Six of us, including a visitor trying us out, met up in Pangbourne on New Year's Day morning. The town was quiet, as were the roads, confirming the news articles saying that yesterday's New Year's Eve events had been very well attended, being the first without some kind of restriction since the start of the pandemic.
We set off through the town and across Whitchurch Bridge into Whitchurch-on-Thames. Leaving the main road as it began to ascend Whitchurch Hill, we followed Hartslock Bridleway, a lane that is also part of the Thames Path.
The Thames Path eventually became a footpath through woodland but first it dipped and rose steeply at Hartley Steps. We continued through woodland on a high bank above the Thames for some time before the Thames Path descended at Lower Hartslock Wood. Now the path was much more muddy and a decision was made to take a detour on some higher and dryer paths that would re-join the Thames Path much nearer to Goring.
Back on the Thames Path we passed a number of boat houses in various conditions and we had to wade across a section of the path where the Thames had breached the bank before we reached our picnic lunch stop at Ferry Lane Open Space, where there were benches to sit on.
After lunch we passed the house once owned by Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris, which was quite apt as one of us had been discussing a film she'd just seen about the controversial WWII bombing campaign.
Heading out of Goring on the Chiltern Way, we passed the cemetery where Sir Arthur Harris was buried and we stopped to take a look at the grave. Continuing onwards and upwards on a muddy path through Great Chalk Wood, we came across several other groups of walkers.
Leaving the wood at Stapnall's Farm, we found a beautifully made swing with substantial ropes hanging from a tree. A small notice board invited people to enjoy the swing while respecting the nearby garden. A couple of us tried out the swing, which proved to be as good as it looked.
The highest point of the walk was reached at Cold Harbour, after which we descended along a lane to Coombe End Farm. Crossing fields and a beech wood brought us to Beech Farm. From there we headed south across fields and joined the road at Whitchurch Hill, descending into Whitchurch. Crossing Whitchurch Bridge back in to Pangbourne, we followed a river-side path to the car park. See our route on Google Maps.
Rob led this walk and wrote it up.
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