Church Lane leads to Fieldside and this to the direct path to Blewbury.  Once in Blewbury, we continued on Westbrook Street to the Reading Road and turned (briefly) east to join the first south-going footpath that leads to Churn Hill and great views to the north (although the power station had almost disappeared in it own, private, low-hanging cloud).  A few steps further and we were at Upper Chance Farm with its own long views over open fields to the south.

We turned briefly east to reach Woodway and then north to return to Blewbury via the steep footpath that runs through a few acres of Open Access land.  At the Reading Road we again travelled east with the intention of picking up the north-going footpath that begins at the old police station.  We had one false start (quickly detected by the back-marker) and then found the correct path which leads all the way through Blewbury to the footpath that lies along the western boundary of the Equestrian Centre.

The route from here to East Hagbourne has many little twists, turns and stiles (and numerous prickle-bearing plants in autumn).  Suffice it to say that it parallels Mill Brook for a bit, requires some time on Blewbury Road and finally puts one back onto Fieldside (whew!).  From Fieldside to Upper Cross via Parsonage Path and Main Road is quick and straightforward.

This ramble was 7.4-miles in length and was done in exactly three-hours.  The next ramble is the second Sunday in March (lots of flowers!).  Won’t you join us?

This is approximately (allowing for the occasional guest-leader) the 150th village ramble description.  My how time flies!