Can I walk on Greenham Common?
Registered as “The several pieces of land at Greenham Common”. 102 hectares of common land in several pieces, part of Greenham and Crookham Commons.
Yes, on foot,
unless a closure or restriction is in place.
Natural England's maps show all 102 hectares of Greenham Common as registered common land where the public have a right of access under the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925. That makes it section 15 land: access comes from that law, not the right to roam.
Section 15 map version 9, 29 Nov 2024. Data checked 25 Oct 2026.
Check with the Wildlife Trust before you goAccess here comes from the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925, so Natural England's closure map does not cover it.
- Common land with public access
- Neighbouring common land
- Main road
- PCar park
Greenham parish, West Berkshire district, Berkshire. Nearest village: Greenham, next to it. Roads: A339, B4640. 8 car parks on or by the common.
Enlarge the map · Roads, villages and car parks © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Dogs
The right to roam's dog rule (a short lead from 1 March to 31 July) does not apply here by law, because access comes from the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925. Byelaws can set their own dog rules, so follow signs on site.
The Countryside Code asks you to keep dogs under effective control, on a lead or in sight, and away from wildlife, livestock and horses.
The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, which manages the commons for West Berkshire Council, asks for dogs on a lead on the main common from 1 March to 31 July, for ground-nesting birds. Its map shows the areas where dogs can run off the lead.
Exmoor ponies and cattle graze the commons.
Other local or seasonal restrictions can apply. Notes on dogs and grazing from Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust: Greenham and Crookham Commons.
What your access covers
Walking and other open-air recreation on foot, under the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
Horse riding and cycling are allowed on the marked tracks only: the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 gives a right to ride on the paths and tracks the council sets, and nowhere else on the common without its written permission.
There is no right to camp or light a fire: the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 applies the right to roam's general restrictions to access here.
Some land inside can stay private, such as buildings and gardens.
A closure or restriction on access land does not close a public footpath or bridleway across it.
What the walk is like
- Size
- Greenham and Crookham Commons together cover 450 hectares, the largest stretch of open heath in Berkshire.
- Look out for
- The old airbase's Control Tower, now a café. Nuclear cruise missiles were kept at the base in the early 1980s, and protests against them helped start the women's peace movement in 1981.
- Wildlife
- Nightjar, woodlark and lapwing nest on the ground, with Dartford warblers, nightingales and stonechats, adders, and over 30 kinds of butterfly.
- Underfoot
- The main tracks are level and suit people with limited mobility, off-road mobility scooters, bikes and horses. Other waymarked routes cross wooded valleys with uneven ground and steps.
- Not allowed
- Barbecues, because of the fire risk, and flying drones or model aircraft.
From Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust: Greenham and Crookham Commons.
Getting there
- Car
- Three free car parks, donations welcome: the Control Tower (RG19 8DB, opens 8am), Pyle Hill (RG19 3BX) and Crookham Common (RG19 8EJ), both open 24 hours. The smaller two have height barriers.
- Busy times
- The Saturday parkrun fills the Control Tower car park from about 8.30 to 10.30am.
- Facilities
- A café in the Control Tower and an accessible toilet.
From Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust: Greenham and Crookham Commons.
Common land nearby
Also nearby: Crookham Common (next to it, 160 ha), Newtown Common (0.7 km, 59 ha), The Gravel Pits (2 km, 1.9 ha).
Straight-line distance between nearest edges. All common land in Greenham
Questions
Can I walk on Greenham Common?
Yes, on foot, unless a closure or restriction is in place. Natural England's maps show all 102 hectares of Greenham Common as registered common land where the public have a right of access under the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925. That makes it section 15 land: access comes from that law, not the right to roam.
Can I take my dog on Greenham Common?
Yes. The right to roam's dog rule (a short lead from 1 March to 31 July) does not apply here by law, because access comes from the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925. Byelaws can set their own dog rules, so follow signs on site. The Countryside Code asks you to keep dogs under effective control, on a lead or in sight, and away from wildlife, livestock and horses. The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, which manages the commons for West Berkshire Council, asks for dogs on a lead on the main common from 1 March to 31 July, for ground-nesting birds. Its map shows the areas where dogs can run off the lead. Exmoor ponies and cattle graze the commons.
Can I cycle or ride a horse on Greenham Common?
Horse riding and cycling are allowed on the marked tracks only: the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 gives a right to ride on the paths and tracks the council sets, and nowhere else on the common without its written permission.
Can I camp on Greenham Common?
There is no right to camp or light a fire: the Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 applies the right to roam's general restrictions to access here.
Is there parking at Greenham Common?
Three free car parks, donations welcome: the Control Tower (RG19 8DB, opens 8am), Pyle Hill (RG19 3BX) and Crookham Common (RG19 8EJ), both open 24 hours. The smaller two have height barriers.
Spotted something wrong?
If this page doesn't match what you found on the ground, or you walk here often and know something it's missing, email hello@caniwalkhere.co.uk. Corrections are checked against the source and fixed; notes about the walk are credited if you'd like.
This is not the legal register of common land, which West Berkshire Council holds, and it is not legal advice. The landowner and byelaws can restrict access, so check signs before you go. Register unit CL13, Berkshire. Data changed 24 Oct 2026, checked 25 Oct 2026.