Geo-Trips :: Linking some of the rights of way in the Bucklebury area
Bucklebury Common, Bradfield and Stanford Dingley area
A walk from Chapel Row, Sun, 25 Feb 2007 by Graham Horn
This was one of my early Geograph trips. There were two objectives, to add to my collection of personal points, greens already being a rarity in this part of the world, and to put in more miles getting fit for my Macmillan Way trip later in the year.
I decided to go west of Reading, to an area where there are many paths. Indeed, Bucklebury parish is supposed to have more kilometres of rights of way in relation to its area than any other parish in England. The day was dry but being February it was very muddy, as some of the pictures show.
This is over three years before Bucklebury became famous for a different reason.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Village Green, Chapel Row
A bit wet for cricket at the moment.
Provisions at Chapel Row
The Bladebone Inn, a popular country pub, with meat provided by ...
The Bladebone... more
Entrance to Chapel Row Common
The seat is on a triangle green between the road junctions. The path beyond looks... more
Chapel Row Common
A byway open to all traffic (BOAT) runs roughly northeast - southwest along the... more
Chapel Row Common
This byway runs northeast to southwest across the middle of the common, and... more
Cottages at Scotland in Chapel Row Common
Hidden away in the depths of the common, are numerous houses. This group of... more
Byways in Lower Common
Two byways cross here. The one shown is looking west, and shows the state of the... more
Medieval fish ponds, Lower Common
Apparently there are the ghosts of two monks lurking in these parts. Not seen on... more
Medieval fish ponds, Lower Common
Ghostly sightings of two monks in these parts apparently. Masquerading as... more
Entrance to footpath
At north western extremity of the open access land around Lower Common. Evidence... more
A cow in a deer park?
Looking east from a RUPP (Road Used as a Public Path) in the north-west part of... more
Entrance to deer park
Sufficiently high and robust fence to keep the deer in, or walkers out? You need... more
Approaching the farm park
The public footpath runs through the middle of the farm park, avoiding the need to... more
Bucklebury Farm Park
One of the inhabitants
Bucklebury Farm Park
One of the inhabitants. Tickle my chin please!
Strawberry field?
In a book of local walks, this is described as a strawberry field. It does not... more
Just about a permanent pond
This pond is shown on 1:25K map but not 1:50K. Potentially interesting cupolas on... more
Bucklebury Farm Park
Information board at entrance telling you all about it. The photographer has no... more
Unconverted barn
A rare sight in these parts, an unconverted barn. I wonder how long?
Footpath across farmland
A well established cross-field path. Probably at one time following a hedge line... more
Footpath crossing
Looking east. An east-west route crosses a north-south one here. Both well... more
Footpath to Bucklebury
A well-established cross-field path. The buildings in the distance are Manor... more
Near Hillfoot Farm
Where the footpath from Bucklebury joins a north-south restricted byway, it... more
Near Hillfoot Farm
Where the footpath from Bucklebury joins a restricted byway running north-south it... more
Footbridge
Plank footbridge over drainage ditch, starts the footpath leading to Bucklebury.
Footpath to where?
Usually you can give a footpath a name, "footpath to somewhere".... more
In Bushnells Green copse
Midway along the western edge of the square looking east.
Footpath to Jennetts Hill
An east-west footpath on the southern edge of the square where it crosses a small stream.
Bradfield Farm, Stanford Dingley
Stanford Dingley is one of the prettiest villages in the area, typified by... more
Footpath to Rotten Row
The footpath continues along the hedge line, before climbing towards Rotten Row on... more
Footpath to Rotten Row
The path heads south, away from the watercress beds behind us (not easy to get a... more
Footpath under driveway
This footpath has a tunnel under the driveway to Stanford House (to the left from... more
Footpath under driveway
This footpath passes through a tunnel under the driveway to Stanford House. Did... more
Footpath in Stanford Wood
Very muddy dog walking path, the leaves having been well trodden after the winter rains.
Footpath from Bradfield
Looking south-west towards Mariner's Lane. The white house on the horizon is on the lane.
Approaching Bradfield
The footpath crosses the driveway to Horse Leas (left) and immediately through the... more
A short leap to Bradfield College
Beyond the college playing fields some of the college buildings can be seen.
Bradfield College and beyond
The footpath crosses the playing fields of Bradfield College. Beyond, in the... more
River Pang at Bradfield
Draining much of the land between the Thames and the Kennet west of Reading, the... more
Bradfield College
Across the college playing fields some of the college buildings can be seen,... more
St. Andrew's Church, Bradfield
This is the parish church of Bradfield. The college surrounds it but has a... more
Bradfield
Including the tower of St. Andrew's Church
Junction of Back Lane and Dark Lane Bradfield
The footpath goes up the bank and towards the telegraph pole on the left.
West from Bradfield
The footpath heads west, just to the right of the telegraph poles. Behind the... more
Path towards Bradfield
Scrubby farmland leading to Bradfield village which can be seen in the distance on... more
Paths in Greathouse Wood
Looking south-east, the prominent track is known as Greathouse Walk. The footpath... more
Plantation in Greathouse Wood
Greathouse Wood is a mixed wood. In this part a crop of conifers dominates.
Path through The Gravels
This section of the woodland is called The Gravels on 1:25K map although not names... more
Path into The Gravels
The path from Scratchface Lane comes across the field to this stile. However, a... more
Bridleway towards Rushall Copse
Taken from where the bridleway leaves Scratchface Lane (heading south-west).
Forestry operations
The bits not used, neatly sorted into sawdust and roots. What happens next?
Barn on staddle stones
Part of a demonstration farm (Rushall Manor Farm) featuring a number of... more
The Pond, Rushall Manor Farm
Helpfully named, just in case you thought it was something else. Actually this is... more
The Black Barn, Rushall Manor Farm
The most impressive building in the Rushall Manor Farm complex, an educational... more
Footpath to Rushall Manor Farm
The land rises gently from the River Pang, through a band of arable farmland to... more
Grazing near the Pang
The land closest to the River Pang (about 5-10 metres above the river) is here... more
St. Denys' Church, Stanford Dingley
The original church dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, with some previous... more
St. Denys' Church, Stanford Dingley
The original church dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, with some previous... more
St. Denys' Church, Stanford Dingley
Its style, with the flint walls and low white weatherboarded tower, is very... more
The Bull at Stanford Dingley
Deservedly popular country pub. This side of the pub sign shows the bull's head.... more
Footpath east of Jennetts Hill
These fields can be flooded as we are in the River Pang flood plain. Therefore it... more
Reservoir near Clay Hill
Marked on the 1:25K map but not the 1:50K, this is a small reservoir.
Crossing the stream
Within the wood the bridleway crosses a small stream, creating a very wet and muddy area.
Approaching Chapel Row
The east-west road from Southend to Chapel Row is bordered by many mature trees,... more
Near Chapel Row
Wide verges with very mature trees on the road from Chapel Row to Southend.... more
All images © Graham Horn and available under a Creative Commons licence .