Description
The single biggest landowner in West Berkshire is MP Richard Benyon. His 12,000 acre Englefield Estate stretches as far as Mortimer. Benyon is mentioned in the book ‘Who Owns England’ which is both a detective story and historical investigation, by those in favour of Right to Roam. While not marked as Open Access on OS maps, much of the Englefield Estate around Mortimer has fortunately been granted permissive access rights. This route takes a loop through the estate’s Hundred Acre Piece and Holden Firs areas to the west of the village. While clearly managed woodland, they do provide a good solid surface underfoot for winter walks.
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 past the church wall. At the end turn right to follow a garden hedge and pond (relics of former mill) out towards the fields. Continue for 300m until you reach a footbridge. Cross & turn left following the field/straightened, former millstream bank. You will go through a couple more kissing gates & bridge before the path finally reaches a corner.
- Look for a kissing gate on the left. The path continues across a stream and climbs up to the railway bridge. Follow the path under the pylons and across the field to the road. Turn right at the road. The road crosses back over the railway to a junction.
- Here, the onward path across the field is almost directly opposite. Follow the path all the way to the road close to the Roman Amphitheatre.
- Take the track to the right of the amphitheatre and red post box. After not more than 200m there is the metal kissing gate in the left bank leading into a field. In the field the onward path is to the right, towards some protected trees and a small wooden gate in the hedge (which is itself to the left of a 5-bar gate). Go through the small gate and walk up the hill ahead. Continue straight across another field and into Nine Acre Copse.
- The path comes out the other side of the wood into a small field. Continue ahead to find a path up the wooded hill opposite. This eventually becomes a wide track and metalled road that passes an equestrian facility. At the main road (as opposed to the private, residential one you start on) continue ahead for no more than 100m.
- The next footpath is beside the first house on the left hard up against the house fence. (If you reach the Hampshire/Berkshire boundary stones you have gone too far). Follow this footpath across to the main road. Cross over and walk left along the pavement past the Turners Arms until you reach Ravensworth Road on the right. Walk along this residential road to reach the next road.
- Cross over into the woodland and walk ahead until you reach a large clearing. Walk into the clearing and take a path off at approx. 9/10 o’clock (if you entered at 6). Follow this as it bends around and joins another path that is heading left, down the hill towards the pond.
- Climb up the hill on the other side and keep heading straight until you reach more open ground and a junction with a main path. Turn right here. After approx. 250m you reach a junction with another path. Turn left. Follow this to the end of the trees on the right then bend around to the right. Stay on this path as it first follows the edge of the trees then bends right into the trees and it eventually circles around right to reach the road.
- Cross over to the clearing on the other side of the road and walk ahead up the wide forestry track. After a couple of hundred metres take the main track on the right and follow this to the road.
- Cross over and take the path on the right. Stay on this through the woods, keeping the houses off to the right until you come to a junction with an Englefield Estate sign. Turn left here and then right at the next major junction ahead. Stay on this path all the way to the end, ignoring a path that bends off right into the trees. You are heading towards a dark green Holly tunnel ahead.
- Follow this path down to a small stream and up the other side until you come to the back of some houses. Head to the right of the houses to reach the road.
- At the road turn left and walk down the road until you find the recreation ground field on the right. Go into the field and walk along the left side (following the road) to reach a kissing gate and main road. Cross to a path 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. Continue straight ahead through numerous kissing gates through fields of horses. Two kissing gates are very close together with a farm off to the left. Between the gates take the path on the left along the hedge line to Wheats Farm.
- In the farmyard walk between the stables and out past the paddocks. When the path forks, take the right-hand path. In the open field, with the church steeple visible to the right, stay straight ahead. At the road, cross & continue on the path opposite. This goes between the hedge & fence panels of two houses. At the main road turn right to reach the small roundabout. Cross over & walk left towards the station.
Useful Link
Bramley Bakery, beside the station. Open most days 07.00-16.00 bramleybakery.co.uk They have a toilet.
Start and End
Mortimer Station (SU672 641)
Distance
8 miles
Time
3 hours 45 walking time plus breaks
Grade
4/10 – undulating
Accessibility
Not push/wheelchair accessible
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