 | RG20 9BH SU 476639 About two miles from Newbury. Take the A339 towards Basingstoke, and go half R at the roundabout at the bottom of the hill. The pub is 200 yds on the L Quite a busy pub, being near Newbury, it provides decent beer and a good menu, with sandwiches at lunchtime. |
Note that while the pub is in Hampshire, almost all the walk is in Berkshire. Before starting, you should read Greenham Common Cold War Walk (Pam Hart, Greenham Control Tower).
Walk up the road and cross at the roundabout refuge to get onto the N side of the road to Basingstoke. Follow the footway to reach a FP to the N in 300 yds. Almost immediately bear left off the track through a gate and uphill through a second gate and into woodland. Follow the track in a northerly direction where a perimeter fence will come into view on R. Follow the track N as it deviates to the L through less dense woodland.At a T junction (just after a Y shaped oak tree) turn R and head east until you pick up the perimeter track, then a fence on the R surrounding the disused cruise missile bunkers. Follow the fence E and when it turns R, go a further 100 m and turn R (S) down to the mock up fire training aircraft. Follow the path round the perimeter of the airfield heading generally N, where you can pick up the airfield control/decontamination centre along a path to the R and through a gate. Return and continue the path N until you pick up the perimeter track E which will run alongside a fence to the R housing industrial units. When the control tower on the N side of the airfield comes in line on your L, turn N to pick up a wide path to the centre of the old runway. At this point you can shorten your route by turning L (W) down the centre of the former runway. Or you can continue to the control tower N and find your way round the northern perimeter of the airfield heading W back to retrace the footpath S to the Swan.
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