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Long Walks Group
Objective: To provide the opportunity for any TVN U3A member to walk all or some of the Thames Path between the source at Thames Head and Windsor.
The plan is to walk in manageable chunks of between 8 and 10 miles, although logistics may make it necessary for one or two legs to exceed this slightly. Members of any affiliated U3A are welcome on any of the walks, which will be linear and will take place between July 2010 and October 2011. Circumstances may, however, make it necessary to limit the numbers for some of the walks.
Details of individual walks will be published in the project newsletter and on the TVN website. Each walk will have its own co-ordinator, with whom all intending walkers should make contact, as detailed in the brief for that walk.
Further information can be obtained from Ian Clarkson, Faringdon & District U3A, 01793 782836 or at ian.clarkson@gmail.com
Long Walks Group:
The First Walk, Section 3 of Thames Walks
Walk Co-ordinator: Ian
Clarkson, Faringdon & District U3A
Date: Wednesday 21st July 2010
Meeting Place: Market Place, Lechlade
Route: Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge, via St
John’s Lock, Buscot Weir and Radcot – 10 miles (approx)
Features: Numerous Locks and Weirs, Ancient
and Modern Bridges, Battle Sites and, of course, glorious river bank
walking
Transport: Bus service from Swindon Bus
Station (9:45am) to Lechlade (10:25am). At the end of the walk there is a
half-hourly service into Swindon along the A420, which is 2 miles from
Tadpole Bridge. For those travelling by car (recommended) there is ample
car parking half a mile south of Lechade off the A361. Arrangements will
be made to transport drivers back from Tadpole Bridge to Lechlade on the
Faringdon Community Bus, so that they can pick up their cars and return to
pick up their passengers from the end of the walk
Refreshment: We anticipate these walks being
quite popular which, together with the length of the walk, makes a pub
lunch difficult. The lunch stop will be at Radcot Bridge, where a packed
lunch can be enjoyed on one bank of the river, while The Swan on the other
bank might quench a few thirsts. There is also the attractive Trout Inn at
the end of the walk.
Registration:
If you would like to join this
inaugural walk please send an email to
ian.clarkson@gmail.com
simply giving your name, U3A, telephone number and email address, and your
proposed method of transport. You will then be advised of detailed plans
for the day.
Section
1
Philip Eagle proposes to walk the first
section of the Thames path from the source at Kemble, Gloucestershire
to Cricklade, Wiltshire on Wednesday September 15. There is
an hourly train service from Swindon and I propose to use the 8.54am train
which arrives in Kemble at 9.07am.
Buses from Cirencester to Swindon pick up in Cricklade at 3.25pm, 4.25pm,
5.25pm and (the last bus) at 6.25pm.
The walk is along a well marked and well maintained path, mostly grass
and following close to the river thus there are no hills. The first few
miles are through fields but it soon begins to thread its way through
the man-made lakes created for gravel extraction and known as Cotswold
Water Park. It skirts two villages; Ewen and Ashton Keynes, neither of
which has a shop so walkers will need to carry all food and water.
Please note that the total route is in excess of 12 miles and there is
no opportunity to pick up public transport at intermediate points. Anyone
taking part must be prepared to complete the full distance and be aware
of the times of public transport at the end of the walk
Please advise me if you intend to take part by E-mail to eaglephillip@yahoo.com
or telephone on Swindon (01793) 700046.
Section 2
He plans to walk the second leg of the Thames Path from Cricklade to
Lechlade on Wednesday September 29 using the 9.20 am bus from
Swindon to Cricklade. This is a distance of approx 11 miles and once again
there are no shops after Cricklade in which to obtain food or drink. The
path is initially parallel to the river and then on a tarmac road. It
diverges from the river after a few miles and, indeed, finishes with a
mile or more unpleasant walk along the very busy A361 road into Lechlade.
Once again, it will be necessary to complete the total distance as there
is no access to public transport between Cricklade and Lechlade
The bus service from Lechlade back to Swindon is not frequent and buses
leave Lechlade at 14.08, 15.13, 15.52, 17.08, and 18.02.
Note that concessionary bus passes are not eligible for journeys starting
in Wiltshire before 9.30am on weekdays.
Please advise me if you intend to take part by E-mail to eaglephillip@yahoo.com
or telephone on Swindon (01793) 700046.
4 Locks, 3 miles between each makes a pleasant, easy 9 miles which will go
straight through with a 15 min break halfway.
The route takes us over Horseshoe Bridge, where the Kennet joins the
Thames, and pass the grounds of Reading Blue Coat school. We cross
from Berkshire to Oxfordshire via Sonning Bridge, past Shiplake
College, through Shiplake then on to Marsh lock. From there it’s a
15 minute stroll to the Catherine Wheel for a late lunch. For those who
prefer a packed lunch there are plenty of seats at Henley riverside.
Meet: Reading Bridge for a 10:30 start. ETA Henley 14:30
Car Park: Hills Meadow GR SU 71800 74059 is adjacent to the bridge.
Reading station is a 5 minute walk, follow signs for Caversham/River
Thames.
Buses back from Henley are at 25 & 55.
For further information
contact Lin Godfrey 0118 9477820,
lin.godfrey@btinternet.com
Mobile on day 07747 357825
Faringdon U3A organising
Ian Clarkson, Faringdon U3A, will be
leading this easy 10 mile walk along a lovely if lonely stretch of the
The walk will start at
If you are interested in registering for this walk or would like more information please contact Ian at ian.clarkson@gmail.com. He will send out more details to all who register.
Marlow U3A
Wednesday 16th March - Bourne End to
On Wednesday 16th March Marlow
U3A will lead a level walk along the Thames Path form
We will meet at the Spade Oak public car
park (not the pub car park),
It is essential that those wishing to join the walk let me know of their intentions at brendasmith1942@yahoo.co.uk, or on 01628 524306, by Monday 7th March so that transport can be arranged. All U3A members are welcome to join the walk but you will be responsible for your own transport if you do not contact me before March 7th.
Brenda Smith, Marlow U3AApril Long Walk: Bablock Hythe to
The arrangements for April’s walk can now be confirmed as follows:
Date:
Wednesday 13th April
Meet: Either a)at Bus Stop B1 in George Street, Oxford at 11:00am to catch the 11:05am bus to
Bablock Hythe, arriving at 11:38am (more precise details will be sent to
participants later) or b) at The Ferryman, Bablock Hythe at 11:40am. We will
start walking at
The
later start is because this is the only
bus to go to Bablock Hythe each morning
The
Route is via Pinkhill Lock,
Refreshments: Although there are several delightful pubs on or close to the route, they are either too early or too late to be suitable for a lunch stop, so a packed lunch is recommended. This is not to say that we can’t enjoy some refreshment at The Trout at Godstow or The Perch at Binsey as we near the end of the walk!
If you are interested in joining us, or
would like more information, please
contact the walk leader, Ian Clarkson on 01793 782836 or at ian.clarkson@gmail.com, indicating
whether you will be meeting us in
Goring Gap U3A
Date
Contact Ann
Walsh Goring Gap U3A
Where Goring
Village Hall to Caversham
For Members of any Affiliated TVN U3A
Meeting Place Goring
Village Hall . Parking in Central Car
Park or station,
Refreshments
Picnic lunch
at Mapledurham Lock, drinks & ice cream available
A walk from Dorchester-on-Thames to Wallingford
Walk Co-ordinator: Kevin Harrison, Thameside (Wallingford) U3A
Date: Thursday 19th May 2011
Meeting Place: Riverside Car-Park (by Wallingford Bridge) at Crowmarsh.
Route: Short bus-ride from Crowmarsh to Dorchester. Return walk via Dorchester, Wittenham Clumps, Shillingford Bridge, Benson Marina and Wallingford – 7 miles. Level and fairly easy walking, except one optional climb to Wittenham Clumps.
Features: Dorchester village and Abbey, iron-age earthworks, Day’s Lock, optional short but steep climb to Wittenham Clumps (excellent views of the Thames and in every direction), woodland walk to Shillingford Bridge, riverside walk via Benson Marina and Benson Lock to Wallingford and Crowmarsh.
Refreshments: Stop at Wittenham Clumps for morning coffee (bring your own!) and informal lunch-stop at Benson Waterfront Café (wide range of light meals and drinks available) immediately next to Benson Riverside park, where an alternative option is to bring a picnic. Walk finishes in Wallingford with its riverside Boathouse (café-bar), other cafés, shops and interesting Museum.
Registration: If you would like to join this walk, please (preferably) email Kevin at kg.harrison42@tiscali.co.uk stating your interest, giving your name, U3A, telephone number and email address (otherwise telephone 01491 834632). You will then be advised of detailed plans for the day. Please note that for practical reasons numbers will be limited to 25, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Henley 7th June
Henley
to Bourne End – Tuesday 7th June.
Note change of date from the 8th June
Meet at 10:30am in front of the River and Rowing Museum,
Henley, walk to Bourne End.
Return to Henley by train – 10 minutes to Marlow – and
then bus (remember bus passes)
Easy walking means that we should be back in Henley
sometime between 4:00pm and 5:00pm. It would be good to have a good turnout for
this picturesque section, so why not come and join us.
Participants should contact Jill Kendal on 0118 972 2201 or at kendalwoodbury@supanet.com to let her know of the intention to walk and also to receive full joining instructions.
Long Walk –
Leader: Eric Nuttall, Abingdon U3A
Date: Wednesday 6th July Start time: 10:30am Distance:
9 miles
Meet at Oxford Police Station, St Aldgates – the most
convenient Park and Ride is Redbridge
The route takes
us from
If you are interested in joining this walk or would like more information please contact Eric Nuttall on 01235 522496 or at pnuts@mypostoffice.co.uk
August Long Walk: Dorchester
The arrangements for August’s long walk - the penultimate leg - are as follows:
Date:
Thursday 18th August
Meet: At the
Public
transport between Goring and
The
Route is a delightful easy walk via Shillingworth,
Preston Crowmarsh,
Refreshments: Because of the length of the walk it is suggested that participants bring a packed lunch – there are several hostelries in Goring in which to celebrate at the end!
If you are interested in joining us, or
would like more information, please
contact either the walk leader, Christine Usher of Wokingham U3A on 0118 987 2736
or at christine.usher@talk21.com or the
Long Walks Co-ordinator, Ian Clarkson, on 01793 782836 or at ian.clarkson@gmail.com In registering your interest please try to
indicate how many people and cars there are likely to be in your party so that
arrangements to ferry the correct number of drivers can be made.
More exact details will be sent, to all who
register an interest/intention to walk, approximately five days before the
event