The Covid-19 pandemic, its associated ‘lockdowns’ and government focus on health, has highlighted the important part that outdoor exercise plays in the improvement and maintenance of physical and mental well-being. The restrictions associated with ‘lockdown’ emphasised the need for access to public greenspace for those who do not have outdoor space of their own. Woodley has many attractive open spaces and easy access to beautiful open areas in neighbouring parishes. The Town Council are able to provide residents with information regarding readily accessible local walks.
Volunteers from Loddon Valley Ramblers have designed walks that use the network of quiet footpaths around the Town and out into neighbouring areas. As well as pavements and gravel paths the walks also use grassy surfaces that may be muddy. Comprehensive route notes along with photographs and maps are provided for each walk. For the users of GPS equipment, tracks and waypoints in .gpx format are provided for some walks. The location of the walks’ starting and finishing points are shown on a map. The routes can be downloaded by clicking on the links and then printed or used on smartphone or tablet.
| No | Title (click on the walk title to open a pdf) | Buggy Friendly? | Wheelchair Accessible | Distance | Time | GPS (Track/Waypoint) | ||
| miles | km | hr | min | |||||
| 1 | Ashenbury Park & Charvil Country Park | 4.2 | 6.8 | 2 | 00 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 2 | Bulmershe, High Wood & South Lake | ✅ | 3.7 | 6.0 | 1 | 45 | 📱 📱 | |
| 3 | Sandford Park, Ashenbury Park & Alder Moors | ✅ | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1 | 45 | 📱 📱 | |
| 4 | Vauxhall Park & Dinton Pastures | ✅ | 4.0 | 6.4 | 2 | 00 | 📱 📱 | |
| Buggies have to be carried up and down steps at the footbridge across river Loddon. | ||||||||
| 5 | Loddon Bridge to Twyford Station (linear) | 4.5 | 7.2 | 2 | 15 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 6 | Berkshire Aviation Museum & Lands End | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1 | 45 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 7 | Earley Station & Woodley Precinct | ✅ | 4.0 | 6.4 | 2 | 00 | 📱 📱 | |
| Buggies have to be pushed up & down the long, shallow, stepped ramps at Earley Station footbridge. | ||||||||
| 8 | Woodley Precinct to Twyford Crossroads (linear) | 3.2 | 5.2 | 1 | 30 | – | ||
| 9 | Woodley & Binfield Heath | 8.4 | 13.5 | 4 | 30 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 10 | Woodley & Shiplake | 10.9 | 17.5 | 5 | 00 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 11 | Woodley & Sonning | 6.7 | 10.8 | 3 | 15 | 📱 📱 | ||
| 12 | Woodford Park | ✅ | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0 | 40 | – | |
| 13 | South Lake & Whiteknights | ✅ | 5.4 | 8.6 | 2 | 45 | 📱 📱 | |
| Buggies have to be pushed up & down the long, shallow, stepped ramps at Earley Station footbridge. | ||||||||
| 14 | Around Woodford Park (Wheelchair Accessible) | ✅ | ♿ | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0 | 40 | – |
| 15 | Around South Lake (Wheelchair Accessible) | ✅ | ♿ | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1 | 00 | – |
| 16 | Lakes, Rivers & Nature Reserves | 6.8 | 11.0 | 3 | 15 | 📱 | ||
Generally, the walks are ‘circular’ – they start and finish at the same place. Two are ‘linear’ walks; these start and finish at different places and you make your return to the start, or home, using public transport. In these cases details of bus routes, stops and numbers, and train alternatives, are provided for your return. You are advised to check bus and train times before you set out.
The walks will suit the young (under supervision), the ‘not -so-young-but-young-at-heart’ and everyone in between. School-age children will love discovering the area and following the instructions as they lead their parents around the walks. Specialist equipment is not needed: a pair of trainers and a waterproof coat (this is England) or sunhat will usually suffice. Wellies or other appropriate footwear may be needed on some walks after periods of heavy rain.
Some walks, designated Wheelchair Accessible, have been specifically designed with wheelchair and mobility scooter users in mind.
Where walks are designated as ‘buggy friendly’ it is assumed that users are happy to push their buggies on gravel or dirt paths, that may be muddy and puddled, and across parkland that may be ‘soggy’. Very muddy paths have been excluded from this category.
All walks are accessible by public transport; the route notes identify the bus number and bus stop of the starting point. Appropriate car parking at, or near, the starting points is noted.
Please report any problems with the walks to paths@lvra.org.uk and they will be directed to the appropriate authority for investigation. Comments about the walks which should be sent to the same address. The Town Clerk
may be contacted at townclerk@woodley.gov.uk
The Council wishes to thank Reading University (for allowing the use of the permissive paths on its campus) and Loddon Valley Ramblers for their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm.
Although efforts have been made to confirm the accuracy of the information provided, walks are undertaken at the walkers’ own risk.
