26/7/11 - A bit of the A4, A bit of the Avon and Kennet Canal

Distance - 5 Miles
Pubs - 5 - 1 walked past
Caches - 3
Walk from - 100 Walks in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Woolhampton

If I'd have had company, this would have been a perfect evening.  However, the power of an Internet Connected Mobile phone means that you can keep everyone updated with where you are at through Face Book places.  Get told to concentrate on the caches rather than the pubs from she who must be obeyed.

This is a great walk, taking in fields, a nice little village (Woolhampton) that has three pubs - a lovely strecth of the Avon and Kennet Canal, before coming back up to the A4 where is a Chef and Brewer and at 10pm, its warm enough to eat outside.

Walk up Cox's Lane, across fields and into Midgham.  Looks like I just missed out on the entertainment.

Social Event of the Season

Turn into what looks like someones garden and then out on a tree lined avenue through the nice farmland of Midgham Park Farm.  The footpath signs are of an exceptional standard in Berkshire - surprised the pikeys haven't had them for scrap metal.

Any old iron

Have to negotiate a field full of young bulls that get a bit frisky but does provide inspiration for what to have for tea.

I'll have the one with the stripe please

Come to a lane and drop down into Woolhampton on the A4.  Choice of two pubs on the A4.  The Falmouth Arms is famous for a relative of Charlie Chaplain shooting at his wife and then himsefl.  He missed her, but suceeded with himself.  The Angel has worse beer but better food (by the looks of it).

Drop down to the Canal, giving way to a train at the crossing for 5 mins.  Walk past the best pub of the lot, the Rowbarge, where the allow people to camp in their garden.  Looks like a great spot.  Cache number one is behind a notice board.

The walking is flat and the swing bridges, locks and pools to the side are all pleasant on the eye.  Slight detour for cache number 2.  Criss cross the canal several times and look at the fauna.

You should see the size of the stingers

At Midgham lock we come back up to the a4.  There are so many pubs along this route because it is a former coaching road.  Today, instead of stage coaches, we have lorry drivers parked in mass along the side of the road.  I try the coach and horses - incredibly expensive food and after being served 3/4 of a pint and having communication problems with the Eastern European behind the bar, I go to the Chef and Brewer for a nice meal sat outside as darkness descends.