Henley Circular via Great Wood Walk

Temple Island, Hambleden & the Great Wood

Length: 16.1 km (10 miles)

Toughness: 3 out of 10

This is a very pretty walk, out along the sparkling waters of the river Thames, and back via the hills above. You follow the Thames path in the morning to attractive hamlet of Hambleden with its brick and flint red roofed buildings. The return is via the wooded geological terrace above river.

After lunch, the walk for the next 2.5km takes you through the Great Wood, the endlessness of which gives an inkling of how most of Britain must once have been. From the village of Fawley with its church and mausoleum, the walk returns along the Oxfordshire Way, past the manor of Henley Park, to Henley for tea.

Travel:  Take the 10.08 train from Paddington to Twyford (arrives 10.37) change to the 10.45 train from Twyford, arriving Henley on thames 10.57.

Return trains: xx.00 and xx.30 mins past the hour.

Ticket: Return to Henley on thames

Lunch: Lunch: The Stag & Huntsman (01491 571 227), in Hambleden. For picnics, the nearby church.  There is also a little shop with benches outside, which does sandwiches, cakes etc.

Tea:  Plenty of options in Henley, including The Chocolate Café in Henley (now renamed as Viv’s) and the Weatherspoons or The Angel on the Bridge pub to name but a few.

T=1.1

Extension:  If you would like to extend this walk (by about 2 miles), then continue along the Thames towpath towards Shiplake passing a pretty lock and weir and a watermeadow.  You then vier off the path towards Shiplake station through the suburb.  Trains back to xx.o4 and 00.34.  Pub near the station is the Baskerville Arms. Your Henley ticket will cover you for the return to London from Shiplake.