Kintbury Canal and Meadows

Leave the car park via the short path to reach the Kennet and Avon canal towpath. Turn right along the canal towpath with the canal on the left. Keep straight ahead passing under the brick arched bridge (marked 76). Keep ahead across a concrete footbridge over a small inlet on the right. The Kennet and Avon Canal is 87 miles in length, has 105 locks and comprises two stretches of river linked by a purpose built canal section. The waterway follows the River Avon from Bristol to Bath, then the canal provides a link to Newbury and finally the River Kennet completes the stretch on to Reading. The two river stretches were made navigable in the early 18th century and the canal section was added between 1794 and 1810. Continue only as far as the next brick arched bridge & Number 78.

Leave the canal towpath via the grass slope and turn left across the brick bridge. Follow the track ahead to reach a T-junction with the road. Turn left, passing Inglewood Cottage on the right. Immediately afterwards, turn sharp right down the side road towards Inkpen. Pass Templeton House on the left and continue some distance further until you reach a footpath off to the left. Turn left here through a pair of gates passing immediately to the left of the Farm Barn '€“ a timber clad barn conversion. Keep ahead in the same direction passing through two more gates and then a stile to reach a tarmac lane. Turn right along the lane and after just a few yards you'll reach a crossroads with another footpath. Turn right across the stile to enter the field you just exited. This time take the path at 10 o'clock passing under the power lines and to the left of the large copse of trees. Enter the next belt of trees ahead and cross a stile into the next field. Keep straight ahead to reach a footpath sign in the centre of this field. On reaching the signpost, turn sharp left and follow the path with the ornate brick building of St Cassian's across to the right. At the edge of the field cross the stile to reach the tarmac lane with the gates to St Cassian's to the right.

St Cassian's is a Catholic youth retreat centre that was founded in 1975. The original manor house, Wallingtons, dates from the early 13th century and the present manor house was built in the late 16th century. Cross the lane to take the footpath at 11 o'clock (passing the remains of an iron kissing gate) into woodland. Go through the gate and across the footbridge and follow the path along a wide grass clearing. Go over another footbridge and gate and head for the gate on the opposite side of the field at about 11 o'clock (either cross over the middle of the field or, if the electric fence is in operation, follow the left edge of the field round to the gate). Cross this next field staying fairly close to the left hand boundary. Pass through the kissing gate and keep ahead hugging the tree line on the right. The path soon bears right and dips to cross a pair of stiles. A few paces later, bear right through the gap in the hedge line and then cross the field diagonally left up the slope. Pass out through the gate to reach the tarmac lane. Turn left heading downhill until you reach a cattle grid.

Cross the stile alongside the cattle grid and then turn immediately left onto another branch of the tarmac lane. Ignore the two footpaths signed off to the right '€“ just continue until you reach a 90 degree bend to the left with the gates to a property ahead. Turn right here through the squeeze gap into the field. After just a few paces turn left to follow the hedge line on the left. As you approach the gate at the top, swing right to follow the top boundary of the field with the hedge still on your left. At the end of the field, cross the stile and keep ahead through the next field with the hedge now on your right. To the left you'll have great views across the meadow to the village of Kintbury beyond. Pass through the gate and follow the path as it swings round a copse on the right. The path dog legs right then left over a footbridge and through two gates. Follow the path ahead for some distance passing through a long tunnel of trees. Continue between tall fences and you will reach a T-junction with the village High Street, with a terrace of brick cottages opposite.

Cross over and turn right. Kintbury sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has excellent rail and road links, making it one of the most sought after villages to live in England. It has several famous residents including the author Robert Harris and the designer and retailer Terence Conran. At the small crossroads turn left into Church Street. Follow the road as it bends right then left, passing St Mary's Church to the left. Stay on the main tarmac road, passing the Old School on the left. Eventually you'll come to the entrance gates to the Old Rectory ahead. Turn right here and follow the path over the canal bridge. Turn right immediately afterwards and go down the slope to join the towpath. You will reach Kintbury Lock ahead where you'll find the car park on the left.