a wood on your left-hand side. Keep going forward across an open field, crossing a track at the end, then keep ahead with another wood on the left-hand side.

(2) After some 500yds the path bears round to the right. In another 200yds goes left down through the wood. It emerges onto a broad farm track, which follows to the right for 250yds to a crossing track.

(3) Turn left and continue uphill on this rather rough track until reaching a metalled surface and shortly take the footpath marked left through Ashampstead churchyard.

(4) Leave this by the opposite gate and follow the path through cultivation to reach a concrete drive.

(5) Go left and follow this for 500yds past a farm-shop, and continue along the now unsurfaced track. When this emerges into a field, follow the right-hand boundary for 200yds.

(6) Then turn 90 degrees left onto a footpath through cultivation. This passes through a gap into a wooded path and then a more open area, and you go forward though two gates with a wood on the left to come out in a large field. Keep the (gappy) hedge on your right till the crossing hedge at the end.

(7) Turn left for 100yds then right through a gate. Follow the path, meeting a track.

(8) In 150yds bear left through a gap and follow the footpath through paddock gates and on to a metalled lane.

(9) Turn left for the car park and pub. (S/E)

Start : The Royal Oak, Yattendon (RG18 0UF) Grid ref. SU 552 745

Driving to start & parking : About twelve miles from Newbury, in the village of Yattendon. Take the B4009 from the Robin Hood roundabout, and the second branch to the right in Hermitage, SP Yattendon. The pub is some four miles further on. Park in the village car park just before the pub.

Refreshments : The Royal Oak, a rather upmarket establishment that offers a fixed price two course lunch, also elegant light meals. A good selection of draught beers.

Find more walks at Newbury Pub Walks here.