Hermitage-Hampstead Norreys Active Travel Route on DNS line

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

Actually an UNpreserved railway line.

West Berkshire Countryside Society has just published its latest Upstream newsletter.

See pages 6 & 7

for a description of the work done to transform the old trackbed into an Active Travel Route for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders.

I've worked on the last 400 yards at Furze Hill, Hermitage, but have yet to walk the entire trail. Three old railway bridges along the route.

[Reading General]

I ran the length of it from Hampstead Norreys to Hermitage and back the other day. Very nice job, already popular with people of all ages.

[Marlburian]

I walked it this morning for the first time. My first thought was that it was lavish to the point of extravagance (a volunteer colleague has called it a "motorway"), with wood revetments to retain the aggregate the entire length and a very good surface. But on reflection it may be suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs, which is a good thing. This thought came to me only after I'd completed my walk, so I didn't check out how these would cope at the Hampstead Norreys end. At the Hermitage end they should be able to access the path without problem from the village-hall car-park. It's now possible to examine the railway bridges, and they all seemed in good shape.

[eightonedee]

I also saw this for the first time last week and was impressed by the quality of the work (at least viewed from the overbridges at Eling and at Hampstead Norreys.

It would be great if this was extended north to Compton, and linked to the Ridgeway to take bikes off the narrow and winding B4009, where peletons of thoughtless lycra clad cyclists can be a problem.

[Thatcham Crossing]

Went for a look and a walk on a bit of it this morning. It's been nicely done. Will bike it aswell in due course.

Attached pic is looking north towards the first overbridge after you go under the M4 from the Hermitage end.

[Marlburian]

The final article in Upstream   See page five.

"The importance of a railway line as a green corridor for linking both flora and fauna to nearby habitats cannot be overstated."