# 🥾 Walk 202 - Woolhampton and Surrounding Area

On Saturday 9th January after our initial challenge of the railway barrier being stuck down with the walk start on the other side of the barrier, eight of us headed off on a circular walk from the Rowbarge Inn in Woolhampton. Perhaps numbers were reduced due to the poor weather forecast, if that was the case it was a shame since we only had a short shower – there appears to have been a spate of winter rain predictions this year that have been inaccurate!

We first set off east for a couple of miles of the Kennet Canal to Aldermaston Wharf, the canal stretches 87 miles from Bristol to the Thames at Reading and the stretch covered is regarded by the leaders who have walked the whole length as average pleasant. The wharf is an appropriate name since the spot always appears to be busy with some permanent moorings. In lieu or visiting the canal trust tea room which may well have been closed a drink stop was had by the lock with Stollen cake handed out by the leaders.

From Aldermaston wharf we next headed north, carefully crossed the fast moving traffic on the A4 and headed for Beenham via road passing a small industrial area and Shrub wood up to the remote St. Mary's church at Beenham. From the church we went west down a slippery slope into Old Copse towards Oakwood farm and then again north to the outskirts of the main village of Beenham. A brief stop was taken with much talk about green telecomms boxes (there will not be a picture of this!) before heading west into High Wood and south to Douai Abbey. Lunch was taken next by the tennis courts with some reasonable play in progress.

After lunch we headed past the Elstree School in Upper Woolhampton, west to Channel wood, Midgham Green and across the scenic Midgham Park. After the recent rainfall the leaders were expecting to have to cross a river within the park but it appears despite seeing from a copse the source of a flowing ground spring the land owners must have carried out some drainage work to divert the flow underground.

Next we joined a lane by St Matthew's Midgham church which is noted for it's tall spire seen from the canal. We ventured south along a lane to re-cross the A4 by the Coach & Horses pub, crossed a small field and finally returned to our start via another 1½ mile section of the canal – that leaves 83+ more miles now for further walks. See the route on Bing Maps. (Thanks got to Lawrence for recording the route.)

Most of us stopped at the Rowbarge for a drink before heading home. The Rowbarge provides a limited number of car park spaces for walkers so it was the least we could do after the walk!

*Thank you to Mike for the write-up. Sorry there are no pictures of this walk.*

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