[1] From the lay-by cross the A4 (with care) and turn right on opposite pavement. Turn left down minor road, Knowl Hill Common. After 300 yards, just after passing Sunnyside, turn right onto Knowl Hill bridleway. Follow this narrow path between the golf courses for about ½ mile ignoring all crossings. At signed footpath junction by wood, fork right through kissing gate and follow the track with a copse on the left. At lone oak tree, turn half left following the track across the railway to Church Farm. Once through the farm buildings bear half left towards double wooden gates with Waltham St Lawrence church on your left. Cross the stile by the gates and enter the village square to see the Bell public house.
(A) The building is a ‘Wealden’ house dating from about 1400, originally comprising a narrow hall open to the roof (the smoke blackened timbers are still evident), with a parlour and a pantry/buttery on either side. Separate staircases led to the two rooms above. Between 1596 and 1723 a first floor was inserted and a chimney stack built, while the building was tenanted by a vicar – no vicarage was provided in those days – but mainly by small farmers.
In 1723 John Cumber, victualler, rented the property which was referred to in the lease as “the tenement commonly known by the name or sign of the Bell”, for £8 per year. The cellar was excavated in the 19th century and improvements have continued from time to time to the present day.
[2] From village square turn right along Milley Road. Ignore the first two footpath signs and after 500 yards fork left along the Knowl Hill bridleway (Nut Lane) opposite driveway to The Dene. At the junction with Twyford Road, cross over and turn right along wide verge. Turn left on track signed Blueys Farm (opposite St Lawrence Orchards). Follow track between fields as it bends left, then right and straightens. Pass through two small metal gates next to large metal field gates and continue on a grass field path to the next small metal gate beside wooden field gate and wooden shelter. Go through the gate and turn right on to a hedged track (Mire Lane).
[3] At T-junction of Mire Lane with West End Road, turn right and then after 60 yards (opposite entrance to Viners) turn left over a stile. Continue with the fence on the left over 3 more stiles to a track through woods. At a footpath junction, turn right over the wooden footbridge and then cross the field passing just to the right of an oak tree. Cross two wooden footbridges and continue with a ditch on left to the road. Turn left then immediately right on to Wicks Lane. At the T-junction with a road (The Straight Mile), cross over, turn left and walk along the verge for about ¾ mile to the junction with The Street.
If you wish to continue with the next section of the Wokingham Way, the route continues from The Street with its Junction with B3018.