Chaddleworth (West Berkshire) Four churches and pubs for lunch and at the end of the walk.

7 brave souls ignored the weather forecast and ventured out on Sunday.
Ann Buxton gave me very good directions, so we completed the walk without difficulty. Happily the weather forecast was rubbish (as usual) and it did not rain all afternoon as promised. Sadly it was grey all day, but we only had two 10 minute showers. I am going on about the weather as it did not flatter the countryside and what would have been beautiful in the sun was a bit ordinary in the iron grey cloud. However we had an excellent lunch at the Fox at Peasemore – a quiet table for the seven of us; the pre-ordered food , delivered the quickest I can remember, was delicious. Staff friendly and helpful, so absolutely no complaints. This enabled us to finish quite early, so we did not get rained on, and traveled back before the rush hour. The four churches spotted but only one visited due to fears of upcoming storms that never materialized Margaret M

Date: 
Sunday, 15 September 2013 - 9:30am
Walk Leaders: 
Ann and Joe Buxton delegated to Margaret Miles Ann Buxton did the recce, Margaret Miles will lead on the day:
Leader Phone: 
Meeting Point: 
The car park of the Ibex Pub, Chaddleworth, Berks RG20 7ER 9.30am
Distance: 
9 miles circular
Maps: 
Explorer 158 Newbury and Hungerford
Travel: 

Rail: Not really practical; the nearest station is Newbury, which has regular trains from Paddington.

By car: Junction 14, M4, take A338 north towards Wantage and turn right a mile north of Great Shefford. Take next left turning and at a T junction in the village (Botmoor Way) turn right. At bottom of hill turn left and the Ibex pub is up hill on right. There is a large car park, and it might be polite to ask if you can park while we walk.
Please use the message board for lift shares

Route: 

Berkshire Downs: am Chaddleworth, Spray Wood, Brightwalton
pm Peasemore, Leckhampsted and back to Chaddleworth

Lunch: 

The Fox, Peasmore. Tel 01635 248 480 info@foxatpeasemore.co.uk It is under new management and in his previous pub, Philip Davison won the Licensee of the year award.

Sunday fare is traditional roast, lunchtime lightbites or pub classics. Write ups on the web are enthusiastic, but then, they would be.

Notes: 

This undemanding, mostly flat, walk is on the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the southern side of the Berkshire downs.
It offers a combination of pretty villages with thatched cottages with a sprinkling of rather grand homes, four churches (three of which were open) which span the Norman to Victorian ages, quiet byways and lanes, and lovely rolling farmland. Hopefully hares, deer, partridges. It is all very gentle with clear dry paths and tracks and some sections on quiet lanes.

Please bear in mind that you walk with the London Walking Group ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK