6 family walks in East Berkshire

Are you looking for walks with kids in Berkshire? Whether you need easy nature trails or longer woodland hikes, here are 6 fabulous family walks in East Berkshire.

Luckily, Berkshire in South East England has plenty of choice when it comes to family walks and adventures.  With castle walks, royal hunting grounds, and nature reserves there is something for everyone and we have tried some of the best for you.

Read on for our 6 favourite family walks in East Berkshire.  Then it’s walking shoes on and what are you waiting for?

Firstly, we’ll head for the National Trust’s Finchampstead Ridges.  This is a woodland nature trail that follows through Simon’s Wood and around Brook’s Heath.  The route joins the track of the old Devil’s Highway, which once joined London with Silchester.

The trail at Finchampstead Ridges is on boardwalks and forest floor and is perfect for a fun family walk in East Berkshire.  However, it has a couple of hilly sections, so may not  be suitable for pushchairs.

This circular walk at Finchampstead Ridges takes about 40 minutes.  Admission is free.

One of the best places for a short family walk in East Berkshire is at Sandhurst Memorial Park.

To start,  follow the footpath from the car park at Sandhurst Memorial Park until you come to a picturesque balancing pond.  This pretty pond is a haven for wildlife and you’ll be able to spot plenty of waterfowl.

From here you can do a short circular walk round the pond and retrace your steps back to the playground and sports areas.   Children will love this short walk, as Sandhurst has a brilliant playground and enormous playing fields.

Alternatively, if you want a longer walk, take the footpath at the far end of the pond and head for Shepherd Meadows.

Shepherd Meadows is a nature conservation area covering 40 hectares of lowland meadow and woodland.  The trail follows the River Blackwater and has been recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the important wildlife.

The path is flat and accessible to buggies and wheelchairs.  It’s also ideal as a family cycle route. The walk from Sandhurst to Shepherd Meadows is perfect for kids and any budding nature-lovers!

Now, our favourite of the family walks in East Berkshire is at Swinley Forest, in Bracknell.  This is probably because there is so much choice.  You really could do a different route every visit.

Swinley Forest is a large expanse of Crown Estate, not far from Windsor Great Park.  It covers over 2,600 acres of woodland and is the perfect place to spend some time in the great outdoors.

The forest has several walking routes, but quite honestly you can walk for miles from the Look Out Discovery Centre.  Plus, there are plenty of extra trails that lead into the woods, so are perfect for little explorers!  It is also a popular spot for cyclists.

Once you’ve had your walk, the Look Out Discovery Centre has a fantastic children’s zone.  Kids love the large natural playground, with wooden trains, ships, and castles.

Alternatively, families could head to the den-building area or take to the trees with Go Ape.  If it’s raining the Look Out has a brilliant indoor interactive science centre for younger children.

As its name suggests, the Long Walk at Windsor is the longest of our family walks in East Berkshire.  The route starts at the George IV Gateway by Windsor Castle and stretches for 2.64 miles to the Copper Horse Statue of King George III statue on Snow Hill.

This grand avenue of chestnut trees is a popular walk, especially if you want breath-taking views of Windsor Castle.  It’s very accessible as the path is flat and even and you may see some of the 500 Red Deer who roam freely here.

The Long Walk is one of the most iconic walks in Windsor and definitely worth doing in you’re planning a trip to Windsor.  Click here for more family-friendly walks in Windsor Park.

Alternatively Virginia Water Lake is not far from Windsor and is a fantastic place for a family walk.  You can visit the famous totem pole, see the stunning cascade, or the beautiful Valley Gardens.

If you’re looking for a short, easy family walk in Berkshire, head to Heath Lake Nature Reserve in Wokingham.  Located in 22 hectares of heathland, this picturesque lake is the only acid lake in Berkshire and is home to several species of rare plants.

You can take a short circular walk around the lake or extend your walk further into the woods.  The route is less than a mile, so is an ideal for toddlers and younger kids.

The last of our family walks in East Berkshire is a delightful stroll along the river.

The picturesque village of Sonning sits on the River Thames near Reading on the Berkshire borders with Oxfordshire.  Sonning has been a bridging place across the Thames since the Roman days and today you can still see the iconic 18^th Century bridge with its 10 brick arches.

From the bridge you can follow the Thames Path* on a riverside walk up to Sonning Lock, where kids will enjoy watching ducks and boats come through.

Or, if you cross Sonning Bridge and walk in the other direction, you can follow the trail to Shiplake.

Afterwards, you’ll find several good choices to eat in Sonning.  Head to the bridge for The Coppa Club, a stylish riverside venue which is open for refreshments from breakfast until dinner.  Or if you are looking for something different, try one of their super-cool igloos in the garden.

Alternatively, the Bull Inn by the churchyard is a historic pub that was once owned by the Bishop of Salisbury.  It now offers traditional pub food and Sunday roasts.

What are your favourite family walks in East Berkshire?  We’d love to hear your comments below.

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