Length 16 kn (10 miles) difficulty 3/10
From Pangbourne via wooded ridges with splendid views. Then down through a wildflower nature reserve and along the valley bottom to Goring-on-Thames for lunch. In the afternoon you return along the Thames Path, mainly through meadows, up through Hartslock Wood, and back down through Whitchurch and Pangbourne.
The walk is based on a hand drawn map devised by YHA Goring and, if preferred, you could follow that (anticlockwise), though written instructions and GPS are also available.
An optional extension in the afternoon climbs into Hartslock Nature Reserve and adds 300m or 1.4 km to the length.
Trains
Get a return to Pangbourne (or one stop further to Goring & Streatley, for the option of finishing there after 5 miles).
Get the 09:38 Didcot Parkway train from Paddington arriving Pangbourne 10:36.
A Freedom Pass is valid as far as Reading on the slower Elizabeth Line (Paddington 9:15, Ealing Broadway 9:26). Arrive Reading 10:10 and, get the same Didcot Parkway train, (10:26 from platform 13). You need a ticket for the rest of the journey.
Return direct from Pangbourne at xx:26 (Goring xx22). Or change at Reading for the Elizabeth line.
Lunch: There are 2 pubs in Goring, one in nearby Streatley,
The Catherine Wheel ,Station Road (01491 872 379).
The Miller of Mansfield, High Street, (01491 872 829).
The upmarket Swan at Streatley is just over the river in Streatley's High Street. (01491 878 800).
Near the bridge, there's also Pierreponts Café, 1 High Street, Goring, (01491 874 464).
Tea
The Greyhound , Whitchurch, on the way back into Pangbourne is probably the most convenient stop. Venture further into Pangbourne and you’ll find the George Hotel, The Elephant, and the Cross Keys. t=swc.170
Directions and intro here
The written directions are on the "download walk" button and the map on the "YHA.." button.
3 comments:
N=9 at the station. It may have been rainy in London, but for us, it was w=sunny-and-dry all day.
A pleasant walk, slightly muddy at times, but no more than expected.
The fast people were faster. There were allegations that 2 slower ones might have taken a short cut but, if they did, it would have been accidental. Anyway, they didn’t say nothing. Nothing.
The Catherine Wheel was a hit. All reconvened there. We got tables by the fire. Many had the roasts and were soon replete. Drinks good too.
Then the fast people got up to race off (but not before a visit to the cake shop - just saying). Mr Tiger would have joined them but a kindly benefactor had just handed him a plate of chips.
A section of Thames Path is closed from Goring. Locals say the barriers can be bypassed, but we were good and took the short diversion and were soon back along the river and heading for Whitchurch.
Mr Tiger started lagging behind ‘sigh’. It is assumed the rest caught the 15:26, but not him. No, not him.
He had to go into the Greyhound and drink a lonely pint of beer all by himself while he waited for the 16:26. ‘Sigh’
You can increase the total number of walkers to 10, as I also completed it (including the extension in the morning) but an hour later, having taken the Elizabeth Line to Reading and missed the connection to the Pangbourne train. Great walk - thank you!
n=10
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