Route
Start to Froud's Lane
Standing facing the canal, turn right to cross the road and join the canal towpath signed as the Kennet and Avon cycle route to Aldermaston and Reading.
Continue along the stone towpath for some distance, with the canal on the left. The Kennet and Avon Canal is 87 miles long, linking London and the Bristol Channel. It is England's most southerly cross-country broad-beam canal. From the late 1800s, the canal, like many, began to fall into disrepair, but from the 1960s, a voluntary trust began its restoration. The canal was fully reopened in 1990 and is today a haven for tourism. You're likely to see plenty of walkers, cyclists, and narrow boats along your journey.
You will eventually reach a large footbridge across the canal marked with a three-way signpost. Fork left up the long slope to cross the bridge. You'll notice the intricate brickwork within the abutments. Continue along the canal towpath on the opposite side, with the canal now on the right. Some distance further, pass through a wooden gate ahead and climb a wide gravel slope to reach a T-junction with Froud's Lane.
Marks
Waypoints
Aldermaston Wharf to Fisherman's Lane
Do not cross the canal here. Instead, simply cross the road and take Mill Lane directly opposite, a dead-end gravel driveway. With the small school ahead, swing right to follow the stone lane passing between lots of cottages. When the properties end, continue on Mill Lane along an impressive avenue of Horse Chestnut trees whose branches create a pretty arch of shelter. On the right, you'll pass a fishery, which was originally Padworth Mill.
Where the fence on the right ends, you'll see a three-way signpost. Fork right here to join a narrow enclosed footpath between tall fences. Keep ahead to cross two concrete footbridges over branches of the River Kennet. Alongside the second, you'll see a small hydroelectric power generator. As you swing right, look to your left, and you'll see a slope set with intricate metal plates. This forms a salmon ladder to help the fish migrate upstream for the breeding season. Swing left over a third footbridge, crossing a sluice gate and keep ahead on the footpath.
A fourth footbridge, a large concrete one, takes you over a large weir. Beyond this, pass through a wooden kissing gate to join a fenced path between grazing areas. A final wooden footbridge leads you through a gate to reach a four-way signpost at the edge of a pasture (note this field may be holding cattle).
Fisherman's Lane to Basingstoke Road
Turn right following the right-hand hedge, and at the end of the field, keep ahead to join the wide stone track passing along the right-hand edge of the next field. This is the start of the lane known as Fisherman's Lane. Beyond this field, follow the stone track as it becomes enclosed with fences on both sides.
Some distance in, you'll pass a lone cottage on the right. Further along, stay with the footpath, which forks left with a hedge on the right (ignoring the cinder track). About 100 yards along, ignore a stile to the left. Soon afterwards, keep a lookout for a small gap in the hedge on the right, which conceals a footpath through a gate. Pass through this gate into a field (this and the next two fields are also likely to be holding cattle).
Cross the centre of the field at about 11 o'clock and then cross the footbridge via a pair of gates into the next pasture. Cross this second field at about 1 o'clock and then cross the next gated footbridge into a third field. Cross this third field straight ahead to reach a metal kissing gate. Pass through this and keep ahead for a few paces to reach a gate out onto a surfaced cycle track. Turn right for a few yards to reach the T-junction with Basingstoke Road.
Basingstoke Road to End
Cross over Basingstoke Road (this is a busy road, so take particular care here) and turn left along the narrow verge for just 300 yards until you reach a gravel pull-in with metal gates. Turn right here alongside a disused stile signed as a footpath. Follow the footpath along the left-hand edge of an open field, cross over the footbridge over the River Enbornel, and cross diagonally over the next field.
Soon, the path will be running directly alongside the main branch of the River Kennet on the right. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife here, as this section of the river is home to a range of rare species supported by the chalk watercourse.
On the right, you'll pass Froud's Bridge marina. Further along, you'll reach the large footbridge you crossed earlier. Pass alongside this and keep ahead to join the stone towpath. From this point, simply keep ahead, retracing your steps alongside the canal to reach the trailhead.