This is a lovely short-ish walk of about 4 miles from Farley Hill to Arborfield Cross and back via Great Copse / Castle Hill.
This walk initially follows the same route as a previous Farley Hill to Henry Street Nursery walk from this site but this variation changes the walk because of the opening of the new bypass in 2020.
This route does not go to Henry Street!
Car Park
This route starts at the Playing Fields on Castle Hill, there is limited parking there but normally enough for one or two cars.
The Route
1. Walk left down Castle Hill from the Playing Fields.
2. At Church Lane turn right (your first right after the entrance to Farley Hall gates.
3. After the Cricket Club take a left down the public footpath that borders the cricket pitch.
4. The path emerges onto Bunces Shaw (lane) turn right down this road.
5. After about 50 metres you come to a public footpath down to the left - it cuts behind a house - take this path. It's easy to miss - there is a finger post pointing the way on the opposite side - so if you pass the house on the left - Shaw House, you've missed it!
6. This path soon joins another path- take it and head left downhill.
7. At the end of this path you join a bridleway around Farley Hill. Turn right on this until - after only about 10-15 metres - you come to a new pathway on the left heading into fields.
8. Go through the kissing gate and enter the field - continue on the path on the left side - enjoy the views of Reading expand below you.
9. The field path rises at the corner and enters a wood, continue on the path through the wood until you reach a kissing gate, go through this and follow the defined path through the rising field.
10. You will now cross the new Arborfield bypass green bridge and continue on the same path up beside a wood directly on the other side (note the wierd area at the end of this stretch of path covered in shredded tyres)...
11. Turn left down the opposite side of the bypass, towards Reading, following the new road.
12. Cross the road to Henry Street and continue along the Bypass to the Reading direction until you come to a Public Footpath finger post pointing across the road to the left. Cross the road carefully and follow the path with the hedge on your left.
13. The path dog legs to the right but continue along it until the end, turn left on a wide path heading back towards Farley Hill.
(Note: when we did this walk in December 2020 it had been heavily raining and this short stretch at this junction was heavily flooded - wellies would have been better than walking boots. The flooded section continued for about 6 m.)
14. This path gently rises and looking back you have nice views of Reading, follow the hedge boundary with a turning to your right and you will emerge onto a tarmac driveway to Kenny's Farm.
15. Continue up the driveway (which is a public right of way) until you reach Swallowfield Road.
16. Turn right, walk about 5 m and then cross the road to turn left into Great Copse.
17. Follow this bridleway around the base of Great Copse until it emerges onto Castle Hill. Cross the road and continue along the bridleway ahead of you.
18. You will follow this bridleway for about 1 km and eventually find yourself at point (7) on this route. Turn right almost back on yourself (4 o'clock) to head back up to Farley Hill and Bunces Shaw before retuning to your car along side the cricket pitch and Church Lane.
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