leisure time: henley-on-thames

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1BF. Tel 01491 415600 or see rrm.co.uk. Open: All year. Cost: £6 for adults, £4 for children and £5 for seniors (60+). Three galleries are devoted to the . There is also a walk-through exhibit about the Wind in the Willows. There is full access for the disabled and wheelchairs available for loan Fawley Court Museum, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 3AE. Tel 01491 574917. Open: 1 May to 31 October on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The museum holds many private collections once belonging to the Polish TOURIST monarchy, as well as army memorabilia INFORMATION Chiltern Valley Old Luxters Vineyard, Winery Henley-on-Thames Tourist and Brewery, , Henley-on-Thames Information Office, King’s RG9 6JW. Tel 01491 638330 or see Arms Barn, Kings Road, chilternvalley.co.uk. Cost: £10 per person. Henley-on-Thames, Tours of the brewery are available upon Oxfordshire RG9 2DG. arrangement. Some disabled facilities are Tel 01491 578034 provided

DIRECTIONS ABOVE: A private mooring In the woods, where the path Head through the site’s main gates near the town; Hambleden 10splits, take the left fork where 1and turn right to walk along the Mill (now private you’ll see a white arrow painted on a pavement. When the pavement ends, apartments) and weir; tree ahead of you. At the gateway to a cross over and continue. At the rowing clubs abound here house on your right (there’s also a stile, then veer left to cross another roundabout turn left, and then follow tarmac lane on your left), continue Atstile. an angledTurn right T-junction down Aston turn right,Lane. the one-way system around to the left ahead down a narrow path until you butWhen don’t you go get through to the thelast gate house to on the into New Street. Continue along the 9 reach the main road. Commonright (number Barn – instead 8), turn go leftto the (sp left Public of riverside and cross the bridge that spans the gate.Footpath). Cross another stile and head Walk on the the Thames. Cross the road and turn right through a field to another stile. Go down the pavement, across the through a gate and across the lane 11 Almost immediately after the bridge into Henley, and retrace your veering left to cross another stile. 2bridge turn left (sp – steps to the site. Hambleden Lock, 12/2 miles). Continue along the Thames Path. Head past the island with the HENLEY-ON-THAMES WALK: 10.2 miles (16.3 km) WILD SIDE ornamental building on it, and 3 P follow the path as the river bends to the JO VAUGHAN TAKES A RIVERSIDE STROLL GENERAL INFORMATION right. Continue past Hambledon Lock. Opposite the weir, where the tarmac NEAREST CLUB SITE:Four Oaks Caravan Club Mill End lane bends to the right, carry on ahead AND ENJOYS VIEWS OF THE THAMES THAT Site, Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2HY. along the now grassy Thames Path. BOATBOAT Tel 01491 572312 Hambleden Lock TRIPSTRIPS WILL BE FAMILIAR TO HENLEY REGATTA DISTANCE:10.2 miles (16.3km) At the sign for the Flowerpot Hotel, Weir TERRAIN:Mostly grassy and tarmac paths 4turn right and continue up the lane. ENTHUSIASTS NUMBER OF STILES:5 At the hotel, turn left along Aston Lane ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT:OS Explorer map 171 then turn left (sp Thames Path), (1:25,000) entering the Culham Court Estate. Lane hose who never miss the Henley this attractive market town, as well as toLEVEL OF DIFFICULTY:Moderate Regatta will, no doubt, already one of the most beautiful stretches of REFRESHMENTS:Pubs at Aston and just before Where the lane bends to the right, Tknow the nearby Four Oaks site the river Thames. But, other than the the bridge when returning to Henley town centre 5again follow the footpath sign. Go Little REMENHAM in Henley-on-Thames, but it was my scenery and the Regatta, there are otherTOILETS:Henley town centre through a wooden gate and veer slightly Wood first visit to this famous town. The reasons why you should head here – not to the left, returning to the riverbank. SSTARTTART campsite is just a 10-minute walk from least because of the network of local Go through another wooden gate and South Henley’s centre, giving easy access to footpaths. carry on straight ahead. Lodge

e As you walk along the Thames Path, n a

Swiss L When you come to a metal gate, which we follow along the river, there 55 Farm n o Culham 41 Woodside are boats of all shapes and sizes to spy, as turn sharp right up a grassy track. At t 6 A Farm s House the tarmac road turn left and then, at A A well as a wide variety of wild flowers 41 30 and waterfowl. Then once you’ve the cattle grid, turn right, following the Lane Remenham Church returned to Henley’s centre, there are yellow footpath arrow. many eating places that just may prove At the top of the hill turn left to Remenham Wood too tempting after such a long walk. follow the fence, then turn right Remenham 7 BOATBOAT Remenham Hill Don’t forget to take lots of water with through a wooden kissing gate and then HIREHIRE Place you during the summer, and avoid immediately left. alcohol in the pubs – nothing will dehydrate you quicker! Just before you reach the main A4130 Branfords road, follow the path around to the BOATBOAT 8 TRIPS/HIRETRIPS/HIRE right behind some houses. Cross the

30 The Caravan Club Magazine August 2005 www.caravanclub.co.uk www.caravanclub.co.uk The Caravan Club Magazine August 2005 31