The Woodpecker, Wash Common (3.7m)

Website-on-pub RG20 0LU SU 453635
About three miles from Newbury on the Andover road A343. Take the first turn R after the 50 limit sign, and the pub is shortly on the R.
A lively pub on the outskirts of Newbury under new management serving very good beer (Arkells) and food, though no sandwiches. Find something on the starters menu.

Turn R out of the pub car park, and go about 400 yards along the road, then take a FP on the L which leads over a bridge (into Hampshire) and follow the path forward along a tributory stream to a pair of stiles, where go L down the cottage drive to the A343. Cross over and take the tarmac lane, staying on the level for about 3/4 mile, where a FP diverges at a fine angle to the R. Follow this for 1/2 mile when it climbs to meet the drive of a house, and before this meets a road, take the FP through trees that bears R parallel to the road. This meets a track that curves R downhill and arrives at some cottages. Instead of going forward uphill, take the marked FP L down the side of one of the houses, pass a tennis court on the R and follow an indistinct path though a wood, emerging through a stile and along the edge of a paddock with a ditch to the L and the fence on the R. At the end go over a stile and out through the 5 bar gate onto a lane. Turn R and follow the lane past farm buildings on the L to its end at a metal gate. Go forward about 200 yards, where the path takes a right angle turn to the R. Go across the field for about 1/4 mile to join the lane you used on the outward journey, and retrace your steps to the pub.

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