Yellow 4 - Peppard Common & Kidmore End D
This circular walk, of about 7½ miles in length, is through gently
undulating typical Chiltern countryside and does a complete circuit of Sonning
Common.
The
directions below start from the Recreation Ground car park (behind tennis
court) adjacent to Bishopswood School. Sonning Common (Grid Ref. 698807). but
the map of the route should suggest other starling places.
For further topographical features of the area, see the Ordnance
Survey Pathfinder maps 1172 Reading’ and 1156 'Henley-on-Thames'. Please
observe the Country Code.
Leaving car park, turn right along Horsepond Road for about 125
yards, then turn left into gravel track. Pass through gap next to gate and
after a further 50 yards, climb stile on right and go half left through middle
of field towards near end of hedge dividing two distant fields. Pass over stile
in far boundary and continue along edge of next two fields with tall hedge on
left to reach road (Wyfold Lane) after stile, here turn right along road, passing
former hospital nearby on left. Cross over at road ahead and bear right to
follow lane to the right of 'The Unicorn’, then between properties 'Clare
House' and Manor View', enter up steps on right, path between metal railings.
Follow winding path between cottages to emerge on tho edge of Peppard Common.
Continue on broad woodland track ahead, thon when
this track starts to curve tightly right, turn very sharp left down woodland
path. At bottom of descent turn right along broad grass path and at clearing at
end. turn left up steep narrow winding woodland path (with main road nearby on
right) to reach road on edge of open common, here turn right along road.
Shortly cross over road ahead and keep straight on across grass to enter and
follow Church Lane to the right of Peppard Primary School. Passing the
flint-faced All Saints Church (largely rebuilt around 1875) on loft, continuo
on gravel track and in front of 'Rectory Cottage tum right for about 20 yards to Stile, then turn left along edge of field with cottar on
left.
Follow
right hand bend at end of field and in next corner turn left through woodland
strip. In next field, turn right and then left along edge of field, to reach buildings of Bottom Barn, here turn right up broad hedged
track Keep left at Blounts Farm and shortly turn left along road, then near end
of copse on left, turn right up steps and through middle of field. At largo
tree at near corner of long garden turn left along edge of same field with
trees on right.
At power line polo, turn right along edge of small
field with fonco on left to reach road (Blackmore Lane) at 'Pond
Farm Cottage', here turn left down this narrow lane. At junction ahead, turn
right along road for about V« mile, thon turn right along lane towards Frieze
Farm and after following lane through left-hand bend, immediately before the
thatched 'Frieze Cottage', turn right into gravel track.
Enter grass
path to right of 'Well House' and after stile continuo through middle of field
to right-hand end of woodland ahead, here after stile, maintain same direction
through middle of next two field? to reach road just after stile. Now turn
right along road, with care cross over main road (B481) at Bird in Hand’ to
pass through metal swing gate oppo­site. then go half right through middle of
field and after crossing road (Kennylands Road) ahead, enter path to right of
property 'Winters Folly'. At end of this fenced path, boar slightly right along
broad fenced grass path and after metal rails continue in same direction
through middle of next field. Pass through woodland strip ahead and keep along
edge of next field with fence on left, then after stile next to white farm
gate, turn right along narrow tarmac road. Passing to left of Vinos Farm
continue on hedged track and immedi­ately after the white 'Emmons Cottage’,
turn left over stile and through middle of field to shortly enter fenced path
leading to road (Chalkhouse Green Road) at Kidmore End. Cross over into Coopers
Pightle. continue along edge of ceme­tery and Recreation Ground, and at road
ahead, turn right to soon pass through churchyard of the flint-facoe St. John
the Baptist (consecrated in 1852) on right.
At road
junction, by old well, go left along Wood lane to continue walk, but it is
worth going right for about 50 yards to visit the village pond. Just before
bend in road, fork right by property 'Norton Lee’ into fenced path and after
passing through woodland ahead, turn left along tarmac lane (Hazelmoor Lane).
At junction at Gallowstree Common, cross over into road opposite and at bend in
road, turn sharp right through stileway to follow path along edge of woods. At
end of woods, turn right along track and at road ahead, turn right past school
to return to car park at start.
Hike
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