Today’s walk started and finished in Wallingford and was 15.2 km long. This is another market town, like Abingdon and Wantage and along with these two was once in Berkshire. Similarly to Abingdon the River Thames runs through the edge of the town.
After parking behind the main square the route started and came out by the church. A bit of poor navigation took me in the wrong direction at the cross roads! However I got back on track by following the footpath that skirted the area of Wallingford Castle and joined the path over the River Thames.
The first part of this route doesn’t follow the river but cuts across fields touching the edge of Newnham Murren, next to a campsite and then through a farm yard before coming out onto Wallingford bypass.
The path was signed as going to Mongewell. This brought back a few memories of the first residential I did with my second school. We had a group of eight year olds and we were staying at what was once a very small school. The children were sleeping in tents of two and three. Remarkably they slept really well and the whole event was a great success.
Having walked along the main road and across the river again a small slip path cut down, under the bridge and joined the Thames path. This was a really pleasant part of the river. I was greeted by the customary swans.
There are several sections where long gardens lead down to the river and the path turns into sections of mowed lawns. There is also a large site which houses the Oxford Brookes University Boat House. The river seems very quiet and wide at this section.
On the opposite bank is North Stoke a small but beautiful little village which I’ve taken pupils to in order to draw cottages and also to create clay tiles of houses. Michael Caine the famous actor, lived in the village at the time of one visit and we actually saw him!
There were an abundance of Michaelmas Daisies framed by Hawthorn berries. Also the wonderful sculptural shape of these seed heads stood out against the sky which was blue once again
A sudden sound made me go to the waters edge and there were several groups of geese swimming in a line. A boat came through at this point, making the geese bob up and down as well as move along.
The path runs through Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve and then turns towards the village of Cholsey. As this track left the river I spotted an older man wiping down his inflatable canoe, I’d spotted him earlier paddling down the river. It was great to see somebody who had obviously so enjoyed the afternoon sunshine and we had a quick chat.
Just before reaching the road this track passes by a new estate which has been built on the site of Fair Mile Hospital – this was once a large mental health establishment.
After entering the village a pub is passed. It has a really old fashioned look but also one that indicates it’s an important social gathering point. There’s also a sign for Moreland Brewery – no longer in existence and taken over by Greene King.
Having walked through the southern part of the village The path heads for a path next to the intersection of the main line railway and the old branch line to Wallingford. I missed my turn and ended up going under the mainline and had to back track. I should have turned right after the first bridge. A really strange piece of paving was on the track – part of a parish council pathway refurbishment !
The next place to visit was St Mary’s Church. The rail way track runs along the side of the field. Agatha Christie the detective novelist is buried here.
Behind the Church is Manor Farm and it’s distinctive clay tiles and brickwork can be seen over the wall of the churchyard.
The path rejoins the railway track. Cholsey and Wallingford Railway operates along this track as an attraction some weekends and also is open for school trips by arrangement. I’ve used this several times with children doing photo quizzes of the engines, drawing and of course going on a ride down the track. Stopping for a picnic and games then returning up the track.
Good to see that a new wooded area has been planted along this section before the path turns towards Winterbrook, the southern part of Wallingford.
There is a blue plaque on Winterbrook House where the famous novelist lived. The path turns to the right next to the clear water of Bradford’s Brook as it leads down to the river. The river looks wonderful in the late afternoon sunshine.
After this last short stretch of river the path turns back into the town. There are some old buildings which are noticeable by there overhang, mix of building materials and further along small windows. The sign at the end of the road confirms my thoughts as to their use. There is a backwater next to the road and I spotted a building with semicircular windows and my thoughts are mill. As I turn the corner it has a sign saying Old Mill and granary but alas no photo as my phone died at this point. Just a another two hundred metres of so and back to the car.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 