Newtha one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A walk I regularly do, in both directions. The section of the towpath which runs from the bridge at the eastern end of Hambridge Lane to the B3421 can be extremely muddy so an alternative is to use Hambridge Lane instead which has decent pavements.

Walked from Thatcham to Newbury:
This route runs from the centre of Thatcham, with plenty of shops to hand, and initially follows pavements for the first 1.8km. It then turns left down a small lane which becomes a footpath before it joins the canal path. The canal path to Newbury is solid in some sections but has other sections that can become very muddy in wet weather. The route includes an uncontrolled crossing of the busy A3412 (although it is possible to walk up to the junction with the A4 and use the pedestrian crossing there) The route ends at Newbury bus station - it is also possible to walk to the train station or to the shops in the town centre. There is a small tearoom by the canal near the library. The route is relatively flat (with some bumpy sections) but has a couple of steep inclines over the bridges. To avoid walking on the pavements from Thatcham town centre it is possible to walk to Thatcham station and follow the canal path from there to Newbury.

Newbury to Thatcham (Newtha 1) review.

A relatively short Slow Way which includes a stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The route starts at the central Newbury carpark and the canal is nearby. Follow the towpath as far as Bull’s Lock (Photo 1).

There is then a rough footpath north, followed by street walking into the centre of Thatcham.

As an alternative, continue along the towpath, passing the Monkey Marsh turf-sided lock, to Thatcham Station.

Walked from Newbury to Thatcham:
The first section of the route follows the Kennet & Avon canal towpath through Victoria Park and out of Newbury to the Hambridge Road. This section is paved/tarmacced, traffic-free and also accommodates National Cycle Network Route 4. The route crosses the road to continue on the towpath, perfectly walkable but no longer paved. This can get muddy in winter. At Bulls Lock the route turns left on the gravelled path through the Thatcham reed beds before emerging onto the road at Lower Way. The remainder of the route to the town centre is then all on pavement alongside the road. There are designated cycle lanes on one side of the pavement for a good portion but not all of this final section.
All photos are from the route described above.

For walkers wanting less roadside walking, it is possible to stay on the towpath towards Widmead Lock to take the path through the Nature Discovery Centre (which has café, loos, picnic benches) to emerge further along Lower Way. This does entail crossing the railway line on an uncontrolled level crossing.

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