Getting started

Again, this walk starts in Inkpen’s Lower Green. It's a shortened version of Walk 2. It climbs to the chalk ridge above Inkpen and involves the ascent and descent of steep slopes. It has stiles and will likely be muddy outside of the summer months.

From ‘The Swan’ turn LEFT onto the road and walk past the Green. Take the road RIGHT at the junction by the telephone box and before the road divides again turn LEFT onto a footpath alongside the drive of “Brook House”. Continue ahead where the path narrows to run between two properties and then bear LEFT to follow an obvious grass path around two sides of pastureland. At the end, cross over a bridge and onto a winding path which leads to Manor Farm. Follow the path around the fields, bearing LEFT in front of some out-buildings and then RIGHT to join a fenced path which runs alongside the farm drive. Turn RIGHT and follow the lane to a T-junction. Turn LEFT and then, after a short distance, leave the lane to take a footpath on the LEFT. Head for the top left hand corner of the field, keeping the fence on the left; go through 2 gates and then onto a narrow fenced path between two houses to exit at the lane.

Turn RIGHT and follow the road to Upper Green, Inkpen. At the T-junction by Rolfe’s Farm, turn RIGHT again and then, when the road divides, keep RIGHT to reach the pond. Turn LEFT in front of Pond Cottage, opposite, to follow a footpath across to Kirby Farm. Turn RIGHT into Bell Lane, known a Berkshire’s most winding road. At the first bend, turn LEFT up a slight bank to a take a footpath diagonally across the field to rejoin the lane. Turn LEFT to continue on the lane past the water tank and then take a footpath on the LEFT leading down to a road. Turn LEFT to walk along the road for a short distance; at the bend turn off to the RIGHT onto a footpath that climbs steadily up the side of Inkpen Hill. Towards the top, where the footpath levels off above the gorse, follow an obvious sheep trail westwards to a cleft in the hillside.

(To visit the Gibbet, turn continue westwards past Wigmoreash pond to reach a stile on the LEFT. Go over this and turn LEFT onto the chalk track and head eastwards towards the Gibbet. Return the same way.)

Combe Gibbet was first erected in 1676 for the hanging of George Broomham (of Combe) and Dorothy Newman (of Inkpen) who were having an affair and were hanged for murdering George's wife Martha, and their son Robert.

Turn RIGHT at the cleft in the hillside to follow this soon obvious path, which descends very steeply, veering RIGHT near the bottom of the hill to a gate in the hedgerow. The path then enters a hedged section; where the hedges end, continue straight ahead on a path that runs between fields down to a minor road. Turn RIGHT onto the road and then RIGHT again at the next lane and walk up to a footpath signpost on the left.

A short detour to the Right is Inkpen’s church, dating from the 13th century, but largely restored over a 100 years ago. The Old Rectory (or Inkpen House) which stands above the church is a William and Mary house, with interesting gardens laid out in the style of Versailles.

At the footpath sign, cross the stile into a paddock and then head for the far left hand corner to another stile. Continue across the next field, keeping the fence on the right, and cross a further stile to reach a lane. Turn RIGHT, follow the lane round to the LEFT at the T-junction to reach the Green and retrace steps back to ‘The Swan’.

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Start and end point - the car park of ‘The Swan’ public house at Lower Green, Inkpen.
Terrain - This walk climbs to the chalk ridge above Inkpen and involves the ascent and descent of steep slopes. It has stiles and will likely be muddy outside of the summer months.

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