THE WALK
Distance: 5 miles
Grid reference at start: SU718740
Time: 2 hours
Going: Easy
Parking: For the start use Hill's Meadow car park by Reading Bridge, and at the finish try the car park at Ashenbury Park in Woodley.
BBC BERKSHIRE WALKING AND SAFETY |  |
Begin this walk at Reading Bridge, and get onto the Thames Path by following the footpath sign through the car park of Thames Water's Clearwater Court building, turning right onto the Thames Path. Go under Reading Bridge and past Caversham Lock. Just after Caversham Lock, follow the path which veers right into King's Meadow. Follow the path which takes you up onto a railway footbridge (Horseshoe Bridge) alongside the railway track, and back down to the Thames, signposted to Sonning and The Loddon.  | | You'll reach Caversham Lock shortly after leaving Reading. |
Keep to the Thames Path with the gas towers to your right. Pass the canoes and kayak centre on your right, and look out for the Oracle buildings of Thames Valley Park on your right. Continue following the Thames Path, ignoring a footpath sign on your right. As you leave Thames Valley Park behind, the path passes through a meadow and then veers to the right into a wooded copse with The Thames on your left. Pass by a boathouse with blue double doors on your right.  | | This part of The Thames gets very busy with barges and pleasure cruisers. |
Then through a series of wooden five-bar gates taking you past Sonning Lock, and past the back of Reading Blue Coat School. Then leave the Thames Path, turning right and following the sign to Parish Church and Bull Inn. Walk alongside St Andrew's Church, with the church on your left.  | | Sonning Lock is particularly pretty. |
After you've passed the church and where several footpaths cross, turn left. As you approach the wooden gate out of the church yard don't leave the churchyard, follow the footpath sign taking you sharp right, almost back on yourself, with the redbrick wall on your left.  | | This sign takes you away from the Thames Path. |
When you reach the wooden gate, leave the churchyard through the wooden gate and onto the road, passing The Bull Inn on your right. Where the road bends left, you want to turn right past the No Entry signs and up the hill. You'll pass a restaurant and Post Office on your left.  | | The Bull Inn in Sonning is the perfect place to stop for a quick pint. |
When the road meets the main road, turn left. Go past Pearson Hall and Sonning Working Men's Club on your left. As the road bends to the left, take the turning Pound Lane on your right. Go past Sonning C of E Primary School on the right. When you reach the roundabout with the A4, go straight on to Woodley.  | | This restaurant-cum-tea shop is hidden away in Sonning, but you'll pass it on this walk. |
Turn left down Duffield Road. Pass Sonning Golf Club on your left, and go over the railway bridge continuing to follow the road. Pass Willowbank Infants and Junior School on the right. And at the junction with Church Road on the right and Tippings Lane on the left, turn left. Then turn left down Denmark Avenue. And then right into Ashenbury Park. You've completed Part Ten of the Berkshire Way Well Done! Berkshire Way Part Eleven | 
