# 🥾 Walk 577 - Reading Abbey, Thames Path, Pangbourne

Sunday 14th May was warmer and sunnier than had been forecast. My fleece came off and the sun glasses went on before we'd even started the walk. This walk, led by Mark and Julie, was a linear walk from Reading to Pangbourne that involved a train ride. Luckily, the train strike on Saturday hadn't disrupted the Sunday service too much.

Starting from outside Reading station, we had fourteen people on the walk as we headed through town, passing through St Lawrence Church Cemetery to Forbury Gardens. There were already fifteen of us now and the phone was ringing with others who were on their way after after being caught out by changes to the train timetable.

After looking around the Forbury Gardens, we moved on to the ruins of Reading Abbey. Now there were sixteen of us as we followed the River Kennet westward through the town. Passing Blake's Wharf, we left the river, following Gas Works Road and Kenavon Drive before heading northward.

![Exploring the ruins of Reading Abbey.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/reading_abbey_ruins.jpg)

Passing under the railway, we were soon crossing King's Meadow and joining the Thames Path by Caversham Lock. Now we followed the Thames Path westward through the town, passing under Reading Bridge and reaching Christchurch Bridge.

We stopped on Christchurch Bridge to admire the views of the River Thames and Christchurch Meadow. Then, surprising everyone, the leader directed us off the bridge at the same end as we'd got on. It seemed our walk would continue on the south side of the river, passing under Caversham Bridge.

Reading Rowing Club looked busy as we carefully made our way through the numerous canoeists lifting their craft between the clubhouse and the river. There were the usual gaggle of swans on the river, undeterred by the canoeists.

![Approaching Reading Bridge on the Thames Path.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/reading_bridge.jpg)

Continuing along the Thames Path through Rivermead Park, there were lots of people out enjoying the good weather. There was an ice cream van parked by the path, doing a good trade. Further along, there were many varieties of ducks and geese with their young by the water's edge.

As we passed by Tilehurst, we met up with two more of our group, who had arrived late and not realising we were exploring Reading, joined the Thames Path straight away, ending up in front of us. Now we were eighteen in number.

Leaving the river at Purley-on-Thames, we followed the Thames Path through an upmarket housing estate. Then we were heading along Mapledurham Drive towards the lock. Before reaching it, we stopped in Bucknell Meadow park and sat on the grass to eat our packed lunches.

![Stopping on Christchurch Bridge to admire the view.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/christchurch_bridge.jpg)

After lunch, we continued on the Thames Path, passing through the picturesque Mapledurham Lock. It was busy, as you might expect, with boats using the lock and people sitting on the many benches watching the activities.

There were a few more miles of Thames Path to take us the rest of the way to Pangbourne. Even the more remote sections were populated with families and individuals enjoying the scenery and warm weather.

Arriving at Pangbourne Meadow, we followed a footpath that passed by the weirs and emerged opposite the road leading up to Pangbourne railway station. See our route on Google Maps. Here, some of the group said goodbye and headed home while the rest of us popped into The Swan pub for a post-walk drink.

![A couple of Greylag geese and their gosling.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/greylag_geese.jpg)

Although I've led a walk from Reading to Pangbourne in the past, mine didn't include the interesting tour of historic Reading that made Mark and Julie's walk quite special.

![Leaving Bucknell Meadow for Mapledurham Lock.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/bucknell_meadow.jpg)

![Leaving Mapledurham Lock on the Thames Path.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume44/images/thames_path_mapledurham.jpg)

*Thank you to Mark and Julie for leading this walk.*

## 📸 Back to Volume 44

Return to volume index