Despite the cold, wet and windy weather, we still managed 14 brave souls on this walk, which replaced the walk from Reading to Pangbourne that we'd originally planned.
We started our walk from the car park at the top of White Hill and walked up to Cottington's Hill where the transmitter mast radiates digital television to Berkshire and North Hampshire. We then descended to the gallops at Park House Stables via the woods on Freemantle Park Down.
The initial rain eased off after the walk go going but the cold wind continued. We skirted round the gallops and headed back up the hill en route to Hannington.
We stopped for our picnic just as the snow began to fall. Nothing heavy and it didn't settle.
After lunch we continued south toward Hannington village through mud and more mud. We must have looked a pretty sight when we got to the pub, stripping of our over-trousers and muddy boots before going in for a pleasant drink in the warm and dry.
After the pub we donned our over-trousers, boots, hats and gloves to continue our walk. We passed the church in Hannington and onto the Wayfarer's Walk. As we followed this back to the car park, more snowflakes began to fall. Again, nothing settled.
Apart from some very slushy mud in places, the walk was mostly OK, considering the recent weather. I reckon Thames path walk that we had originally planned for today would have been impassable in several places. See our route on Google Maps.
Thank you to Neil F. for providing the excellent photographs.
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