Wokyat one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Wokingham to Yateley.

The route from Wokingham railway station leads initially along busy urban streets but turns to a somewhat hidden wide country lane after a bridge over the Emm Brook and before a roundabout. The next couple of km are well shielded by trees and a forest from the sun and noise apart from an occasional train.

When it approaches Crowthorne there are a couple of busy roads to cross but then it continues next to family houses towards Simons Wood where there are benches to sit on. See the first photo.

When you cross Wellington Avenue and walk up the Fisher's Copse, the route descends towards the Moor Green nature reserve. You need to turn to it when you see a parking site on the left. A walk through the nature reserve is again quite enjoyable with plenty of benches and opportunities to observe wildlife. See another bench next to one of the lakes on the second photo.

The footpath emerges into Mill Lane at the end of the nature reserve where there is not always a wide verge but the traffic on this road is not heavy.

The rest of the route just picks one of many possible routes to the town center. There are a couple of pubs and shops within a short distance to each other.

Overall, I found the route easy to follow, mostly safe, relatively direct and enjoyable.

Wokingham to Yateley 1 (Wotyat 1) review.

A well-planned Slow Way that avoids the many noisy roads of the area; for a quiet byway, woodland paths, and the Blackwater Valley Path.

Note: I walked Yateley to Wokingham.

The Slow Way starts in Yateley, which has plenty of amenities. There is a short urban walk north to join the Blackwater Valley Path. The well-maintained path leads between the River Blackwater and the flooded gravel pits which form the Horseshoe Lake and Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserves (Photos 1 & 2).

The route leaves the lakes for wooded paths and quiet roads. It passes the corner of Finchampstead Ridges [SU810630]. I noticed that this is access land and a footpath north (Photo 3) cuts a loop off the Slow Way. This could be an attractive alternative.

The woodland route continues through Simons Wood (Photo 4). There is a brief pavement walk, and then a wide path through Gorrick Plantation (Photo 5).

The approach into Wokingham takes a well-maintained byway and footpath (Photo 6). I was impressed how near this Slow Way gets to the centre of Wokingham whilst avoiding the busy roads.

We walked this route today as far as Finchampstead where we turned down Heath Ride rather than go in to Simons Wood. At the point where you see woodcray / Garrick cottage make sure you take a right rather than going straight on or you will end up on a detour!.

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