An alternative for anyone not attending the New Forest Weekend Away – a short circular walk just outside Reading, followed by a slightly shorter linear walk into town. You can join us for either or both halves, but please contact the leader if you are just coming for the second half.
Meet at Mereoak Park & Ride car park in time for a 10.30am start. If driving, take the A33 south from M4 J11 and find the car park on your right. If coming from Reading, take the Greenwave 60m bus from St Mary’s Butts stop CS (10.01), Station Road stop SD (10.03) or Market Place stop MC (10.06). Parking costs £1, and the bus fare is £2 each way.
The first half of the walk will take us south past Spencers Wood, before following the Loddon for a short stretch and then heading back towards Three Mile Cross. There will be a lunch stop at or towards the end of this section and a pub stop in Three Mile Cross. For anyone not wishing to join us for the second half, it is a short walk from here back to the car park.
After leaving the pub, we will take the footbridge over the motorway junction, continue past the Madejski Stadium, through through Green Park and along the Kennet & Avon Canal into the town centre. If required, buses run back to the P&R car park every 15 minutes.
The walk is flat apart from a slight incline of about 20 metres in the first half, but it could be a bit muddy in places. As usual, please bring a packed lunch (if doing the whole walk) and a drink.
Sat Nav: RG7 1JL or 51.4057 -0.9802
Grid Ref: SU710679