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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday 19 August 2017

Goring Circular via Hill Bottom

Goring Circular via Hill Bottom T=swc.243

Length:  (11.3 miles) (18km). Toughness: 4/10. If it's a fine evening, there is an extension down a scenic stretch of the Thames Path to Whitchurch and Pangbourne adding 4.5m (7km). Be aware that from 1930 trains are not stopping at Pangbourne and there is a 10 minute journey on a connecting replacement bus to Tilehurst, so check the train times.

Apologies for not spotting this was posted last Sunday.
This is different from the original Goring Circular, passing through gently hilly territory just to the north of Book 1, walk 4 Pangborne Circular. The walk description promises "beautiful rolling Chilterns countryside, forest trails and quiet country lanes".

Trains: get the 1015 Cheltenham train from London Paddington, changing at Reading (arr 1040) for the Goring train 1053 arriving 1107. Alternatively the direct 0957 train calling at Ealing Broadway 1005. Return trains are xx12 & xx42 up to 2042, then 2108, changing at Reading for a faster train to Paddington. Buy a return to Goring & Streatley.

Lunch: The recommended pub is the Sun Inn (5m or 8.2km), but you might want to take note of the following walk feedback: "We had both brought sandwiches so we bypassed the Sun Inn by taking a slightly shorter route to reach Woodcote where we had our lunch on a bench overlooking the huge Green and cricket pitch before popping into the Red Lion (7.5m or 12.2km) for a drink. The pub is a real 1970s throwback carpeted floors, a few old regulars, an open fire and meals for around £7; excellent." So not a gastro pub. The instructions are in the latest PDF walk directions here.

Tea: The Swan is being refurbished. As well as those in the directions, I like the Catherine Wheel in Station Road, which is reached via a left turn after the railway bridge down Red Cross Road, or by a left just after The Village Cafe. You can get to the station from Station Road, crossing the footbridge to get the London trains.




7 comments:

PeteB said...

The Sun Inn only serves meals to people and groups who have pre-booked. Drop-in customers will not be served food. I don't know how much notice they need.

My advice, having done this walk last Sunday, is to bypass the Sun Inn using the shortcut and eat at the Red Lion which is friendly and serves big portions. Best to give them a ring beforehand too. When back at Goring treat yourself to tea and cakes at either the Village cafe or Pierreponts- both excellent - and then take a lovely early evening stroll along the Thames Path back to Pangbourne (4.5m). Finish with a meal/drinks in one of the fine pubs in Whitchurch or Pangbourne. There I've sorted your day out for you! Enjoy your walk.

Anonymous said...

This walk was featured last Sunday, literally 6 days ago. Pity it comes up again so soon after last outing.

Bridie said...

Hi #2 Anonymous, Tue 15 Aug 17, 21:06
Re your comment below
You could offer to post if you don't like what is being given
Luckily you still have two other walks to choose from on the Saturday posting and of course a plethora of other clubs, meetup and Ramblers etc from which you can also choose

To the posters - thank you for all your hard work and don't let the petty whingers get you down, your work is appreciated


Anonymous said...

To # 3, Happy to be a walk poster if I can get away with the same walk every week 52 weeks a year! Thank you for posting this walk.

PeteB said...

Just to let you know that following last Sunday's outing I have up-dated the pdf file for this walk including a short-cut that bypasses the Sun Inn at Hill Bottom if you have not pre-booked a meal there. This means you should reach the Red Lion at Woodcote at a reasonable time; ie before 1.30pm.
Apropos the issue about the walk being set so soon after its last outing: Saturday and Sunday groups are often completely different so I hope there is a good turn-out on Saturday with the weather looking good.

PeteG said...

n=9 on this pleasant, heavily wooded walk. We took the short cut, missing out the Sun Inn to eat at the Red Lion, which we discovered finishes food at 1400 (1200-1400 Tues-Sun no food Monday), with about 20 minutes to spare. I would suggest pub lunchers check out the Black Lion - we just went straight past it.

PeteB said...

From my latest researches the Black Lion does not serve food so unless you pre-book some time in advance for a meal at the Bell the Red Lion in Woodcote is your lunch pub option.