Reatwy two

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Reading to Twyford (Wokingham) 2 (Reatwy 2) review.

As a Reading resident, I agree with the slight changes from Reatwy 1. This is the route I take into the town centre. It closely follows the footpath alongside the Kennet including the Oscar Wilde Memorial Walk (Photo 1).

I subscribe to what the previous reviewer has written. It is one of the most enjoyable walks around Twyford. I would just add that it is not necessary to cross the street at Sonning. When the water level is low, it is possible to walk under the bridge.

Walked Twyford to Reading. Very enjoyable route with a pleasant stretch alongside the Thames, and an excellent off road approach to Reading. Good refreshments at both ends, and at Sonning in the middle.
This is a good example of a route which is obviously indirect (between Sonning and Twyford), but well worth the deviation (to avoid traffic).

I started by popping into the Bia Hub cafe at Twyford. Then there’s some unavoidable A road with a narrow pavement, this is the main reason for knocking a star off.
The route detours off the A road into Charvil Country park, and then some quiet residential streets. I was very happy to have a diversion, and the Country Park was lovely and green, but if you’re in a hurry and don’t mind a bit more road you can always stay on the main road and skip the park!
The long private-ish lane north to the river is pleasant and well paved, there was some traffic, and also some very nice private houses for anyone with lottery winning fantasies to dream about!

At the river the path was closed for tree surgery, but luckily they were on their lunch break and waved me through. There isn’t a ready detour at this point, it would be very bad luck to get an unexpected blockage in this area.

The path along the Thames to Sonning is on the unfashionable side - it’s a fishing path with fishing stations every so often, but you have to be a club member if you want to catch your lunch here. The path is narrow and a bit awkward in places. The other side of the river is the main Thames long distance footpath.

At Sonning there were a number of raucous parties going on - students by the river, weddings in the upscale hostelries. It’s overrun with traffic sadly.

Between Sonning and Reading the path is wide and well used, and there’s a lock for amusement, with plenty of benches for spectators. On the approach to Reading the path turns to follow the river Kennet into central Reading.
At Blake’s Wharf the path was blocked for building work. Once completed the path will reopen. I detoured and came back at the Oscar Wilde memorial walk, which goes past the walls of Reading Gaol.
The final stretch goes by Reading Abbey ruins and through a big Victorian park to the meeting point at the railway station. It’s a very fine way to enter Reading.

Overall this is a really fine route (it’s an upgrade of Reatwy One with some corrections and tweaks, not my own route!): I especially like that it makes the most of the natural riverside routes, both Thames and Kennet.
Some of the paths are a bit narrow and bumpy, but overall it’s pretty easy going.

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