{"id":"6984796b533dbb4b73118b42","title":"Walk 74 Chobham Common","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2013/volume-6-oct-to-dec-2013/walk-74-chobham-common","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 74 - Chobham Common\n\nSunday 27th October was the day before the night of the Big Storm of 2013. Ten of us plus two from a neighbouring walking group turned up on this windy day for a ten mile walk.\n\nSetting off from the Chobham Common car park on the north side of the M3 motorway, we made our way east and then south, crossing over the B386 and then under the motorway. From there, we zigzagged across the common, making our way toward Stanners Hill.\n\nMuch of the common was waterlogged from the recent rain and some of the paths required a little paddling. We stopped off for our picnic lunch in woodland near Stanners Hill where we found some logs to sit on.\n\n![There were some large puddles on the footpaths on Chobham Common.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/chobham_common.jpg)\n\nAfter lunch we continued our walk across farmland to Chobham village. On the way we passed a field of horses that wanted to follow us on our route out of their field and we passed another field with two of the shortest miniature ponies I've seen.\n\nNext a bit of urban walking took us through the village to the nearby Burrows Hill, where we stopped at the Four Horseshoes pub for a drink.\n\nAlthough it was rather windy, it was still warm enough to sit outside. At one point we witnessed the parasol from a nearby table take off and fly across the car park, narrowly missing a couple who had just arrived!\n\n![There was a reasonable amount of woodland on this walk.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/stanners_hill.jpg)\n\nOn finishing our drinks, we set off following mostly woodland paths taking us north towards Chickabiddy Hill, one of the few high points on the common. From there you can see most of the common and you can see the busy M3 motorway bisecting it.\n\nWe made our way back to the pedestrian underpass, where we'd crossed under the M3 in the morning. Then we retraced our path over the B386 and almost back to the car park.\n\nA choice was offered: to head back to the car park and finish the walk early, or to carry on for another couple of miles over Oystershell Hill and Ship Hill. Most chose to return to the cars and get home before the weather turned bad, as it was forecast to do, but a few of us decided to risk it and get a bit more exercise.\n\n![On the way to Chobham village we passed a field of miniature ponies.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/miniature_pony.jpg)\n\nExercise indeed, as the 20m (65ft) of ascent was brief but steep. The path had been terraced into giant steps that required some momentum to climb. The views rewarded us at the top. The route down Oystershell hill was shallower, and Ship Hill was easier still.\n\nThe sky now much more cloudy than before and the wind making its presence felt, we got back to the cars in plenty of time before the sun set and the evening rain began. See our route on Bing maps.\n\n![From Chickabiddy Hill you can see the M3 motorway dividing the common.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume6/images/chickabiddy_hill.jpg)\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 6\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 74 - Chobham Common

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Sunday 27th October was the day before the night of the Big Storm of 2013. Ten of us plus two from a neighbouring walking group turned up on this windy day for a ten mile walk.

\n

Setting off from the Chobham Common car park on the north side of the M3 motorway, we made our way east and then south, crossing over the B386 and then under the motorway. From there, we zigzagged across the common, making our way toward Stanners Hill.

\n

Much of the common was waterlogged from the recent rain and some of the paths required a little paddling. We stopped off for our picnic lunch in woodland near Stanners Hill where we found some logs to sit on.

\n

\"There

\n

After lunch we continued our walk across farmland to Chobham village. On the way we passed a field of horses that wanted to follow us on our route out of their field and we passed another field with two of the shortest miniature ponies I've seen.

\n

Next a bit of urban walking took us through the village to the nearby Burrows Hill, where we stopped at the Four Horseshoes pub for a drink.

\n

Although it was rather windy, it was still warm enough to sit outside. At one point we witnessed the parasol from a nearby table take off and fly across the car park, narrowly missing a couple who had just arrived!

\n

\"There

\n

On finishing our drinks, we set off following mostly woodland paths taking us north towards Chickabiddy Hill, one of the few high points on the common. From there you can see most of the common and you can see the busy M3 motorway bisecting it.

\n

We made our way back to the pedestrian underpass, where we'd crossed under the M3 in the morning. Then we retraced our path over the B386 and almost back to the car park.

\n

A choice was offered: to head back to the car park and finish the walk early, or to carry on for another couple of miles over Oystershell Hill and Ship Hill. Most chose to return to the cars and get home before the weather turned bad, as it was forecast to do, but a few of us decided to risk it and get a bit more exercise.

\n

\"On

\n

Exercise indeed, as the 20m (65ft) of ascent was brief but steep. The path had been terraced into giant steps that required some momentum to climb. The views rewarded us at the top. The route down Oystershell hill was shallower, and Ship Hill was easier still.

\n

The sky now much more cloudy than before and the wind making its presence felt, we got back to the cars in plenty of time before the sun set and the evening rain began. See our route on Bing maps.

\n

\"From

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📸 Back to Volume 6

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Return to volume index

\n"}