Chieveley 741476, 12½ miles, Explorer 158

Park in East Lane near the doctors surgery . Walk eastwards (away from main road), where road turns sharply left take footpath on the right to cross field. At road (Grace Lane) turn left along busy road  to cross A34 (road has now become Prior Court Road), pass Newbury Showground on right and cross motorway. Ignore paths and tracks left and right and after about 500yds from motorway turn  left into Old Street and immediately right into RUPP, Doctors Lane. In 400yds left over stile into field, over second stile, across field and take stile on right into wood. Bear left at fork and at ‘T’ junction turn left passed house on left. Just beyond house turn right onto footpath which descends into Oare. Go through Oare and where roads bears sharply right turn left onto RUPP, Oareborough Lane to cross motorway. After about 500yds track forks take right fork onto footpath. Pass a barn on the right, bear left on footpath to cross field, into second field, follow the field divide to finger post at top of slope here turn right. Cross field and through thick hedge into field. Head to left of large oak tree on the horizon, go through hedge and keeping hedgerow on left follow it to road.

At the road turn left, ignore road on the right and in 300yds where road goes left go ahead onto RUPP. In 400yds at track junction turn left onto RUPP, Green Hams Lane. Follow this lane ignoring tacks left and right for about one mile here the track forks take the left fork and in a further mile exit wooded track on ridge with cross tracks. Turn left onto Dennisford Road (track), this in ½ mile leads through a tunnel under A34 road. Follow track around and in about 10ydsat the top of the slope next to the road turn right onto byway, Halfpenny Catch Lane. After just under a mile at road turn right. Pass South Stanmore Farm and just beyond Bridle Cottage on left turn left over stile into field.

Cross two fields and at the end of the second field turn right to join track joining from left. Follow field boundary with hedge on left through third field and at end of forth field look for field boundary on left, head due south from this point to meet wide tree lined hedge. Go through on footpath and continue due south to meet track in front of houses. Turn right and follow road around to left to meet road, here turn left and in about 20yds turn right onto byway, Gidley Lane. Ignoring footpaths to left and right in ½ mile at cross paths turn left onto byway, New road. Follow this, ignore footpaths left and right, and in ½ mile just before houses of Downend turn right . Follow fence, later hedge towards Chieveley church. At track to Chieveley Manor turn left then right at road and then left into East Lane.

If you encounter any problems with this walk please contact Richard or Nick.