On the 5th July, seventeen of us set out from Gallowstree Common for this undulating walk, which took in the attractive fields, woodland, and lanes around Sonning Common.
We began by looping round through the northern part of New Copse and across fields that were buzzing with butterflies and other insects. After walking across Kingswood common we then made our way through Greatbottom Wood and Littlebottom Wood before reaching Peppard Common.
Here we linked up with a latecomer on the walk before passing through the village and up through Crowsley Park Woods, picking up part of the Chiltern Way along Kings Farm Lane with its striking black and white striped old cottage.
We then headed up to Crowsley Park itself; a 160 acre park owned by the BBC and site of a signals receiving station that includes some huge satellite dishes. Here we stopped for a peaceful lunch relaxing on some convenient logs and some sat under the shade of a tree.
We then continued on past Crowsley Park House an 18th Century mansion house, used as a private residence. Walking through some lanes with attractive cottages and across more fields we reached the Bird in Hand pub where we sat outside in the sunshine for a drink.
The last leg of the walk took us across more fields and past Vines Farm before passing through Kidmore End with its beautifully preserved 19th century well and village pond. We then continued through Coldnorton Wood and the southern part of New Copse before returning to where we had begun the walk. See our route on Bing Maps. (Note: Don't try the New Bing Maps yet.)
Thanks go to Julia for leading the walk and for providing this write-up.
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