Woolhampton, Aldermaston and the Kennet

 

Aldermaston Village

I found this walk in the recent edition of the Ramblers magazine. Merv and I set out from the Rowbarge Pub at Woolhampton, heading initially to the west, and walked around a large lake, and adjacent to two smaller ones.

We headed east and south to Shalford Bridge and then along a road towards Aldermaston, passing an airfield on the way. Over to the right we could see the imposing buildings of Padworth College, an independent, co-educational, mainly boarding school with many overseas students.

Our encounter with Aldermaston was fleeting as we crossed the main road and followed a muddy track called Fisherman's Lane. At the end we crossed a river race at Padworth Mill.

It was not far from here to the substantial Aldermaston Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal. FRom Wikipedia I learned that it was built between 1718 and 1723 and was originally turf-sided, but enlarged in the mid-eighteenth century and given scalloped brick walls. It was altered in 1984 when the walls were raised to the full height of lock as part of its restoration.

The original height of the scalloped walls is marked by a line of blue bricks. The scalloped lock at Aldermaston is thought to be one of only two in the country.

It remained only to follow the tow path to reach Woolhampton Lock (and the Rowbarge pub). It was a very pleasant stroll and it was interesting to spot this World War Two pill box. It is unusual in that most of these - many still present along the canal - was made of brick, the others are all (?) concrete.

Map: Explorer 159 (Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne).

Conditions: dry, cloudy, cool.

Distance: 7 miles.

Rating: four stars.