Snelsmore Common and beyond: A circular walk.

Join us at Snelsmore Common for a beautiful 9 mile walk around the countryside of West Berkshire.

We will start at 10am from the BBQ area between the free car parks at Snelsmore Common.

This common is a nature reserve and biological site of special scientific interest and features lowland heathland and broadleaved woods. If we are lucky we will spot the grazing exmoor ponies and avoid treading on the rare ground nesting birds like nightjar and woodlark.

The walk takes us out of the common and along Pebble Lane before descending down to the pretty village of Winterbourne. After a gentle climb we reach Borough Hill and skirt around a field where we spotted a large healthy looking fox. 

Boxford Common is our next destination which provides a large flat grazing area mainly for sheep and is surrounded on all sides by a plantation. As we progress towards Bagnor the views from both sides of the path are wonderful, so we will take a snack break here.

Before reaching Bagnor we turn off to Copse Barn and then drop to cross the River Lambourn where the pretty path is bounded by a well kept private fishing area.

The next part of the walk takes us into the parish of Stockcross before heading back to walk alongside the river. 

Arriving in Bagnor there is a privately maintained garden next to the river which is there for well behaved visitors to enjoy, so we aim to eat our picnic lunch here.

After a short but steep climb, we will then take a tree lined footpath back to the edge of Snelsmore Common.

For those that want to, there is an opportunity for cake or ice cream at The Snug before returning home.