# 🥾 Walk 242 - Warfield and Northern Lanes

On Saturday 17th September we gathered at Frost Folly car park in Wellers Lane, which was surprising full due to another walking group heading out 30 minutes before us. Apparently this country car park was opened in 2003 by Jean Frost, her late husband Chris Frost having donated the land to Warfield Parish Council for use as a countryside amenity. We had a little rainfall while at the car park, and although a lot cooler than previous days the rest of the walk remained free from any further showers.

We were very pleased to welcome four new walkers who joined our group today. Fifteen of us (plus a very energetic dog) set off on a country path from the far left hand corner of the car park, alongside farmland, over the stream and up the steady incline. At a beautiful old oak tree we turned left through a kissing gate onto St Katherine's Drive, heading towards St Michael's church. Past the vicarage we took a gate into a paddock where some cute Shetland ponies were grazing, not at all fazed by our accompanying dog.

![St Michael's Church, Warfield (Sorry, no zoom available) ](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume17/images/st_michaels_church_warfield.jpg)

Leaving the ponies behind we walked through two fields and across the bridge over the stream onto a path, which luckily had been recently been cut back. So, minus the overgrown stinging nettles, we headed over the wooden boardwalk (recently installed, so the usual very wet and muddy area did not have to be braved) towards the road at Wane bridge.

With Hayley Green Farm away to the right, (which is apparently the oldest dwelling in Warfield) we followed the path across the field, passing the stables on the right and emerging at Brockhill. Passing by Planners farm and through several fields, we reached the A330 where we stopped for a short 'banana break' before following Garsten Lane and then Hog Oak Lane.

![Passing through a field of ponies near Warfield.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume17/images/warfield1.jpg)

After crossing the A330 again, we followed a less obvious path along the Hawthornedale Bridleway and then into Pendrys Lane. We followed this long leafy lane to the junction of Hawthorne Lane and the West Mill Ford. We went over the bridge at the Ford, which was slightly off the route, and turned right to find the open area in the woodland to the left, where we had our lunch stop. (When we did the pre-walk of this route in the spring this area was full of bluebells as far as the eye could see and was absolutely stunning.)

After a leisurely lunch we picked up the track along Hawthorne Lane until we reached Buckle Lane and then headed straight to the main road and the Shepard's House pub. Although we have stopped at the pub on previous walks, after an unanimous decision (due to the coffee machine being out of order) we crossed the road and headed up Bowyers Lane to the Frost Folly car park where we started the walk.

![Stopping off for our picnic lunch.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume17/images/warfield2.jpg)

*Thank you to Ann and Kathy for leading the walk and to Ann for writing it up.*

## 📸 Back to Volume 17

Return to volume index