3rd July 2019
Today’s walk was in the parish of Winterbourne, north-west of Newbury, Berkshire.
We started at Winterbourne Manor, with the intention of walking a horseshoe shape, returning to the road at Mud Hall Cottage.
We set off past the church and a group of barn conversion dwellings towards Lower Farm. On the way we passed these poppies growing wild at the edge of the field.
Lower Farm had notices requesting dogs to be kept on leads, so we dutifully hooked up. Just as well, as the entire premises were surrounded by an electric fence wire about three inches from the ground. We turned left and the path followed the edge of a field of barley.
Past Wyfield Copse was a gate, and the footpath/bridleway was signposted around the edge of a grassy field. There was no noticeable path so we kept to the edge and followed the marked signposts around Borough Hill. When we reached the point marked “Borough Copse” on the map there were no further footpath signs, only a barbed wire fence, thick nettles and a notice advising “Private Woodland”. So we retraced our steps to the car and both had a refreshing drink before returning home.
Somewhat disappointing, but good healthy excercise nonetheless.
General Whiskers' semi-historical wanderings 