This walk starts with a stretch of the Thames Path and then moves away from the river for an easy walk through Oxfordshire woods and fields. We pass through pretty villages, a toll bridge, fine views of the Thames in the morning and a serene stroll through a rural idyll after lunch.
Length 8.5 miles (13.6km)
Toughness 3
out of 10
Travel: Take the 10.08 from Paddington for a
direct train to Pangbourne arriving 10.58
Return
trains are xx22 and xx52 with the option of changing at Reading for a faster
journey to Paddington.
Lunch: is the Sun Inn (tel 0118
984 3909) at Hill Bottom. A later option is the Greyhound in
Whitchurch which says it has street food.
Ferryboat Inn is permanently closed.
Tea: See options for pubs and restaurants in Pangbourne in walk
notes.
T=1.4
3 comments:
#15 walkers alighted at Pangbourne on a #dry-overcast-mild day. A few people indicated their intention to lunch at the Sun Inn, but most had brought sandwiches. A group of eight stopped to picnic in woodland close to the entrance drive to the Oratory Prep School, well into the second half of the walk. Mid-picnic, a sizeable group of ramblers passed us, apparently on exactly the same walk. Some recognised the back marker as an SWC walker. On returning to Whitchurch, a few walkers stopped briefly at the Greyhound Pub, while one of our group just managed to catch the 2 51 train back to Paddington. Overall, the conditions underfoot were excellent, with only one short, muddy stretch through the woods leading to Eastfield Lane. The earlier panoramic view towards Goring, once our route had climbed steeply away from the Thames Path towards the Hartslock Nature Reserve, was one of the highlights of the walk.
Thought it is worthwhile adding some information about lunch venues and our conquest for lunch. 7 walkers did the diversion to The Sun Inn which, sadly, no longer serves food. We were told that the manager had left and they could not find a replacement. This must had been a very recent event as their website is still showing an extensive food menu. We decided to have a drink and snacks before heading to the next Pub on-route which is only 30 mins away. While at the Sun Inn, we asked a couple of locals if Greyhound serves food, the answer was they don't anymore, but they do have a food van coming in the evening. I popped into Greyhound as we passed it, that was indeed the case. We pressed on to Pangbourne, here we passed by a local cafe which has an extensive menu from all day breakfast, soup, sandwich, jacket potatos, burgers and even fish and chips to tea and cakes. By now, one had decided to catch the train back, the rest of us ate here, We met two others from the picnic group who came for tea and cake. Food here was excellent which made our conquest for lunch rather rewarding. After our late lunch, 3 went to catch the train, but the day was still young, so five of us went to the Elephant hotel for our leaving drink before catching 4:58pm train. It was great day out in good company, unlike the picnic route, the lunch diversion route had NOooo Mudd!
The SWC back marker in that Ramblers group was doing missionary work among disbelievers, trying to bring them into the light.
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