🥾 Walk 362 - Reading to Pangbourne on the Thames Path

It was the last Sunday of 2018 when five of us met up on a rather grey, but dry day in Reading. This 7¾ mile walk was a repeat of a walk I'd led three years ago, which follows the Thames from Reading to Pangbourne.

We set off from the railway station and made our way to the Thames Water building, where we joined the Thames Path. This follows the south bank of the River Thames through Reading and all the way to Pangbourne, before crossing to the north bank at Whitchurch-on-Thames.

To add variety to the route, we crossed the Thames on the new(ish) foot and cycle suspension-bridge into the park on the Caversham side of the river. We walked through the park and passed the war memorial before crossing back over the river at the Caversham bridge and rejoining the Thames Path.

Crossing under this bridge on the Reading side, we emerged by the Reading Rowing Club, where we had to compete for path space with a large number of swans, geese, ducks and gulls. From here we stayed on the tow-path on the south side of the river, where we could see the gardens and boat-houses of the fancy houses on the Caversham side of the river.

Eventually the tow-path passed close to Tilehurst railway station. Soon after that, we left the water's edge, crossed the railway and walked through a housing estate in Purley-on-Thames. Emerging by Mapledurham Lock, we stopped here for our lunch, making use of the benches by the lock.

After lunch, we continued along the south bank of the river until we reached Pangbourne. Here we spotted a brass rhinoceros in a garden on the other side of the river.

As there was plenty of time before the 14:19 train to Reading, we stopped off at The Swan for a post-walk drink.

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