This stile-free walk starts from the historic Old Kiln and explores the beautiful scenery around the village.

Distance: 2.5 miles (allow 1½ hours)

Start: The Old Kiln, Nettlebed RG9 5BA. There is parking around the village green near the kiln.

Access Information: Easy stile-free walking on good paths with 2 gates. 3 climbs with a total ascent of 50m. Take care walking along the B481 just prior to Waypoint 5.

Refreshments: The White Hart Hotel and the Nettlebed Creamery.

Route:

1. From the Old Kiln, turn right, cross Watlington Street and walk along the High Street to a footpath on the right just after passing St Bartholomew Church.
2. Turn right along the wide track and through the tall gate into the allotments. Follow the path gently uphill, through the next gate to leave the allotments and head towards the main road.
3. Just before the road, turn immediately left along the byway (Bushes Lane) as it drops down to a byway junction. Fork left and stay on the wide track for 680m until it becomes a rough lane.
4. Continue ahead for a few metres, turn right on the footpath into the wood (Copse Wood) and follow the white arrows on the trees. At a junction, follow the path round to the left and stay on this path for around 280m to a white arrow with a line through it. Continue past the tree and fork immediately right away from the track on a smaller path that soon meets the B481 road. Turn left along the road for around 100m and take the footpath on the right.
5. Follow this path through the avenue of beech trees, an ancient boundary bank, for 500m to a path junction and fork right down to an unsurfaced driveway.
6. Turn left and, shortly before the entrance to Westwood Manor Farm, turn right along the bridleway into the wood. Continue through the wood following the fenceline on the left to reach some houses and another unsurfaced lane. Follow the lane round to the right and follow it uphill as far as the right-hand bend.
7. Fork left away from the lane and climb up through the wood, carefully following the white arrows. The path ends just before the entrance to the Thames Water Site.
8. Turn right and follow the lane downhill to the B481. Turn left along to the road junction and turn left to return to the Old Kiln.

This walk was updated in 2026.