A three-hour, gentle walk through the woodland and heathland of Bucklebury Common. Led by Alex Cruickshank, a local ecologist who is working with The Bucklebury Estate to manage and restore the common.

On the walk, we will join up the dots of the Common’s history, from its use by medieval monks as an open, grazed pasture, to its more recent military history.

We hope to see some of the rare wildlife associated with the largest remaining area of heathland in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, including adders, stonechats and a range of butterflies. We will also learn about the plans to restore the Common to benefit local people and wildlife.

Walk leader/organisation: Alex Cruickshank, Sundew Ecology and The Bucklebury Estate

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Walk information

  • Booking: Free – Booking essential – 15 places
  • Distance & approximate duration: 4 miles (6.4 km) – 3 hours
  • Difficulty: Fairly easy (some gentle inclines, possible steps/stiles).
  • Accessibility: Family friendly. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (see useful information). Not suitable for wheelchairs or prams/pushchairs. Steps/stiles on the route.
  • Dogs: No dogs.
  • Refreshments: Bring snacks and drinks as needed. There are no places to purchase refreshments on the route (see below).
  • Toilets: There are no public toilets on the route (see below).
  • Meeting point: Car park to the south of ‘The Common’ road, Chapel Row, Bucklebury; nearest postcode: RG7 6QE. What3Words: banter.adverbs.picked. OS grid reference: SU 560 692. Google Maps.
  • Public transport: Limited public transport. Pease Hill (5 minutes’ walk away) is on the Newbury-Theale bus route, see Traveline.
  • Parking: Free car park at meeting point. If full, please park in Chapel Row and walk in (approx. 1 mile).

For general booking information, health and safety advice, terms and conditions please see our useful information page.

Further information

For refreshments and toilets, the Bladebone Inn is less than a mile east of the meeting point, see the Bladebone.

To find out more about Bucklebury Common, see Bucklebury Estate and the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust.

For more information about the walk leader, see Sundew Ecology.

This walk is brought to you by our partners: 

        

The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme seeks to provide investment in protected landscapes to help deliver outcomes for the environment, people and places by working in partnership with farmers

Bucklebury Common © Katherine Cook