Sunday Walk - Snelsmore Common and Donnington Castle

Snelsmore Common is managed by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust on behalf of West Berkshire Council. The beautiful heathland contains a range of habitats including heathland, wet mires and woodland making it home to nationally rare bird species including nightjar, woodlark and tree pipit. Mosses and lichens grow between the floor-covering plants. Snelsmore is one of the richest areas in Berkshire for mosses and liverworts, from greater fork-moss to creeping fingerwort. These wetter areas, known as mires, also contain sedges and rushes, as well as common cottongrass, round-leaved sundew, bog asphodel and heath spotted orchids.

The walk takes us through the common then out onto footpaths across fields with some beautiful views across the North Wessex Downs. After a few miles we reach the small village of Boxford with many old cottages and a water mill. St Andrew’s church lies in the heart of the village, a grade two listed building dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. We head out along the banks of the River Lambourn, a chalk stream rising from its namesake village of Lambourn and is a tributary of the River Kennet.

The final part of the walk takes us to the ruins of the 14^th century Donnington Castle. It overlooks the Lambourn Valley in an important strategic position commanding the crossing of major north–south and east–west routes. There are some spectacular views to be had from this point. The rest of the walk takes us back towards Snelsmore Common.

At the end of the walk we can enjoy a hot drink and a cake from the Snugg café, please bring some cash as the café prefers to take cash (in case the card machine stops working).