I had planned to do a walk in Oxford today but then felt guilty for neglecting my garden. Some how the day slipped away a bit so I changed plans and set off from home thinking I would do a shortish walk around the edge of Wantage. The muscles around my left (newer) hip have been a bit sore so also thought perhaps I ought to be more cautious. Visually planned my route but didn’t fuss too much about measuring it. Whoops – turns out it was 11 km!
From the house I went past Charlton Church and into the village – this would once have been separate from Wantage. When I first lived in Larkhill the local farm, Home Farm, was still active from the village. They did outreach for schools and whilst I was on maternity leave with Jack – now 29, my class visited. I pushed the pram across the road to join them!
Part of the reason I wanted to walk along this track which starts at the end of the housing is that there is so much new development on this side of Wantage including a road, that it might soon change.
I wonder if this was a route used long ago between Charlton and old Grove?
Where this passed for many years just through fields there are now houses, a school and the start of a new link road between the A417 and the A338. Also a solar panel farm a little further on.
The track crosses the route of the old Wilts and Berks Canal which starts in Abingdon. It should be noted that until the change on 1st April 1974 both Abingdon and Wantage were in Berkshire. My route was now to follow the canal along the old tow path.
No water but lots of water loving plants and the position of the canal basin is very clear. After a while I reached a bridge marked as Grove bridge and lock and I was able to see the bricks that once lined the lock and the distinct change in depth that necessitated it’s existence.
I could also see the worn rounded marks on the edge of the bridge brick work where the ropes of horses, towing barges, would have rubbed over a period of time.
The walk through here was really pleasant and there were numerous paths through this wooded area.
The path comes close to the A338 towards Oxford. This stretch was one of the surprises of the walk. The path was virtually through the back gardens of the cottages which lie between the road and the canal. Loved this sign.
It then becomes very unused before it meets the complete contrast of roads by traffic lights.
Crossing over the road and along a stretch of open space before the canal became apparent again. Another bridge and flowers with complementary colours.
The canal path comes out on Mably Way near the small roundabout which hosts an aeroplane which commemorates the use of the area as an airfield during the 2nd world war.
The path now takes you near the canal but also into a new housing estate. I hope they installed good drainage as this field used to be very boggy! There is water back in the canal and some plastic barriers – to protect newt habitats.
This path bends round and the canal carries on to East Challow. My route today was through part of the Stockham Estate where I spent a very happy 9 years teaching. I used to teach cycling proficiency on the roads I was now walking along!
Out on to the Denchwirth Road and across down by Belmont and out at the bottom of Mill Street. In order to avoid walking through town I crossed and took the path by Wessex Mill. During lockdown the mill worked on overtime to produces sufficient flour for the influx of home baked bread.
Along this path lies the Betjeman Garden. John Betjman, one time poet laureate, lived for a while very close to the park.
The paths around here lead in various direction and I took the one to Lock’s Mill and the ford before turning up towards the old Priory Buildings and along Priory Road. Up along Church Street, a quick nip into Waitrose and then a back way home.
This was an enjoyable walk and I felt bad that I didn’t realise all the open ground existed when first turning off from the main road in Grove. Also to think I had driven passed the canal cottages so many times and not realised about the footpath lurking behind them.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 