The ‘Acres of Common’ walk

Length: 5 miles (8km)
Terrain: Gradual, with mixture of roads and footpaths. Stiles and steep incline included in this route.
Start point: Entrance to Sherfield Park.

Download the route map 186kb pdf

The walk

From the entrance to Sherfield Park cross the main A33 road at the footpath sign north of the roundabout. Head up the drive to the left hand side of the field to a track.

Turn right and follow the track which bears left. Where the track turns right head straight on through a gap onto a footpath which soon joins a concrete drive. Follow the, passing Sherfield Place and then Ellis farm. Bear left here to Wildmoor Lane for approximately 1 ¾ miles (2km), past various golf course crossing points, Keeper’s Cottage and SCAT’s to the main road.

Cross the A33, carry straight on to the Old Reading Road. Turn right, passing between ponds, into the village centre. At the Post office, turn left into Bramley Road (avenue of chestnut trees) and left again into the Football Club car park.

Walk diagonally across the village green, turning right into Goddards Lane at Globe House. Continue along the lane ignoring Goddards Close on your right, to pass Little Bowlings Farm. Carry on to the second footpath on the left.

Go through the metal gate and stile, head steeply downhill with the hedge on the right to a fence around a copse. Turn right, then bear left around the field edge, continuing over the hill. Turn left at the stile leading into the Garden of remembrance and St. Leonards Churchyard, turn right out of the churchyard and right down the road back to Sherfield Park.

Brief history of the village

The village was originally part of the manor of Odiham but in the late twelfth century Henry II granted the manor to his marshal, the then William Fitz Aldelin and from the late twelfth century until 1838 when the estate was bought by the Duke of Wellington.

It is thought that Oliver Cromwell gave to the St. Leonard’s church the bells that survived the siege at Basing House.

The local people of the village are very proud of their 35 acre village Green and since the early 1970’s the Parish have with a group of volunteers maintained the great asset for local and visitors alike to enjoy the open spaces and ponds.

The Horse Chestnut avenue which you will see on this walk were planted to commemorate Edward VII’s Coronation in 1901.

The Church of St. Leonard dates from the 14th century, and it is said that Oliver Cromwell gave to St Leonard's Church the bells which survived uncracked from the siege of Basing House.