Twybra two

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Twyford (Wokingham) to Bracknell 2 (Twybra 2) review

An enjoyable walk across farmland, which comes with a muddy conditions warning. Billingbear Park presents a frustrating obstacle, but I’ll cover that in the review.

Note: I walked the route Bracknell to Twyford.

The urban walk out from Bracknell Station makes good use of parks and a path by The Cut river (Photos 1 & 2).

There’s an early break point in Binsfield at the Stag and Hounds (Photo 3). I also made a short detour to the Jack O’ Newbury pub to find it’s no longer in business.

I almost missed the footpath to Billingbear. It has an unusual gate design I’m not sure I’ve encountered before (Photo 4).

Unfortunately, there isn’t a public right of way across Billingbear Park. I’ve looked for radically different routes for this Slow Way, but would argue the plotted route either side of the park is the best we are likely to find.

Two frustratingly convenient paths across the park exist, but both are private. Billingbear Farm had its gates closed even on a weekday. The impressive driveway to the polo club (as used by royalty!) was solidly closed (Photo 5).

I took a two mile detour along the Maidenhead Road, turned right onto The Straight Mile (SU823717), and right again onto a path between the Billingbear golf course and park. The main roads are straight with good visibility, and grass verges (Photos 6 & 7). The constant vigilance for traffic, however, didn’t make this an enjoyable stretch.

A footpath then leads through the middle of the exclusive polo club; right past the clubhouse, immaculate playing field and the other end of the driveway! (Photos 8 & 9).

Back onto the Slow Way, there’s a break point in Shurlock Row at The Shurlock Inn.

The route into Twyford is predominately footpaths alongside fields or across them (Photos 10 & 11). I took note of the previous review and waited a few dry days before this walk. Even so, it proved to be one of the muddiest Slow Ways I’ve experienced.

It’s a short urban walk to arrive at Twyford Station.

In conclusion, I’m pleased to have finally crossed this Berkshire Slow Way off my list (I’m based in Reading and a Slow Ways completionist as I expand outwards.) I’d be happy to verify a modified route, perhaps including my albeit awkward detour. I’d add that the King Power Polo Club is an interesting place to wander through. Just remember to wear stout boots and prepare for mud.

This route has clearly been drawn by someone with a good understanding of footpaths in the area. It avoids concurrency with car traffic as much as possible and is mostly nice to walk along. Starting at Bracknell it often follows the town's marked footpaths and green spaces. There are several stretches esp. at Binfield and Shurlock Row where walking on the road is inevitable but traffic was light when I was walking there so it should be relatively safe. The main weak point of the route is at Billingbear Farm. I'm not sure if weekdays are different but on Saturday, when I was walking there, gates in front and back of the farm were closed and the only option was to climb it. Apart from the evident safety risk, I can only imagine what would have happened if a local farmer had seen me and set her dogs on me. Closed gates usually mean that the owner doesn't wish anyone to use that way. If a by-pass was suggested in the case the gates are closed I'd recommend this route.

I encountered another weather dependent obstacle when I was approaching Southbury Lane near Twyford. It's been raining in the past couple of days and I literally had to wade through a 3-meter long and 10 cm deep pool of water in the woods with no way round it.

The route often leads through fields, woods and paths which can be narrow, uneven or muddy. It is only suitable for walkers with good walking shoes and a jacket to protect from thorny bushes.

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