A walk through three pretty Thames-side villages via wooded ridges with splendid views. Then down through a nature reserve and along the valley bottom to Goring-on-Thames for lunch. In the afternoon, return along the Thames Path, up through Hartslock Wood, and back down through Whitchurch and Pangbourne.
The walk is based on a hand drawn map devised by the YHA and, if preferred, you could follow that anti-clockwise instead.
An optional extension in the afternoon would take you into Hartslock Nature Reserve (famous for its wildflowers, especially orchids).
Trains
Get a return to Pangbourne (a return one stop further to Goring & Streatley, would give the option of a shorter walk finishing there).
Get the 09:38 Didcot Parkway train from Paddington arriving Pangbourne 10:33
You could also catch the 9:47 Hereford train and join the above train at Reading (departs Reading 10:25).
A Freedom Pass is valid as far as Reading on the Elizabeth Line (Paddington 9:18, Ealing Broadway 9:23) Arrive Reading 10:10 and, get the same 10:25 Didcot Parkway train. You need a ticket for the rest of the journey.
Return direct from Pangbourne at xx:26 (Goring xx:22). Change at Reading for faster or Liz line trains.
Lunch: Take your pick. There are 2 pubs in Goring, one nearby in Streatley, and 2 cafes.
I'd suggest either The Catherine Wheel ,Station Road Goring (01491 872 379) or The Miller of Mansfield, High Street, Goring (01491 872 829).
There's also the upmarket Swan at Streatley High Street, Streatley (01491 878 800), and Pierreponts Café 1 High Street, Goring (01491 874 464).
Tea You got The Greyhound,Whitchurch, with its pleasant garden. Or...in Pangbourne, the George Hotel, The Elephant, and the Cross Keys.
Directions and intro here. The main walk is on the "download walk" button and the map walk on the "YHA." button.
When in Goring, check out the churchyard. It should be a sea of cow parsley this time of year.
t=swc.170
Sunday, 26 May 2024
Sunday Walk: Pangbourne Circular via Goring
Length 16.0 km (10.0 mi) Difficulty 3/10
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1 comment:
N=9 and a dog after a slightly delayed journey.
Largely dry underfoot except when we strayed from the official path. (It’s called exploration and we didn’t go far wrong, honest).
You’ll be asking about the weather next - it was w=cloudy-and-sunnny-and-mostly-dry None of the promised thunder and lightning. There was one heavy downpour but we were under shelter in the Catherine Wheel’s garden at the time. There was also a light shower as we came back into Whitchurch.
The Catherine Wheel was fine - efficient service and snacks for the dog. Perhaps worth knowing they have a hatch in the garden serving pizzas. Not that MrTiger needed that, not with a kindly benefactor providing chips and chocolate.
Sadly, the cow parsley in the churchyard had been neatened up and iwas past its best.
One of the 9 dropped out at Goring and the rest continued on getting the 16:26 back.
Another grand day out.
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