Third time lucky! We finally got to do the Reading to Pangbourne linear walk. Originally planned for January, it was postponed due to flooding. (See first picture.) Rescheduled for Easter, it was postponed again due to the reconstruction work at Reading Station.
Saturday, 6th April, the trains were running, the ground was dry and the sun was out. Sixteen of us set off from Reading station, weaving through the road-works before crossing Reading Bridge into Christchurch Meadows.
After following the towpath as far as the War Memorial, we crossed back to the south side of the river at Caversham Bridge. From there we passed Reading Rowing Club and continued following the Thames Path westward. This section of the Thames Path is mostly tarmac, concrete and other hard surfaces. No sign of any mud yet.
As we got further out from Reading, the route began crossing open fields and the path was now gravelled, but still no mud! Lots of other people were out, walking, jogging, cycling and generally enjoying the sunny weather. It wasn't exactly hot, but certainly warmer than it has been during the past week.
The Thames Path takes a diversion just west of Tilehurst railway station. We crossed the railway line on a footbridge that brought us on to the A239 Oxford Road. This was the first bit of ascent on this largely flat walk. We then followed the Thames Path into an up-market housing estate in Purley-on-Thames.
The route crossed the railway line again on a road bridge before heading up Mapledurham Drive to Mapledurham Lock. We stopped for our picnic lunch on a bank facing the lock and watched a couple of boats going through.
After lunch, we wandered around the lock, with some of us taking advantage of the cafe, ice-cream shop and toilet facilities. We then continued westward on the Thames Path on the last leg to Pangbourne.
On the way, we found some mud! There is a section of the path that is intersected by a stream leading into the Thames. This part of the path is always a bit muddy and today it was no more muddy than usual.
You might get the impression that I am obsessed with mud. I'm not really, but we've seen so much of it one recent walks that I was expecting more of it today. (I'm not complaining!)
The last part of the route goes through Pangbourne Meadow and recreation ground. This was the part of the walk I was most concerned about, having seen it all underwater only a couple of months ago. I needn't have worried. It was absolutely fine. (Compare this picture with the first one.)
We entered Pangbourne, taking the alleyway that goes behind Waterside House and emerges onto Shooters Hill. This is where the walk finished, opposite Pangbourne Station and next to the Swan pub. Decision time! A few decided to catch the next train while the rest of us went to the pub for a drink and caught a later train. See our route on Google Maps.
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