I started the day at the Hill End Centre which supports outdoor learning and residential opportunities. A beautiful place and great to meet face to face for an AGM. I was starting the morning off by providing bacon rolls.
Having driven to just west of Oxford I decided to do a walk from this starting point and obviously a safe place to leave the car.
On leaving the centre I first had a busy road to cross and then down a track which was edged by farm fields. This path led to Cumnor, a village which just managed to be separate from Oxford.
I’m remind as I walk along this path of several times when I’ve walked this starting route with groups of children whilst staying at the centre.
Reflection – children can’t show their skills unless given the opportunity. I always shared maps with the pupils and on one such walk a particular child of 8, showed real expertise and understanding – a skill I didn’t know he had and wouldn’t have discovered in the classroom.
As I approach the village the sound of children out to play can be heard – always joyous. The path comes out opposite the church and a rather attractive small thatched cottage.
The route takes me through the village towards Farmoor and goes left in front of the Methodist Chapel. This is quite a long track which splits right by this thatched cottages, passed open fields where a farmer is at work and on through a more sheltered area. This was a pleasing reprise on a very hot day.
After a long stretch a corner is turned and the River Thames is reached. A hot picnic but a pleasant tow path walk. The Thames Path is actually on the other bank – and so is the refreshment – ‘The Ferry’ public house, Bablock Hythe . A very long time since I’ve been there! There used to be a chain ferry across at this point for pedestrians.
On the far bank is an extensive, well laid out caravan park. Many look to be homes with an ever changing view and there are several boats moored alongside and jetties out into the river with tables and chairs strategically placed. The path runs close to the bank with a green field to my right and the river peacefully on my left. A welcome breeze makes it feel slightly less hot!
The river has many bends at this point and there are areas of bulrushes and helpful info boards have been put up at regular intervals. To the right is Farmoor Reservoir but you probably wouldn’t realise unless you knew. There are willows along the far bank and they are being pollarded.
It is about now that the first moving boat on the river appears – it is so quiet today. Before turning towards the top of the reservoir, the weir and lock can be seen.
The path turns and tracks behind the houses of Farmoor. The Himalayan Balsam has really taken hold here. The path emerges on to the road back towards Cumnor.
Luckily there is a grassy track beside the road until the entrance to the Reservoir. This is used for sailing and fishing.
The next section was difficult, only about 400 metres but no path and virtually no verge. Luckily the path back across the fields appeared where I thought it should. It did feel very hot and took a while to track back towards the path where I had started.
There were sections of this walk I really enjoyed, especially by the river but overall it was really too hot. It was 15.6 km long.
The centre had just hosted a group called Overland for the weekend. This helps subsidised the site.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 