We discovered what must surely be one of Reading’s best-kept secrets on our Spring Ramble on May Day – the delightful old dwellings at Coley Park and the Holy Brook water-meadows. Looking westwards as you travel along the A33 relief road you cannot imagine the beauty and tranquility of this hidden area in the centre of Reading. We followed alternately the Holy Brook, the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon canal as it wound its way towards the Cunning Man at Burghfield, where we stopped for a drink before our return journey, making the acquaintance of our new transition minister for St John’s Penny who was out walking her retriever. There was much bird / ducklife in evidence including some goslings and a tern flying low to catch flies. The sun shone, the conversation flowed, the dogs swam and we got back in time for evensong.
Our next expedition will be along the River Thames linking all three of our churches, starting at St Margaret’s, walking along the Warren to pick up people at St Peter’s and wending our way down to the north side of the river to enable walkers from St John’s to join the pilgrimage.
We will then continue on the Thames Path to Sonning, refuelling ourselves in the garden of the Great House. Return journey by foot, car or possibly boat. All welcome.
St Peter’s Occasional Rambles And Dawdles In the Countryside