Spencers Wood — Woodley

Spewoo one
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021

Distance

11km/7mi

Ascent

51m

Descent

56m

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Spencers Wood and Woodley.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Spencers Wood and Woodley.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 3 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Spewoo 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 - 2

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 2X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles.
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.

Present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Maybe present Vegan restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey 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)
Maybe present Bench (1)
Maybe present Picnic table (1)
Present at time of survey 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)
Not present at time of survey Very muddy (1)
Not present at time of survey Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Not present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Not present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Gates (1)
Not 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)
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)
Not present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not 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)
Not present at time of survey 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)
Not 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 90.0cm (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: Unclear in places (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.

30.0% of the route is on roads (1)

90.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

95.0% of the route is paved (1)

5.0% of the route is muddy (1)

There is no data on rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

2X November 2023 by Berkshire Walker
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Spencers Wood
Grid Ref SU7145766287
Lat / Lon 51.39113° / -0.97438°
Easting / Northing 471,457E / 166,287N
What3Words horns.broad.sheet
Woodley
Grid Ref SU7609873313
Lat / Lon 51.45370° / -0.90619°
Easting / Northing 476,098E / 173,313N
What3Words could.truck.linen

Spewoo One's land is

Arable 9.8%
Green urban 5.0%
Pasture 6.9%
Urban 78.4%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews

Berkshire Walker

22 Nov 2023 Autumn
Report

This is a largerly quiet, safe but unexciting suburban route, mostly on roadside pavements and paved footpaths through the housing estates on the edge of Reading. There is a lot of new housing and other development (including the Shinfield film studios and the British Museum Archaeological Resource Collection) around Spencers Wood and Shinfield in what, until recently, was open countryside, so expect temporary diversions in these areas due to construction sites. The section beside the Maiden Erleigh Lake nature reserve is a pleasant highlight.

There are good public transport connections with local buses along the route and it also passes by Earley train station. There are shops, pubs, and cafes along the route at Spencers Wood, Shinfield, Lower Earley and Woodley.

Alice Norman

09 Jun 2022 Spring
Report

Building work in Shinfield has blocked the route at SU 72872 67760 but it is possible to go around the building site.

  • Alice Norman

    Alice Norman

    09 Jun 2022

    I was walking from Woodley to Spencers Wood

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Martin Ellis

17 Aug 2021 Summer
Report

Spencers Wood to Woodley (Spewoo 1) review.

This Slow Way looked promising on the map. The reality is not so appealing, as stretches pass through construction sites (as of August 2021).

The walk starts by a post office in Spencers Wood, with road walking and a byway (Photo 1). Leave the village via Ryeish Lane. I was expecting a country lane connecting three farms. Instead, I found a road through an expanding housing estate.

A rough track continues the walk towards Shinfield. A field of wild flowers (Photo 2) soon ends at the fences of even larger housing project. The route diverts through a finished estate to arrive just north of Shinfield. The village has amenities for a break.

I found the footpath (SU736682) was made inaccessible by another housing construction site. I Followed Cutbush Lane (appropriately it does have topiary). which crosses the Eastern Relief Road (Photo 3).

Further on, major construction work of a different sort is underway: huge warehouses for the British Museum ARC (Archaeological Research Collection).

Cross the M4 footbridge (Photo 4). It’s street walking through Lower Early, with one stretch of grass verge (Photo 5). The route does pass a pleasant lake and park (Photo 6).

Cross the A329 and over the footbridge at Early Station. There is then a bridleway into Woodley (Photo 7). The route ends at bus stops and the nearly Woodley shopping precinct.

This route does meet the Slow Way criteria and I can’t see a better alternative between Spencers Wood and Woodley. I did find it interesting from the perspective of observing a rapidly changing British landscape; but it’s not a route I’d revisit.

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Overall ratings

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