Maiasc three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this on a grey afternoon, from Ascot to Maidenhead. There were a few moments of slight drizzle.

From the start to the A329 roundabout, it's unpleasant, but soon you'll find yourself on the quiet Burleigh Road (photo #1) going north. A more residential section follows, but there is no traffic (photo #2). At the end of Rhododendron Walk, the route becomes nicer (photo #3), and also the section on Coach Road is fine. Forest Road has a path next to it, which is even separated so fairly safe, even though there was quite a bit of traffic (photo #4). I found Braziers Lane problematic. I would recommend a high viz jacket or reflecting accessories. It's luckily not very long, and there are some parts with verges (photo #5). I liked the shortcut on the path towards Winkfield, where a narrow pavement gets you to the church and a pub.

Following the churchyard, the route is rural again, and also goes a little up (photo #6). Winkfield Road has a narrow path again (photo #7, #8), but it's only a short stretch, and not unsafe. Bishop's Lane had no traffic at all, and also verges for most of it (photo #9). The bridleway called Hogoak Lane was really nice (photo #10), and fairly long. At the end, the few hundred metres along Drift Road were unpleasant, with almost no verge (photo #11). It's long and straight though, so visibility is not really a problem.

The next section has mostly farmland, and some steep climbs up muddy and grassy hills, interrupted by a road at Fifield (photo #12, #13). After following along a road (Upper Bray Road) to go underneath the M4, you'll end up in Bray Village. Braywick nature Reserve (photo #14) is the last green spot before following walking around Halfords to get through a backstreet (photo #15) to the station and finish.

Maidenhead to Ascot 3 (Maiasc 3) review.

A Slow Way that makes good use of footpaths and quiet lanes, particularly at the Maidenhead end.

Note: I walked Ascot to Maidenhead.

There’s an urban walk out of Ascot: leafy roads, an avenue past a stud farm, and a stretch of the B3034 (Photo 1).

Traffic on Braziers Lane required constant vigilance. The road was wide with good visibility (Photo 2), but the verge narrowed in places.

There’s a break point in Winkfield at The White Hart, and the Slow Way continues through the churchyard opposite. Quiet lanes join a wooded byway (Photo 3), and a short roadside walk (Photo 4). This stretch is shared with the Slow Way Bracknell to Maidenhead 2 (Bramai 2).

The two Slow Ways diverge at Mount Skippets Wood Farm. This route takes a footpath (marked ‘HM Estate’ – I’m not sure what this refers to) to leave the farm left of the main gates (Photos 5 & 6).

Footpaths and quiet lanes lead into Bray Wick (Photo 7). It’s an urban walk along the B3028 to get to Braywick Nature Reserve.

The route into Maidenhead is through the nature reserve and then a waterway walk along the York Stream.

Ascot to Maidenhead

The route heads out of Ascot along racecourse stands and via a large roundabout after which it turns into a quiet neighborhood. You might be forgiven for missing a narrow footpath off Kennel Avenue but it is just a shortcut. It then follows next to a church and a primary school on the left.

Walking towards Winkfield Row is on a pavement which ends when you turn to Braziers Lane. There is often no edge to step aside to but on the other hand, the traffic is not too heavy, visibility good and cars are not driving too fast. Reflective clothing would be helpful in the dark.

At Winkfield, you need to take a turning via a churchyard.

The next stretch of the route leads via quiet narrow roads and lanes until it emerges at a busy Drift Road. When it reaches the Mount Skippets Farm, the route is blocked on the left hand side towards the farm but there is a way round the farm if you turn right.

When you cross Forest Green, an entry through a hedge is concealed and easy to overlook. After some 150m walking along a hedge, you need to turn right but there seemed to be no path visible on the ground. I was walking across a freshly mowed meadow. The last stretch before Bray Wick was fairly pleasant. The path leads through a high grass and it would soak shoes quickly if dew or raindrops were still on it. Walking through Bray Wick is on pavements and easy to follow.

The last enjoyable part of the route is through Braywick Park in Maidenhead and it continues along a canal to the town center.

Most of the route is under a cooling canopy of trees.

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