Yellow 4 - Peppard Common & Kidmore End D

About trip

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.