The week is not as planned. During my walk on Monday I got a message to say that my two walks in Wales on Tuesday and Friday had been cancelled due to a Covid issue. So some replanning was needed.
A real mix of locality today and starting at Clifton Hampden, parking in the village hall car park. Quite a pertinent place to park considering my first destination point. Over 50 years ago I would have travelled passed this point between my hall of residence and college. The path cut up through the village and some houses which wouldn’t normally be seen from the road. Some very desirable residencies!
A great path next to fields and then the side of an extensive wooded area. A right angled turn by Keeper’s Cottage- much refurbished. Another extreme turn by New Cottage. On the right is a really round copse and this could well have been part of Nuneham Park. I feel quite excited about this part of the walk as I’m about to go across the top of the drive to Nunehan House. Significant, as it was where I lived for the first two years of my college course. Once upon a time it could be seen from the river but it was not visible when I did walk 50. I had been back once during a college reunion – but still excited.
Both of my rooms were in South Wing – the one on the left. The first year a large room looking towards the river, shared with three others and once used by Queen Victoria. The next was on a mezzanine floor with our bathroom the one used by Lily Langtry who at one time was the mistress of Edward VII, when he was the Prince Of Wales. The male members of our student group lived in the central block and North Wing. The former having a wonderful staircase which spiralled down- great when you are wearing a long ball gown – it had to be done! Maths lectures used to be in the rooms by the cars – this is now a global retreat centre.
A splendid entrance to a wonderful building. The drive leads back up towards the village of Nuneham Courenay. This was moved when the house was built as it was inconvenient in the parkland! Although we had our own bar this was our route to the pub in the village – so not the first time I’d been along this route! Wonderful signs of spring along this way. Had forgotten about the church near the end of the drive. The path diverted away from the road and went across some fields to come out at the back of the pub- can’t remember using that either! Out onto the main road and the replacement village built on either side. A difficult road to cross.
As I pass behind some houses before heading off to Marsh Baldon I can hear a peacock or Guinea fowl and I’m reminded of the later who lived at the big house – usually under my window.
The next village is quite unusual and has a very large green with a stream through the middle.
This is where I did my first teaching practice. A two class school, for four weeks in the November after starting college. Perhaps the best part was being picked up and driven the short distance each day in a red MG Midget! One of my strangest experiences was teaching the ‘Infants’ about decimal coins which were to be introduced the following February!
Exiting the village the route next took me along the course of a Roman Road. An enclosed track and then a raised path across fields, heading towards Berinsfield. Quite windy with wide views.
I did wonder what Roman Soldiers would have made of this route as they headed towards Dorchester. Berinsfield was built in the late 60’s as a new town – built for people moving from Reading and Oxford when slum clearance happened. When we received placements as young students it was one of the places you didn’t want to be given! On the approach Wittenham Clumps can be seen and to my left at one point the light was amazing.
Strange walking through a housing estate, with a large play area in the middle. As I crossed the first road I remembered the last time I was here with a team from school for an indoor football tournament organised by Oxford United.
Crossing the playing fields I remembered a Girl’s football tournament- some quite difficult parental contributions from some of the observers! I also spot the school backing on to this area and remember visiting for trainings on several occasions. Another contrast as I cross a road and I’m out of the housing and next to a lake – gravel pit. This is used a lot for sailing, water skiing and wild swimming. The path goes on two sides of the water, following the main road after a while.
Luckily there is a bridge over this busy wide road and on crossing it I’m soon down in Dorchester. A real contrast as this is a Roman Town and has an Abbey dedicated to St Birinus who introduced Christianity in the area.
The carriage outside the pub illustrates it’s previous status of a coaching inn. My path goes down Rotten Row – they don’t look too rotten to me! The path takes me through and then out of the town and heads towards the Dyke Hills – earthworks, before reaching the River Thames. The clumps can now be seen very clearly at this point with the river hidden.
Over Day’s Lock which has no traffic today and then the weir which has quite a volume of fast churning water. The last section of my route is along the Thames Path and back to Clifton Hampden. This is a very long curve with nothing but fields on my side and after half way the gardens of some very large houses at Burcot on the far bank.
No swans today! The land to my left is farmed and managed by The Earth Trust based in Little Wittenham. There are some great information posts about flowers, fish and plant life. They have even started to create some wetland areas – and still the clumps dominate the horizon!
In the distance I can see cars crossing the bridge over the Thames and then the church comes into sight. No moving boats today of any description but several moored ready for use. The bridge then becomes evident. A narrow route controlled by traffic lights – quite difficult to walk across as there is no actual path – a bit of tricky moving when the lights were in the right phase and then waiting in one of the alcoves before continuing across.
So back into the southern side of the village and round following the main road back up to the main junction. This path goes passed the school- another place from my past. For a while the governors of this smallish school thought they could combine with another even smaller school and both merge/ federate with a larger school. So wanting a challenge I interviewed for the job! I didn’t get it but the person who did wasn’t allowed by her governors, to take on the role- then everyone decided they had changed their minds- so nobody did it!
Back to the car and a real mixture today – just under 19.5 kilometres.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 