# 🥾 Walk 150 - Snelsmore Common, Winterbourne and Bagnor

Seventeen of us, including several newcomers, turned up for this easy six-mile walk from Snelsmore Common on this sunny Sunday in March. The walk was led by Jane, one of our more experienced walk leaders, who hasn't been able to walk with us for some time due to an injury she sustained last year. It was good to see her out walking with us again.

We set off through Snelsmore Common, heading north through the woodland and then out of the common through farmland to the picturesque village of Winterboure. Heading south-west to the church and then north again through open fields we passed a field in which a tiny pony spotted us and came over to say hello.

As usual, Pat had some raw carrots in her lunch box and fed one to the pony. As we made a fuss of the pony, a fully grown horse in a field nearby began to prance about, trying to get some of the attention.

![I'm normally cautious about horses and other large animals, but this one wasn't so intimidating.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume11/images/winterbourne_pony.jpg)

Continuing west and then south, we came to Boxford Common, a mixture of woodland and fields. At this time of year, the woodlands are light and airy as the trees are still bare, allowing sunlight through to the snowdrops and daffodils. We could also see the first leaves of the bluebell plants emerging from the ground. Having had a spell of dry weather recently, the woodland paths were much less muddy than usual.

An undulating route through fields and copses soon brought us to the lovely village of Boxford on the River Lambourne. Here we stopped by the river for our picnic lunch. After lunch, some of us popped into The Blackbird pub for a pint before doing the last leg of the walk.

From Bagnor we headed north through more fields and woodland until we reach the edge of Snelsmore Common. Passing through the gate into the common, we made our way back to the car park where we had started. See our route on Bing Maps.

![Crossing Boxford Common, between Winterbourne and Bagnor.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume11/images/boxford_common.jpg)

By now the common was full of families enjoying the spring weather on this sunny Sunday afternoon.

![A pleasant spot for a picnic by the River Lambourne, with the Blackbird pub nearby.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume11/images/bagnor_river_lambourne.jpg)

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