Walk 09. (17) & The Datchet Health 03 September 2017 – 10 am start Centre Walking Group

We meet outside the Sun Inn, Wick Lane, Englefield Green TW20 0UF

OS Explorer map 160 – ref: SU 980712

Directions to meeting point From Datchet, drive to Old Windsor and turn right past the Harvester PH. Follow St Luke’s Road as it bears left and after about ½ mile, turn right along Crimp Hill. Follow this lane up to the top of the hill. At the T-junction, turn right and almost immediately, left into Wick Lane, sign-posted to Savill Garden. The Sun Inn is on the left after about ½ mile. There is limited on-street parking outside the pub.

Walk description This walk is just under 5 miles long; it includes Coopers Hill, which is quite steep climb in parts. The route initially passes through fields but then descends through woodland to the Kennedy Memorial. It continues through National Trust Land to the Monument, past the new sculpture The Jurers and thence to the Thames Path. The return leg passes through SSSI pastures beside Langham Pond and back up Coopers Hill to the Air Forces Memorial. It then crosses the pretty Englefield Green before reaching open fields that lead back to the starting point. The steps down from the Kennedy Memorial are cobbled and uneven; they can be slippery after rain. Although the walk avoids the boggy areas next to Langham Pond, some of the paths can be muddy at times. Remember to cross all roads with great care.

Guest walkers are very welcome. Please remember, guests will be expected to contribute £1.00 to the charity ‘Friends of the Datchet Health Centre’ on the day of the walk. Guests and occasional walkers will be asked to become members if they attend more than 2 walks in any one year.

It would be enjoyable to stay for refreshments at the Sun Inn after the walk.

1. From the Sun Inn, walk down Prospect Lane, which is a gravelled private road. Follow the lane, which later becomes a path. Pass through a swing gate at the end and another swing gate immediately ahead. After 30 yards, turn left through a third swing gate to enter a field containing a horse track.

2. Cross the centre of the field and aim for the next swing gate on the opposite side, to the right of a red brick house. Pass through the gate and turn right through another swing gate nearby. Follow the gravel driveway; it eventually leads to a junction of lanes. Cross over Bishops Gate Road and continue opposite along Castle Hill Road. Beware of traffic, as there is no pavement on this lane.

3. Before the junction with a main road (Priest Hill), cross the lane left. Continue along the pavement of Priest Hill as it descends steeply. After about 200 yards, look out for a driveway on the opposite side of the main road. Cross the main road here and pass through a gated entrance to follow the driveway as it descends through woodland. There are glimpses of the Thames Valley through the trees to the left.

4. Continue along the track as it enters National Trust Land. The Kennedy Memorial is just ahead on the left. It is worth taking time to read the inscription on the memorial stone. Continue down the cobbled steps (remember to count them), the significance of which is explained on an information board beyond a swing gate at the bottom of the hill. Again, it is worth taking time to read the text.

5. Follow the sign to the Magna Carta Monument, right. Look out for two oak trees to the right, both of which have commemoration plaques. The monument is a little further on the right; it is worth reading the information boards. Exit the Monument grounds and walk down the grassy path that leads to the main road and the just beyond. Before reaching the road, it is worth diverting to examine the 12 bronze chairs situated in the centre of the field here. Created by British artist Hew Lock, this sculpture called The Jurers commemorates the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

6. Cross the main road using the pedestrian island and turn right along the Thames Path. Follow the path with the river to the left and the road to the right. Having ignored the first footpath sign to the right, after a further 200 yards or so, turn right at the second footpath sign beside a gap in the wooden, roadside paling. Cross the road and pass through the swing gate on the opposite side. Pass through a second swing gate immediately to the right, to enter a field. Beware of cattle! Adrian and Helen Dalton [email protected] Walk 09. (17) Englefield Green & Runnymede 03 September 2017 – 10 am start

7. Turn left, keeping the hedge close by to the left. After about 200 yards, before reaching Langham Pond ahead, turn left along a raised boardwalk beside a field gate. Cross the stile here and enter a smaller field slightly to the right, keeping the pond and hillside to the right. The grassy path ahead leads to a longer stretch of boardwalk that passes through a reed bed bordering Langham Pond. This area of flood pasture has SSSI status. It is boggy during periods of wet weather.

8. The boardwalk leads to a grassy field. Walk ahead in the same direction, avoiding paths to the left and right; aim for a swing gate concealed in the hedge ahead. Pass through the gate and ascend the grassy slope up to the next swing gate that opens on to a narrow lane used by cyclists and pedestrians. Turn right to climb Coopers Hill.

9. Continue to ascend the hill through woodland. At the top, the lane passes some Brunel University residential buildings on the left before reaching the Air Forces Memorial on the right. If time, this memorial is well worth a visit. It provides a moving tribute to the memory of the thousands of airmen and women whose lives were lost in war. There are also spectacular views over the Thames Valley and beyond from the memorial buildings.

10. Exit the memorial and turn right to continue along the lane. Pass a car park and after a further 200 yards, turn left along the pavement alongside a lane that leads to the main road. Cross the road here and walk on to Englefield Green, where there is a cricket pitch and pavilion. Traverse the green and aim for the colourful row of houses ahead, one of which is the Barley Mow PH.

11. Turn right along the pavement in front of the PH and walk up Northcroft Road. The road bends sharp left, then right and then left again. At this third bend, take the narrow, marked footpath to the right. Follow the path out of the residential area and into open countryside. Pass through a swing gate into a grassy field and veer left. The path leads to a further gate. Continue along the hedge-lined path and pass through two swing gates close together. Follow the track ahead, which leads back to the Sun Inn.

Adrian and Helen Dalton [email protected]