Wargrave and Crazies Hill Circular

Start : Wargrave Railway Station (RG10 8EU). Grid ref. SU 780 783

(S/E) From the station turn right along Station Rd.

(1) At the junction with the main road (A321) cross carefully, turn right and soon left on a restricted byway past Leafy Lane house. At a minor road turn left along it and turn right at the end on cycleway.

(2) At the road junction follow the cycleway left then right into Victoria Rd. Turn left into the winding Purfield Rd. Keep ahead.

(3) At the road junction leave cycleway and turn right, crossing to the footpath before the corner. Go through swing gate and keep ahead across field, soon with copse on the right. Continue ahead across fields. Just before the woodland turn right.

(4) Then immediately left on the footpath along the wood edge. Keep ahead round the barrier at the next path junction along the edge of the wood to a bend.

(5) Turn left into the wood in the exact direction indicated by footpath sign. Cross bridge and climb steps.

(6) Just before the open area turn right at a path junction on a marked footpath. Follow the path for about
half a mile to the next path junction.

(7) Here turn left on gently ascending path before descending to lane.

Turn right and just after the bend turn left on restricted byway, coming surprisingly to 'Rebecca's Well'. (A)

(8) Just past the well turn sharp left on the footpath. At top of rise go through the swing gate and cross the field ahead. Go through the swing gate and continue on the path until it joins the lane at Maple Croft.

(9) Just past the drive turn right through swing gate and cross track to pass an ancient oak tree. Go through swing gate and a field, then another swing gate and continue along the boundary.

At the lane turn right along the wide verges and continue to a road junction. Opposite are the grounds of Wargrave Manor which is owned by the Sultan of Oman who visits occasionally.

(10) Turn left and at the T-junction turn right. Cross the road to a path, pass entrance to Wargrave Manor then turn into Dark Lane. Turn right into the Walled Garden where there are good views over the Thames Valley. At end turn right on descending path.

(11) Then turn left at the bottom of steps past alms houses along an enclosed path. At end turn right in to Badsideans and right again to the crossroads on the main road (A321). Carefully cross, go down Church St.

(12) Pass Ferry Lane and go through swing gate into St Mary's churchyard. Turn left on footpath past war memorial then right down Station Rd to station. (S/E)

Start : Wargrave Railway Station (RG10 8EU). Grid ref. SU 780 783

Terrain : Tree roots can be a hazard in the woods.

Stile : There are no stiles.

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

(A) This used to be the water supply for the people of Crazies Hill. It depicts Rebecca and the servant of Abraham at the well of Nahor. Originally a muddy pool known as 'Rubra's Well (the healthy water place at the top of the hill) the embellishments were added by the Reverend Phillimore, curate of Wargrave in the late 19th century.