Hamstead Marshall, Hamstead Park and River Kennet

The walk crosses Hamstead Park with glimpses through the trees of the Great House, now a nursing home, while up ahead is the church and a curious selection of brick and stone pillars. The pillars are revealed as former gateposts on the old line of the park pale.

By taking a detour of just a few paces outside the boundaries of the park, a splendid array of waterway features come into view. First comes the River Kennet, controlled by sluices through which the water tumbles, while part of the flow is diverted to pass under the former Hamstead Mill, now an elegant house. Beyond that is the Kennet and Avon Canal, which links the River Thames at Reading to the River Avon at Bath. The canal became derelict and here by the roadside is one of the recently restored locks. The canal was reopened in 1990 and boats travel along the waterway once again.

While near the mill and facing the canal, to your left is two mounds, or mottes, where Newbury Castle once stood. It is the first of two early medieval castle sites you will see on the walk.

After this interlude of mill and old castle site, the walk returns to the parkland and goes via a grand avenue of trees, but although the route has now returned to the park, the waterway theme continues. Over to the left, the river is diverted into different channels controlled by sluices and crossed by a series of attractive little footbridges. A small lake has also been created with an island in the centre which is home to a number of ducks and geese. A tributary stream running through the park has been dammed to create ornamental lakes. As the driveway swings round to pass above the ponds, you can see the second motte on the left, the site on which Hamstead Castle stood.

The house itself in Hamstead Park is surrounded by dense shrewbury, but through the rhododendrons you can glimpse an ornate glasshouse. The path goes round the outside of the gardens to join the grandest of all tree avenues; two rows of fully grown horse chestnuts, seen at their best in early summer when their candles of blossom, are on display.

After the avenue, the walk continues across rougher grassland over a small plateau that gives wide views over the surrounding countryside. A short walk over fields and beside woodland eventually brings you out onto the road. This country lane, running between banks topped by hedgerows, returns you to the start in Hamstead Marshall village.