LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Parking in Mill Lane, Shiplace by lock and cycled to the Roobuck Hotel, Tilehill, Reading for the start of the walk. Hotel still not used. Down passage upstream of hotel and over railway footbridge to steps leading down to river towpath. 'Welcome to Reading' and 'Roebuck Hotel' signs at bottom of steps. Overgrown towpath but good underfoot. High wall alongside towpath in a couple of places, to retain mainline railway embankment. Busy railway and busy river, with pleasure boats, rowers and lots of wildlife. Path opens up at boatyard, opposite 'upper large' wood, where river turns towards Chasley Court farm on the northern bank. More islands before the luxury homes with boathouses on the opposite bank to the open space of the promenade. Approaching the Caversham Bridge will almost guarantee an invasion of wild fowl. Plenty of swans and Canada geese, with some mallards, Egyptian geese and graylag geese. If you are lucky, you may see a great crested grebe or even a mandarin duck. Onwards past restaurants around Caversham bridge to the moored expensive pleasure boats around fry's island. Easy walking past the 'reading bridge' to Caversham Lock 'Kings Meadow' and past Tesco's supermarket the Kennet & Avon canal where it links with the river Thames. At this point the cycle national network ways 4 & 5 meet and this is shown with distinctive post pointing in the three directions. Over the footbridge attached to the railway bridge, to cross the 'mouth' of the canal and into the meadows then trees passing Sunning Hill and leading to Sunning lock and Sunning bridge. Please, peaceful woods on the hills all around. Even more interesting views approaching Shiplake with a fine resident on the hill alongside the college. A welcome sight of a cormorant sat on the 'channel' sign for the boat navigators to ensure the correct side of 'the Lynch' island is used. Small bridge of a brook alongside the college boathouse with evidence of a fine rowing tradition at the college. Narrow towpath past Phillimore's Island to more open fields before Shiplake Lock. Quick look around the lock is recommended especially if the sun is shining. Short walk from the lock down the alley to the car in the mill lane Shiplake. A recommended, interesting and varied walk along the River Thames.

Location Map: - Start: at Reading - Finish at Shiplake
(Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons).