Description
You don’t have to go too far out of Mortimer to feel you have escaped to the country for the day. This circular route takes you past the former mill house and pond (by the church) and along the stream that was once straightened to provide the mill with a more efficient supply of water. The stretch through Nine Acre Copse feels quite remote despite its proximity to the village, while roller coaster Summerlug is one for architecture buffs. Given the variety of house design, there were clearly many different builders at work here in Victorian times. Finally, the walk back to the station should provide views of holidaying polo ponies in the winter months. They are put out to graze here for a well-earned break from a summer of non-stop games.
Walk Instructions
- At the main road turn left & walk down to the roundabout. Turn left again & walk 250m before yet another left in the direction of the church. Bend left around the church. At the end turn right to follow a garden hedge/pond (remains of the old mill) out towards the fields. Continue for 300m until you reach a footbridge. Cross & turn left following the field/straighten mill stream bank. You will go through a couple more kissing gates & bridge before the path finally bends to the RHS in the field corner.
- Follow the path towards a red brick house in the distance. Go through the metal kissing gate to reach the lane. Turn left & follow the road for 600m, passing Brocas Lands Farm. After the farm there is a track straight ahead with a metal barrier overhead.
- Take this & follow it a short way until there is a footpath signed off right on a bend, across a field. Follow the path towards the pylons. Before you reach the pylons, another path bisects yours. Turn right onto this other path towards the woods.
- Go into the wood, come out the other side into a small field and continue ahead to find a path up the wooded hill opposite. This eventually becomes a wide track and metalled road past an equestrian facility. At the main road (as opposed to the private, residential one you start on) continue ahead. Look out for the new and old Hampshire/Berkshire county boundary stones along the way on the right.
- At the road junction with Drury Lane turn right. A short distance later turn left onto Summerlug. Keep going straight as this lane roller coasters up and down through some Victorian era residential roads until you emerge on West End Road with Morrisons to your right.
- Turn right. The Baobab Café is at the end of the road on the left and does good coffee and cake. Seating is outside only, but it is covered.
- At the end of West End Road, where it meets the main road through the village, cross over and walk up the path to the left of the Fairground (the local name for the recreation ground). At the end of the path cut into the field on the right and walk along the left-hand edge to reach another main road.
- Cross the main road and pick up the path again on the other side. After a short distance another path joins from the right. Ignore this and continue straight ahead. When face to face with a metal, 5 bar gate and split in paths, take the one on the right and continue straight ahead through numerous kissing gates through fields of horses. Eventually, the path curves around to the right towards house and comes out in a residential road. Follow this to the main road.
- Cross over and follow the pavement downhill towards the roundabout. Turn right here to reach the station.
Useful Link
Baobab Café, West End Road, Mortimer Tel:0118 933 2444
Start and End
Mortimer Station (SU672 641)
Distance
5.2 miles
Time
2 hours 30 walking time plus breaks
Grade
4/10 – flat/undulating
Accessibility
Not push/wheelchair accessible
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