A Slow Way which leaves Goring to join the Thames Path as far as Whitchurch. Unfortunately, this is by a former ferry point where the towpath switched to the south bank, so the Thames Path is a wooded track which leaves the river for the walk into Whitchurch (Photo 1). The Slow Way crosses the Thames via Caversham Bridge, and there is a short urban walk to finish at Reading train station....

Martin Ellis

Reatwy two avoids the locked gate within Reading Abbey Ruins (flagged in a previous review), and also removes an unnecessary diversion away from the River Thames at Sonning....

Berkshire Walker

The first third of the route from Reading town centre to Green Park mostly follows the beautiful Kennet and Avon Canal towpath until you turn off at Fobney Lock on another footpath towards Green Park. As described in previous reviews , the route leaves Green Park along a long narrow fenced-in public footpath between a Tesco depot and the M4 with the roar of motorway traffic....

Berkshire Walker

A safe but dull route, almost all on urban pavements beside busy roads. Links A to B, but nothing else to commend it....

Berkshire Walker

As a Reading resident, I agree with the slight changes from Reatwy 1. This is the route I take into the town centre. It closely follows the footpath alongside the Kennet including the Oscar Wilde Memorial Walk (Photo 1)....

Martin Ellis

After quite a bit of rain there are sections close to Goring that are a muddy and quite slippery so good grip is important. The section just out of Pangorne towards Goring that are particularly lovely...

Ross Wilkinson

I subscribe to what the previous reviewer has written. It is one of the most enjoyable walks around Twyford. I would just add that it is not necessary to cross the street at Sonning....

Petr Sadilek

An alternative to the Gorrea 2 route, which is identical between Goring and Whitchurch, following the attractive Thames Path National Trail. The Thames Path is then left for Pangbourne and from there a long pavement walk alongside the busy A309 into Reading....

Martin Ellis

Spencers Wood to Reading (Sperea 2) review. The route heads west between the Reading International Business Park and the motorway (Photo 2). There is then a pleasant walk alongside the river into Reading (Photos 7 & 8). It’s a pity the footpath by the M4 is so grim (Reading Council footpath 11A)....

Martin Ellis

I wouldn't choose to walk it if I didn't need to get to those places as I agree with the previous reviewer that it has "little to commend it"...

Alice Norman

I walked this route from Spencers Wood to Reading on the same day as I walked Sperea 1 from Reading to Spencers Wood. I left Green Park by the footpath between the sewage works and the dump - it's much nicer than it sounds but can get very muddy in winter - and then to the Kennet and Avon canal (photo 8) which I followed all the way to Reading...

Alice Norman

Ah this is a gorgeous riverside route, but the route line at Reading Abbey/Oscar Wilde memorial walk delivered me to locked double gates; the open pedestrian gates are nearby, but I was in a picky mood and decided that I would correct the route and resubmit as Reatwy Two, rather than sign off a route with a built in backtrack, and the strong possibility that anyone approaching from the Twyford side may miss the Abbey ruins altogether. So please use Reatwy Two, it has a couple of tiny tweaks, as well as the Abbey access correction, which I think improve the walk overall....

Jane Taylor

Very enjoyable route with a pleasant stretch alongside the Thames, and an excellent off road approach to Reading. The path along the Thames to Sonning is on the unfashionable side - it’s a fishing path with fishing stations every so often, but you have to be a club member if you want to catch your lunch here. The other side of the river is the main Thames long distance footpath. Between Sonning and Reading the path is wide and well used, and there’s a lock for amusement, with plenty of benches for spectators. On the approach to Reading the path turns to follow the river Kennet into central Reading....

Jane Taylor

Unless you need a quick and mainly paved route I would use Gorrea 2 that mostly follows the Thames Path between Goring and Reading....

Berkshire Walker

This is a great choice of route, a pragmatic selection for getting there quickly, decent scenery and quiet roads. I disagree with other peoples opinions that its not the prettiest route, there aren't any real improvements you can make without walking miles for the sake of it....

Oliver Dungey

The route is not the most scenic overall, but has some nice sections and it's very easy to extend further along the river (it connects to the Thames Path) or explore nearby areas....

GrahamT

Beware that the final stretch of path between Shiplake and Marsh lock can get extremely boggy in winter and sometimes floods completely....

OddPomme

Most of this section is pavements that run along main roads with one section along a main road with high speed vehicles....

rdbradley

From Reading station, the route goes through the town centre to join the towpath behind the Oracle shopping centre. The towpath then goes all the way to Aldermaston Wharf from where it is just a short roadside walk to Aldermaston station....

Ursula

Leave the canal at the Oracle shopping precinct (Photo 4) for a street walk to Reading Station....

Martin Ellis

The route starts at Reading Station and heads straight to the river, following it to the mouth of the Kennet in East Reading. An alternative route via Reading landmarks can be found in Reatwy One (Reading to Twyford)....

Martin Ellis

This is a wonderfully picturesque route following the Thames path from Goring to Reading (although we walked it in reverse). There's a lovely variety in the countryside with a lovely wooded section (that is quite narrow). I also agree that Pangbourne makes an ideal place to stop for lunch!...

Slow Ways Darren

The route passes through Whitley along the Northumberland Avenue to Christ Church (Photo 2), and on into Central Reading....

Martin Ellis

The route starts in Goring and heads south along the towpath as the river cuts through the Chilterns (The Goring Gap). The towpath switches banks at a former ferry point, forcing the Thames Path away from the river on the approach into Whitchurch....

Martin Ellis

It starts from Reading Station and passes Reading Museum and the historic Abbey Quarter before an interesting urban walk beside the Kennet and Avon canal, past Blake's Lock before joining the Thames Path at Kennetmouth. There is a pleasant walk through Thames Valley Park before a more suburban and less interesting section, mostly on residential streets through Earley and Woodley, before finishing at the small pedestrianised Woodley town centre....

Berkshire Walker

To break down the three-star rating: I would give Tadley to Burghfield Common a solid four stars, and the walk into Reading from Burghfield Common just two stars. The route from Tadley crosses a wooded common (Photo 1) and through Pamber Heath, past The Pelican pub. The walk follows the Silchester Trail (Photo 3) to skirt the NW corner of Silchester Roman town. The Reading Road (Photo 9) has a narrow pavement and this was overgrown with brambles on my walk, requiring me to step out into the busy road....

Martin Ellis

The route leaves Reading along Kennet side and the Thames Path (Photo 1) to Sonning. The route continues along a narrow grassy path by the Thames (Photo 2)....

Martin Ellis

See the Reading to Twyford (Reatwy 1) route for an alternate path which takes in Forbury Gardens and the abbey ruins....

Martin Ellis

For those wanting to stop for a break midway, Pangbourne village has a variety of small shops, cafes and pubs....

dotcron

An easy to follow, mainly flat riverside route, almost all on the official Thames Path between Reading and Henley. Passing through attractive parkland, meadows, countryside and Thames side towns and villages with pubs, cafes and other facilities. Good access from train stations....

Berkshire Walker

Beautiful walk along the Kennet and Avon canal all the way from Reading to Aldermaston, dovetailing with National Cycle Route 4 for most of the way - and plenty of wildlife to see as you go....

Greta