On Sunday 25th October, twelve of us (including a visitor trying out the group) met up in the car park outside the village hall in Pangbourne. It was surprisingly warm and sunny, considering we'd had a downpour only an hour earlier and the previous day had brought us 40mm of rain and winds gusting to 45mph.
The walk was a modified version of one I've led before and started with a quick trip through Pangbourne village centre before crossing the toll bridge into Whitchurch-on-Thames. Rather than following the main road through Whitchurch, we took a detour via the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Back on the main road, we headed up the hill before branching off onto the Hartslock Bridleway (also the Thames Path). The path then took a seriously steep dip and rise before entering Hartslock Wood.
Here the Thames Path follows the river, high up on a narrow path on a steep wooded bank. The mixture of trees meant that there were leaves of every shade of autumn colour and a carpet of fallen leaves beneath us. Occasionally we passed people coming the other way, which required some careful footwork to prevent a tumble down the steep bank! Fortunately the path widened as we entered Lower Hartslock Wood.
As the Thames Path left Lower Hartslock Wood, we left the Thames Path by heading up a very steep grassy path to the top of the dome-shaped Hatton Hill. Stopping to get our breath back, we also took the opportunity to admire the view of the Thames and Chiltern Hills. Next, we walked up a steep road to Upper Gatehampton Farm and followed a path leading to Great Chalk Wood.
Just before entering the wood, we stopped for our picnic lunch, sitting in the sunshine in an empty grassy field. It wasn't until later that someone pointed out that there was a sign on the gate through which we'd entered the field saying Beware of the Bull! It might have been more accurate if it had said Beware of the Wasp as a solitary stripy nuisance paid us too much attention while we tucked into our packed lunches.
Walking through Great Chalk Wood, there were so many autumn colours on display, plus quite a few muddy puddles, so walking along while looking up at the trees was a little bit hazardous. We joined the Chiltern Way and followed that very briefly before heading out of the wood at Stapnall's Farm and following a quiet lane to Cold Harbour. We left the lane near Furzemoor Plantation and headed south across a field of cows.
Next came the weird wood. This has a clearly defined path into it, which leads you to a clearing with no obvious route out. Being the consummate professional that I am, I'd done a pre-walk and so knew how to find the way out. It emerged into Beech Farm, where we followed a well defined path through the farmland to join the main road into Whitchurch. A light rain began to fall as we passed through the farmland, but it only lasted long enough for us all to put on our rainproof jackets before it stopped again.
We followed the road through Whitchurch and across the toll bridge back into Pangbourne. Here we took an alleyway that bypassed the village centre and emerged opposite the railway station - just as the train back to Reading was leaving! It would be an hour until the next one. The rest of us walked the short distance to the car park and said our goodbyes. See our route on Google Maps.
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