THE WALK
Distance: 4.75 miles
Grid reference at start: SU369621
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Going: Moderate
Parking: Car park at Combe Gibbet and find a suitable place to park in Hamstead Marshall.
BBC BERKSHIRE WALKING AND SAFETY |  |
Park at Combe Gibbet car park, and follow the path behind the car park, signposted Wayfarers Walk.  | | The footpath on the left is the first one you come to |
Follow the path up Walbury Hill, and take the footpath on the left. After you've gone over the stile, head diagonally left across the field (there was no marked path when we did the walk in August 2002). You'll see another stile ahead, go over this. It was very prickly and overgrown here when we walked this route. Follow the path on top of a ridge and through the field. You'll reach another stile, go over this which takes you through a wooded area and down to the road. When you reach the road, cross over, following the footpath. It goes through a wooded area and comes out in a field.  | | The walk goes through lots of open countryside |
Turn left and walk around the edge of the field. The footpath ends by Park House and you'll meet the road here. Walk out onto the road past the sign for West Woodhay. Take the road on the left, signposted to Kintbury. Keep on this road past Furze Park, and take the footpath signposted on the left.  | | The footpath leads into fields |
About 50 yards into the footpath you'll go through a fence/gate. Almost straight after you go through this fence, turn right. It wasn't signposted when we did the walk but it is the correct way! When you come out of the wooded area, keep to the left following the fenceline. You'll meet a stile, go over it and cross a small wooden bridge. You'll go over another stile, and follow the footpath sign going diagonally right across the field towards the pylon.  | | The walk goes mainly through fields |
As you get closer to the pylon, you'll see a stile to the left of it. Go over it and you'll come out on a road. Turn right. At the t-junction, turn left. Shortly after this, take the footpath on the right. Continue straight ahead, go over several stiles. Follow footpath straight through the middle of the field, NOT left - even though this is where there is a signpost.  | | The path was quite overgrown |
When the path ends, turn left and go along the edge of the field. When you reach the road, turn left. After about 100 yards turn right down a footpath, opposite a house with brown timberframed windows, called Vergers Holt. Walk straight across the middle of the field, heading for the stile. Go across the stile, and you'll cross a small wooden bridge over a stream. Cross another stile.  | | Be prepared to cross many stiles! |
Walk diagonally right across this field, heading for the stile. You'll meet a road turn right, and almost immediately left, onto a footpath. Go through the gate on the left and follow the footpath. Follow the footpath sign straight through the field. Great Holt Copse is on your left. Walk to the end of the field, and you'll see a stile hidden away on the left. Go over the stile, and you come out into a clearing. Several paths cross here. You want to take the one signposted to the right, going through the woodland.  | | This is the last field you cross on the walk |
Take the stile at the end of the path, which brings you out into a field. Follow the footpath and go through the gate at the end. This takes you past the DogsTrust (Formerly National Canine Defence League ) on the right. Follow this road and you reach the main road, with the White Hart Inn and Restaurant opposite.  | | The Hart Inn is where you finish this section of the walk |
You've completed Part Three of the Berkshire Way Well Done! Berkshire Way Part Four
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