walks homepage

Hamstead Marshall

walks

Hamstead Marshall is well served by public rights of way on which it’s possible to walk off-road through scenic countryside for an hour or more, hardly leaving the parish. Four circular walks are detailed below, centred on either the White Hart or Hamstead Mill.

Or see here for a further selection of 18 short walks (1 to 6 miles) within 5 to 30-minutes’ drive of the village.

Irish Hill Walk

Enborne Wood Walk

These two walks can be combined as a figure of eight walk of about seven or eight miles, centred on Hamstead Mill.

Beginning at Hamstead Mill, this walk of about 3.75 miles takes you westwards along the canal, over Morewood estate via Irish Hill, and along Irish Hill Road back to Hamstead Mill. Route details

This 3-mile walk begins at Hamstead Mill, eastwards along the towpath to Benham Lock, and then through Enborne Wood, circling back through Hamstead Park. Route details

Old Mansion Walk

These two walks can be combined as a figure of eight walk of about seven miles, centred on the White Hart.

Holtwood Walk

This 3-mile walk starts opposite the White Hart, and takes the driveway up past Plumbs Farm, over a field, through Briffs Copse, across more farmland, and then joins a quiet lane to Holtwood. A footpath across Elm Farm land brings you back to the start. Route details

Just west of the White Hart, the Elm Farm bridleway begins a walk of nearly 4 miles, taking in the former Craven mansion site, Hamstead church and mill, before crossing the park and rejoining the Kintbury Rd via farmland, and returning to Elm Farm. Route details

Walking with a buggy?

A public footpath follows the driveway into Hamstead Park from beside the mill and lock. About half a mile takes you through the parkland, around the lakes and up the hill. At the top the footpath leaves the tarmac to go over grass, so turn here and return.

Alternatively, the canal towpath eastwards from the lock towards Newbury is surfaced for bikes, and is a viable surface for buggies.

A couple more suggestions for buggy-able walks can be found on the 18 Short Walks page.

Elm Farm Trail

This two-mile circular walk touring Elm Farm's 235 acres displays organic farming in action, complete with ponds, old hedgerows, pollarded willows, unploughed grassland, old clay pits, and track verges rich in old-fashioned flora. Trail leaflets can be picked up from the start of the walk, where the bridle path leaves the Kintbury Road (opposite the farm car park) or from the farm office, or see here.