Title Around Finchampstead to California Short Description a Gentle Undulating Walk Through Paths Near Finchampstead, South of Wokingham
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Title Around Finchampstead to California Short description A gentle undulating walk through paths near Finchampstead, south of Wokingham. We start next to a unique pub, pass by an interesting historical sign and take a side trip off to take a walk round a lake. Long description This walks starts south of Wokingham, not too far from the M4 / A(329M) Junction. It is 95% on paths, tracks and quiet roads. There is just one short section (100m) of possibly busy road and a couple of roads to cross. The start is next to Finchampstead Church, nearly half a mile north of the centre of the village itself. The route goes south, skirts the village, and then heads west almost as far as Eversley Bridge. Then it returns eastwards towards the church but takes an optional detour to the north for a walk round California Country Park before going back to the start. Access info From Wokingham, take the A321 (Finchampstead Road) south until the road forks – the right fork is the B3016 (still the Finchampstead Road). Cross a first roundabout, then a double roundabout. At the end of a long left-hand curve, just as the road takes a sharper left, take the right-hand narrow road – Church Lane. Just past the Queen's Oak on the right is a small, triangular village green on the left. Park carefully in this area. An alternative staring point is California Country Park. Follow the directions above, but at the double roundabout turn right along Nine Mile Ride for about a kilometre. The park is signed to your right. You will need to pay for parking here. If you do start here, go to Step 10 below and walk round the lake. Additional info 1) The Queen's Oak pub The Queen’s Oak is the only inn of this name in the country. Stories of Roman remains beneath its floors have led to its claim to being the oldest pub in the country. It could well stand on the site of a Roman hostelry set up to service pagan pilgrims. 2) The Queen's Oak On and around the green are 3 stones. The first records the planting of an oak tree (which sadly succumbed to disease in 2003) in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee - the pub, previously the White Horse, was renamed at this time. The second is a memorial of Queen Victoria's death in 1901. The third celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002. A new oak sapling (one of 60 in the Wokingham borough) was planted in 2013 to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. 3) Henry VII Prince Arthur is supposed to have been hunting at Finchampstead, with his father, King Henry VII, when he heard of the arrival in England of his fiancée, Catherine of Aragon. They immediately rode out to meet her, but found their way barred by a party of Spanish cavaliers who insisted that, according to Spanish tradition, the Prince could not look upon his bride until after they were married. The King would have none of this and rode on to Dogmersfield Park (Hampshire) where the lady was staying. He arranged for her coach to ride along the Ridges, where Catherine raised her veil for her awaiting groom. The marriage was thus cursed and Arthur died not long after exchanging vows. A plaque in Longwater Lane now commemorates these events. 4) California Country Park Now managed by the local council, the site was first established as an amusement park, zoo and miniature railway by Alfred Cartilage and was called "California in England". This lasted until the outbreak of the Second World War when the park closed and all the buildings were used for the manufacture of munitions. Alfred reopened the park after the war and set about developing the rides many of which were designed and built onsite, including the famous Snake Train. His son Norman took over in the early 1950s and continued the development of the site including realigning the miniature railway, adding new rides and running a circus for several years. The art deco main building included a famous sprung glass floored ballroom over the restaurant and featured a full calendar of dances often 'with star turns'. This structure was later destroyed by fire. Throughout this period 'The Poppies' speedway team competed on the dirt track laid out in a remote corner of the estate. In the early 1960s the amusement business was failing and the site obtained new owners who turned it into a holiday camp. Caravanning and camping facilities are still available on site at the California Chalet and Touring Park but the main part of the original amusement area is within the country park and largely overgrown. 5) Finchampstead Church Finchampstead's fine parish church is largely of 12th century date and still retains a number of interesting Norman features: a pillar piscina, a font, and an apse, unusual for Berkshire. The site is somewhat older, however, for the building sits on a prominent hill within what has always been thought to be a Roman earthwork of some kind. It is probably the enclosure of a Roman temple, which was later taken over for Christian use. 1) Head up the slope to the church and go into the entrance to the churchyard. Pass to the right of the church, and down a steep slope, with steps, at the back of the churchyard, and then into the trees. After 200m, at the corner of the field to your right, take a path to the right. 2) Follow this path between hedges, with a L-R chicane halfway, until you reach a T-junction of paths and turn left. 3) After a few metres the path comes out onto a drive for Rectory Farm and Finchampstead House – continue ahead down the drive until you reach the main road and turn left. After about 150 m you need to cross the road, to enter a path on the opposite side, immediately to the right of the garage. 4) This is a short path between houses, which comes out onto a quiet lane (Longwater Lane). The route goes right from here, but first take a few steps (20m) to the left and read the historical sign. (More information is given in the "Additional Information" section, above.) Then retrace your steps and continue as if you HAD turned right, away from the houses and towards the woods. 5) The wide lane narrows after the last building and becomes a footpath as it enters the woods. The ditch on the left has deposits of red iron oxide: a link with the past when iron oxide was smelted in the area. The path takes a gentle left curve for some way until a stile can be seen on your right, leading to open fields. 6) You now proceed on the right-hand side of the field, with the woods (Fleet Copse) on your right and gravel pit workings behind a high mound on your left. It is about 900m to Fleethill Farm and beyond that another 500m along a driveway and then a narrow access road (Fleet Lane), until you reach the main Finchampstead- Eversley road (B3348). 7) Turn right and go 100m up the road (Fleet Hill). This can be busy at times and there is a sharp right-hand bend at the top, making oncoming traffic invisible. It is advisable to cross to the other side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so. Near the top of the hill there is a grass verge so you can walk off the road. Just past the impressive gates to a private drive, take the footpath, signed to the left. 8) The grounds to the left belong to Bannisters Farm. You are quite close to the Devil’s Highway (a major Roman Road), running between London & Silchester. In the grounds you may spot a small gazebo, protecting a Roman Milestone from that road, unearthed by a farmer in 1841. After about 300m, cross the narrow tarmac drive for Wheatlands Manor and continue in the same direction between fields and woods for about a kilometre, ignoring any left or right paths. Eventually you reach a footpath crossroads. 9) To take a short cut and save perhaps two kilometres, carry straight on here and go across a tarmac drive Continue up the hill though a tunnel of hedges. Beyond the entrance to the Manor House, is a listed 17c wall. You are then almost back to the village green and the church. To continue with the full route, turn left and into the field. Follow the right-hand edge (for about 400m) to the road at White House Farm (aka Larchwood Farm). Another option for a short cut is to take this quiet road to the right, which ends up at the village green/church/pub. Cross this road and continue in the same direction for another 400m to a small industrial estate. Continue along their driveway, which comes out onto the main road (Nine Mile Ride). Cross to the pavement on the opposite side and go right for about 250m to the entrance of California Country Park (see Add. Info). 10) Take the driveway towards the main attractions of the park: the café, children's playground and Longmoor Lake (see Add. Info). Follow the tarmac path clockwise round the lake, up to the northern end and back down the opposite side. The path eventually leaves the lakeside and meanders back towards the start. Eventually you come to a footbridge on the left.