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Binfield Heath and Crowsley Park

3.73 miles (6 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk from Binfield Heath visits Crowsley Park, owned by the BBC in South Oxfordshire. Since the Second World War, the park has been the site of a signals-receiving station used by BBC Monitoring. In 2018, the BBC began a further modernisation of the facility, including the installation of 18 new satellite dishes.
The walk starts from the small village of Binfield Heath and follows the Chiltern Way north to explore Crowsley Park Woods. You continue to Gillsmithers Woods before turning south west to skirt the edge of Crowsley Park. You can enjoy views towards the 165 acre estate which includes an 18th century mansion house and three very large satellite dishes.
After leaving the woods you can follow a country lane south east to return to Binfield Heath.

Postcode

RG9 4JT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Binfield Heath and Crowsley Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Binfield Heath and Crowsley Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Bottle and Glass is a lovely place for some post walk refreshment. The country pub includes a fine garden area to relax in on warmer days. You can find them on Bones Lane with a postcode of RG9 4JT for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The woodland and parkland on the route make for a fine dog walk and The Bottle and Glass mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the west of the park you'll find Sonning Common where there's some more nice trails. Head north east and you can pick up the Thames Path at Henley-on-Thames.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Oxfordshire Walks page.

Photos

Crowsley Park - geograph.org.uk - 1059495

Crowsley Park. The park consists of slightly rough pasture and plenty of gnarled trees. It is currently grazed by a relatively small herd of cattle. This shows one of the footpaths through the park.

Crowsley Park - geograph.org.uk - 1059540

 A relatively small herd of cattle were gathered in this part of the park. I believe that they are White Parks, similar to British Whites but with horns. This shows the view across the dry valley of Harpsden Bottom.

The Bottle and Glass at Binfield Heath - geograph.org.uk - 94915

The Bottle and Glass at Binfield Heath

Crowsley Park - geograph.org.uk - 1713285

Crowsley Park House. Among the park's former owners were the Baskerville family. Stories about the family and its association with fierce dogs were among the inspirations for Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', a famous Sherlock Holmes story.

Crowsley Park Receiving Station - geograph.org.uk - 2919386

These satellite dishes belong to the BBC which operates this radio monitoring facility in conjunction with Caversham Park, three miles to the south.

Crowsley Park - geograph.org.uk - 87576

View across the park.

Farmland, Binfield Heath - geograph.org.uk - 1067161

Farmland, Binfield Heath

Binfield Heath Congregational Church - geograph.org.uk - 65916

Binfield Heath Congregational Church

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Binfield Heath and Crowsley Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Binfield Heath and Crowsley Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)