Description
This loop to the north of Mortimer across to Wokefield Common makes sense any time of year, but is particularly spectacular in autumn, when there are fungi galore and a full spectrum of leaf colour on display. As you wind your way through the narrow paths, lined with bracken, firs, silver birch, beech, sweet chestnut and oak, you feel completely enveloped by nature. The occasional glade, stream and pond makes for an interesting find through the tree maze. Once you have followed this trail across the common you are sure to want to return to explore other tracks. There are endless possibilities for future 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 out towards the fields. Continue for 300m until you reach a footbridge. Cross & continue straight ahead to reach a lane.
- Turn left at the lane. After 700m take the road on the right. Continue along the road past a house on the RHS. Shortly afterwards, look for a gateway with metal barrier on the RHS.
- Take the path across the field towards Mortimer. At the fence panels take the LHS path up the hill. On reaching the residential road turn right to arrive at the main road. Cross this towards the small car park. (option to stop here and go to the Horse & Groom or Boabab café mentioned above).
- Walk slightly to the right of the hall & tennis courts. Look for the gate into the next field, where you need to head towards the top left corner. Cross the road and turn left at the road. Walk along the pavement until you reach Windmill Court. Immediately afterwards take the footpath on the RHS. Keep straight ahead through Holly trees. At the ‘No Motorcycles’ sign keep slightly right & look for a metal fingerpost with red arrow/recreational route pointing to a path down the right hand side of a field of horses. Follow this downhill and up the other side to reach the road.
- Cross over into the woods & walk straight ahead on a narrow path. Keep going straight. At a clearing turn right onto a wide, gravel track. This gradually descends before climbing gently again on the other side of a stream. Wokefield Common starts at the top of the hill. Continue on the path until there’s a T junction. Turn right, passing a pond on the LHS before reaching a finger post a short distance before a car park.
- Turn left at the finger post. Walk to the road & cross. Go straight following the signed path. Cross the next road. Here the path is not as visible but generally continues straight. The path weaves slightly to the left until it reaches a wide track, houses & allotments.
- Turn right here & then right again where there is a Wokefield Common sign, noticeboard & green overhead barrier. Continue straight for 500m ignoring all paths/signs off left & right. Eventually there will be a garage/house ahead. Turn right here, continue along the path past a pond, and up a hill to reach the road.
- Cross the road & go straight ahead into undergrowth to reach a quiet lane on the other side. Turn left here. After a house on the corner (RHS) look out for a path across a field also on the right. Cross the bridge over a stream & continue around the edge of the field, climbing to a T junction of paths at the top. Turn right here.
- After 150m turn left along the edge of a field. Follow this path around 2 sides of the field before taking a path on the LHS up the hill & into sandy ‘badger alley’ – look out for all the entrances to their sets! At the road, cross over to Wheats Farm. In the yard, after the horse lorries, turn left.
- Walk past the paddocks & take the RHS path when it forks. In the open field, where the spire of Mortimer church is visible off to your right, stay straight ahead. At the road, cross & continue on the path between the hedge & fence panels of two houses opposite. At the main road turn right to reach the small roundabout. Cross over & walk back to the station up the slight hill to your left.
Useful Link
The Baobab Café in Mortimer (just off the trail) Tel: 0118 933 2444
Horse & Groom pub, Mortimer https://www.horseandgroompub.co.uk
Toilets available at pub
Start and End
Mortimer Station (SU672 641)
Distance
6 miles
Time
2 hours 45 walking time plus breaks
Grade
4/10 – some gentle slopes
Accessibility
Not push/wheelchair accessible
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