Snelsmore Common is, at 250 acres, Berkshire's largest remaining tract of heathland. On its southern boundary sits Donnington Castle, originally the home of Richard Adderbury the Elder. It was later bought by Thomas Chaucer, son of Geoffrey Chaucer; who is said to have visited and to have written parts of various works under, the long since felled, “Chaucer's Tree”. The castle came into royal hands and both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I visited in their time. It played a major role in both Battles of Newbury, where its guns succeeded in guarding the major routes from London to the West and Oxford to Southampton.Up the Lambourn from Donnington Castle, the small village of Bagnor is the site of The Watermill, which is now a privately owned repertory theatre. The converted watermill retains many of its original features: wooden beams and corn chutes protrude incongruously through the lighting arrays; the waterwheel can be viewed through a screen on entry to the auditorium.

Our walk follows well defined tracks through gorse heather and woodland to the remains of Donnington Castle, from there we make our way to Bagnor, home of the Watermill Theatre. Those doing the shorter walk have the opportunity to pay a visit to the Blackbird Inn before returning to Snelsmore via local woodland paths. The longer walkers continue past The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor Manor and across Boxmoor Common to Winterbourne Church, before returning to Snelsmore.