Aldermaston Wharf — Reading

Aldrea one
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021

Distance

17km/10mi

Ascent

36m

Descent

48m

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So far it has been reviewed by three people and surveyed by one person and

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Aldermaston Wharf and Reading.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Aldermaston Wharf and Reading.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 3 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Aldrea one

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.

Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 3

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (3)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 9

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 3X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.		 Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Maybe present Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Maybe present Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Maybe present Free wifi (1)
Maybe present Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Not present at time of survey Train station (1)
Present at time of survey Bench (1)
Maybe present Picnic table (1)
Maybe present Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Not present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Maybe present Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Maybe present Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Not present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Gates (1)
Present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Not present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Not present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 100.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient East: no data

The steepest uphill gradient West: no data

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Very clear (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

5.0% of the route is on roads (1)

5.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

5.0% of the route is paved (1)

There is no data on muddiness

There is no data on rough ground

There is no data on long grass

Report a problem with this data

1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

3X April 2021 by Greta
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Aldermaston Wharf
Grid Ref SU6012967345
Lat / Lon 51.40196° / -1.13699°
Easting / Northing 460,129E / 167,345N
What3Words cups.blanked.professed
Reading
Grid Ref SU7150773750
Lat / Lon 51.45822° / -0.97216°
Easting / Northing 471,507E / 173,750N
What3Words goad.models.spends

Aldrea One's land is

Arable 5.2%
Other 12.2%
Pasture 45.4%
Urban 33.2%
Water 4.0%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews

Ursula

13 Sep 2021 Summer
Report

A lovely and straightforward route mostly following the Kennet and Avon canal towpath. The towpath is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. On a fine day there is generally plenty of action to be seen on the canal itself with barges cruising by, kayakers, paddle boarders and anglers. There are several information boards along the way highlighting some of the local and natural history.

I walked it from Reading to Aldermaston. From Reading station, the route goes through the town centre to join the towpath behind the Oracle shopping centre. The towpath then goes all the way to Aldermaston Wharf from where it is just a short roadside walk to Aldermaston station.

The condition of the towpath in September was good and dry but there are a couple of sections of track through/alongside fields which could get wet and muddy at other times of the year. At approx. 8 km there is a step-through stile leading to one of these.

For refreshments, there are a couple of pubs along the way plus there is a tearoom at Aldermaston Wharf itself. If you have a picnic or just want to take a rest, there are several benches alongside the towpath.

Martin Ellis

19 Aug 2021 Summer
Report

Aldermaston Wharf to Reading (Aldrea 1) review.

This excellent Slow Way is essentially part of the Kennet & Avon Canal; as it joins and departs from navigable stretches of the river Kennet.

It’s a short walk from Aldermaston Station to the canal towpath (Photo 1).

There are several opportunities for a break. For example: The Fox & Hounds at Sheffield Lock and The Cunning Man at Burghfield Bridge (Photo 2).

The walk into Reading passes the Fobney Island Nature Reserve (Photo 3). Leave the canal at the Oracle shopping precinct (Photo 4) for a street walk to Reading Station.

Greta

26 Apr 2021 Spring
Report

Beautiful walk along the Kennet and Avon canal all the way from Reading to Aldermaston, dovetailing with National Cycle Route 4 for most of the way - and plenty of wildlife to see as you go. Slightly convoluted method of getting to the canal from Reading station. Some parts of the path may be liable to flooding in winter. Very flat (the only gradients are the ramps on the footbridges where the path crosses the canal). Easy walking but parts not so accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

  • Greta

    Greta

    26 Apr 2021

    The least accessible part of the path is where it deviates from the Cycle Route at Burghfield Lock - following the Cycle Route may provide a more accessible alternative (but I didn't investigate today)

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