Sanbla one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sanbla here.

We've heard that the bridge mentioned in Martin's review is still closed. See image below that we've received, taken from the Hampshire end. It would be worth seeing if another route is possible in the meantime.

When the bridge gets reopened please post a comment on this review and I will delete it.

Sandhurst to Blackwater 1 (Sanbla 1) review.

An attractive Slow Way along a stretch of the Blackwater Valley Path.

Note: I walked Blackwater to Sandhurst.

It’s a short walk from Blackwater Station to the path beside the Blackwater River. This point is close to the ‘three counties junction’ of Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire. The route starts off on the Berkshire side.

I encountered an early setback (as of May 2023) at the Shepherd Meadow bridge over to the Hampshire side (Photo 1). Hopefully a new bridge will be installed soon.

I detoured along the A321 to a footpath [SU848607] to rejoin the Slow Way. A local said there was an alternative route along the Berkshire side; but I didn’t double back to investigate this.

The Slow Way continues along the riverside path into Sandhurst (Photos 2, 3 & 4).

There’s a short urban walk to Sandhurst Station. I took the footpath on the left just before the railway bridge to avoid the main road.

A level, easy-to-follow route mainly along riverside footpaths. Aside from the pavement stretches at the start, the riverside paths are simple dirt tracks up to the Memorial Park and then roughly surfaced afterwards. Emergent tree roots make some parts uneven and parts of the riverside path can be very damp after heavy rain. There are no significant obstructions and no styles but some gates. Cows are sometimes grazing the water meadows at the Blackwater end.
I walked the route on 28th May 2022 in fine weather. The 3.35km (2 miles) took me 45 minutes at a gentle pace, stopping occasionally to take photos.
There are two pubs near the start of the route in Sandhurst and others at the end in Blackwater. The Meadows shopping area a short distance from the end of the walk has several cafes.
At the start, you can avoid the initial walk along the busy Yorktown Road by turning left at the southbound station exit, walking under the rail bridge, passing the northbound station exit and then taking a footpath on your left. This path follows the railway embankment and emerges at Swan Lane just past the Swan Lane rail bridge - see photos 2, 3 and 6.
Photos:
1 - Sandhurst station exit (southbound - to Guildford)
2 - variation on route: go under rail bridge and pick up this foot path on your left after northbound station exit
3 - (variation continued) follow this path alongside rail embankment to Swan Lane
4 - view up Crowthorne Road - start of adjacent Slow Way to Crowthorne
5 - from Sandhurst station head along Yorktown road, past shops to mini roundabout at Swan Lane
6 - turn right into Swan Lane and through rail bridge (footpath on variation to route emerges on left on other side of bridge
7 - walk up Swan Lane on LHS until you reach cross the river at this point
8 - take river path on left immediately after bridge
9 - follow path, keeping river on left, until reaching metal footbridge spanning river and railway
10 - after crossing river on footbridge, take this bridge on the right to cross back to the Hampshire side
11 - keep the river on your left and look out for this double-trunked tree
12 - walk on through the water meadows with the river on your left
13 - finally cross river over to the Berkshire side at this point
14 - path emerging from river - enter here if following route in reverse
15 - Blackwater station (southbound).

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