ABOUT THIS WALK... HOW TO GET HERE... 2 EXPLORE TWYFORD...

The Walk starts in the centre of Twyford and takes you Henley-on-Thames As its name suggests, Twyford developed where two past the site of former silk and flour mills and along the branches of the River Loddon could be safely crossed. old Mill Stream, before exploring the Loddon Valley. A321 Maidenhead This crossing point was instrumental in attracting trade Slough A4 A404 and travellers between the west of England and London, This area, once a hive of local industry, with a landscape M4 firstly with pack-horses, then wagons and stagecoaches. of lakes crafted by gravel extraction, is now home to Twyford The village developed further with the arrival of the

A4 Loddon Valley Nature Reserve. Twitchers should M4 railway from London in 1838. A321 particularly look out for; Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Great Reading Crested Grebes, Grey Herons and Kingfishers.

A329 M4 Bracknell

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2012 THE RIVER LODDON By car: just South of the A4, at the junction of the A321 and A3032. Easily accessible from the M4 via J8/9 or J10. Loddon Nature Reserve &

By bus: on the Arriva 850 Reading - High Wycombe route Waltham Chase The route also passes close to the ford of the old River and Thames Travel route 128 Reading - Wokingham. 3 miles Twyford’s long history has left a rich legacy of old and Loddon, (and conveniently the Lands End Inn) before 2 hours interesting buildings, with numerous inns and hostelries turning back to Twyford through the Hurst Park Estate. By train: services from Reading, Henley, Maidenhead and built to serve the travellers. But it is a very compact and further afield. See www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. ‘walkable’ village, home to a bustling community with a Keep an eye out for some historic architecture as you good range of shops, schools and all essential facilities. reach the crossroads at the heart of the village. FURTHER INFORMATION Surrounding the village is a network of paths and USEFUL INFORMATION bridleways exploring attractive undulating countryside Visit the Twyford website for along the banks of the River Loddon, Broadwater and plenty more information on the Refreshments: a selection of pubs, restaurants and cafes the surrounding lakes. village and its surroundings... in the village centre at the start or end of your walk, plus other pubs noted en route. www.twyfordvillagepartnership.co.uk Parking: there are Pay & Display car parks in Polehampton Close (off the High St) and at the Station. These leaflets, as well as a Twyford Walking Map, are available on the website or free of charge from Twyford Library, Newberry’s Stationers, There is also free 2 hour parking at Waitrose. Twyford Surgery and local pubs.

An essential companion on these This series of walk leaflets has been produced by the Twyford Village Twyford walks is “Village Walks” Partnership, with funding from SEEDA and support from Hidden Britain. produced by the Twyford & Ruscombe Local History Society.

This is available from Newberry’s, An easy walk, visiting the site of priced £3.50 and describes a Twyford Mills, the lakes and complete History Walk. Design by Hidden Britain www.hiddenbritainse.org.uk wildlife habitats. 2 3 miles, visiting the site 1 Leaving Polehampton Close car park, turn of earlier Twyford mills, There is a raised footpath on the right hand left up Polehampton Close and left again and lakes. These lakes verge for 200yds which then transfers to the left along the High Street. now provide invaluable hand side for another 50yds. The lane crosses wildlife habitats. Paths the River Loddon at Whistley Bridge House and 2 After passing over the Twyford to Henley can be muddy after after 50yds, take the footpath on the left* which branch railway line built in 1857 and then prolonged rain. leads across restored gravel workings out onto a row of terraced houses, take the gravel Hurst Road. (*To continue to Dinton Pastures, footpath marked ‘Nature Reserve’ and ‘Dinton walk along Whistley Mill Lane for another 50 yds Pastures’ diagonally left across the grassy area and take the path on the right.)

and down to the Field

bridge over the e Cross Hurst n a L 7 Broadwater. (The e Road and turn ane B30 b e L 24 m mb o display board here co sc left on the us Ru explains the role of R pavement towards W

a r ws g local rivers in the r Twyford. The a Start/End v e

R ad development of the o o stream crossed a R Old Ba d n th Road A2032 o various Twyford nd shortly is another 2 Lo H mills.) igh Street stretch of the

Church St Broadwater. Cross reet Climb the 3 1 Broad Hinton and at

3 Rd n steps, cross r the next house tio e a St n a L Weavers Way to the (No.1), there is a Loddon e Old Rive k 4 a Nature l bridge opposite over Stanlake n footpath link a 10 t Reserve S ts MMeadow the main branch of A321 gh through to a ei H n k Pavilio the River Loddon. c housing estate and o dd d W a a a P o lth Follow this path R am Hurst Park Road. e 9 R b o 5 m ad co B round to the left in Charvil h C 3 Follow this, ignoring nc i o W s l n l Broa Country e e d d front of the r t H all turnings until you a o G in Park n t x o

e n

D

s s

r reach the tarmac

e i

v H W

e

u

r pathway between s

t

R

o

a Nos. 33 and 35.

d

A

3

2

1

Loddon d oa R Valley k r

a

P

t s r u H

n 8 o t in H ad ro apartments and B shortly reach the Wh bridge over the 6 istley M ill Lane 7 outflow from the Copperbridge Mill Stream into the Brook This fairly level Emptying Pool. This Parking 8 path runs the can be an impressive N entire length of the Pub 0 500 m 1k m fall of water after Hurst Park Estate Railway Station heavy rain. 0 1/4 mile 1/2 mile built in the 1970’s.

Church A321 B3030 Ignoring any paths The main path Country Park So off to left or right, Old Rive u thcot Ditch 4 continues Whistley you pass two play alongside the r Green areas. After skirting Loddon Mill Stream Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2012 the second, an but after 50yds, and especially in wet weather, an alternative alleyway over to the right emerges onto Wessex Gardens, path off to the right leads onto a board walk nearer the where you turn right , then left into Colleton Drive and then main lake of the Loddon Nature Reserve. Both paths link up right into Winchcombe Road until you reach Waltham Road again as you approach the railway viaduct and the route with Stanlake Meadow ahead. then bends right, running between the railway and the lake. Turn left in Waltham Road (you may wish to cross over 9 and walk through Stanlake Meadow instead), crossing Paddock Heights, Hurst Road and the railway bridge. Immediately after this, take the footpath on the left down to the station forecourt.

To complete the walk, 10 cross the station forecourt and parking area, and turn After 100yds at a junction of footpaths, turn left under right down Station Road, back 5 the railway and follow this track for half a mile until it to the village cross-roads and emerges onto Whistley Mill Lane. (To see the ford of the Old then left along the High Street River Loddon, turn right for 100 yds but to visit Lands End Inn to Polehampton Close car across the ford, take the safe footpath route on the left through park. the field.) If you enjoyed this walk in Twyford, To continue the walk, turn left away from the ford why not try another 6 along Whistley Mill Lane. in this series?

© 2012 Twyford Village Partnership. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure Visit the website or accuracy in the production of this leaflet, no liability for any error, omission or www.twyfordvillagepartnership co.uk inaccuracy can be accepted. Scan the code!