Chilterns 2-Day Ridgeway Walking Breaks by Public Transport from London and Oxford from Lewknor to Goring-On-Thames, Overnight in Wallingford

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Chilterns 2-day Ridgeway walking breaks by public transport from London and Oxford From Lewknor to Goring-on-Thames, overnight in Wallingford. This is a linear route with excellent transport links to and from London and Oxford at both ends of the route.

A two-day 19 mile walking break in the Oxfordshire Chilterns, taking in some outstanding scenery and two historic market towns, famous for Midsomer Murders. The route follows The Ridgeway National Trail, allowing you to explore the best of the Chilterns landscape, yet with the comfort of knowing you are following a high quality waymarked route. The two days offer very different walking experiences. The first day passes through the heart of the Chilterns, through rolling hills, beech woodlands, a very rural landscape with some steep climbs. The second day follows the River Thames offering flat easy walking. Grims Ditch

Day Day 1 1 Lewknor to Wallingford (13 miles). The 'Oxford Day 2 From Wallingford to Goring-on-Thames (6 miles). Tube' London-Oxford bus service stops at Lewknor. This is a 24 hour bus service with buses up to every 10 minutes at From Wallingford follow The Ridgeway National Trail which peak time. Average journey time around 90 minutes from follows the River Thames to Goring, passing through water London or 30 minutes from Oxford depending on where you meadows with lovely views of the Chiltern Hills in the start your journey and on the time of day distance (the Thames Path National Trail is on the other side www.oxfordtube.com of the River!). You will pass through the historic hamlets of North Stoke and South Stoke with their ancient churches and From Lewknor the walk starts gently, The Ridgeway is flat buildings. You will finish your journey in Goring-on-Thames and wide from here to Watlington. It then starts to climb up where there are plenty of pubs and cafes to reward yourself! into the Chiltern Hills, along an ancient sunken way, passing through beech woodlands, with some spectacular views. Optional Extra: For those wanting a longer walk, you can From Nuffield you will follow the ancient Grims Ditch down follow the Thames Path National Trail from Goring to to the River Thames at Wallingford. Pangbourne (an extra 5 miles) and get the train from Pangbourne, one stop down the line from Goring. Where to Stay: The George Hotel is a traditional hotel right in the centre of Wallingford. Or B&B available at the Return Transport: from Goring-on-Thames there is a regular Partridge Inn or Coachmakers Inn. direct train service to London Paddington and to Oxford.

About The Ridgeway National Trail Country pubs along the way The Ridgeway National Trail is described as Britain's The Leathern Bottle, Lewknor, Tel 01844 351482 oldest road, following a route used for at The Perch and Pike, South Stoke, Tel 01491 872415 least 5,000 years by The Leatherne Bottel, South Stoke (Rossini restaurant travellers, herdsmen and on the banks of the River Thames), Tel 01491 872667 soldiers. It starts in the World Heritage Site of Avebury and crosses the chalk ridges of the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns AONBs, a total of 87 miles. The Chilterns section travels through woodlands, nature reserves and quiet valleys and also passes several magnificent viewpoints along the Chilterns ridge. For further information see www.nationaltrail.co.uk Leatherne Bottle near South Stoke

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org Things to see and do along the way 6 The River Thames Discover a lovely stretch of the River Thames, with some 1 Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve (entrance by delightful villages along the way. The Thames Path National Hill Farm, 300m from The Ridgeway) Trail is on the other side of the River, it is 184 miles long, A beautiful chalk downland reserve managed by Natural from the source of The Thames in the Cotswold hills to the England, with carpets of scented wildflowers in the summer sea. For more about visiting the Thames see and magnificent views www.chilternsaonb.org www.visitthames.co.uk

7 North Stoke Scenes from the popular Midsomer Murders TV series were filmed in North Stoke and South Stoke. The Church of St. Mary is almost entirely medieval, and still has wall paintings, ancient oak pews and a brick floor. The Ridgeway goes through the churchyard and soon brings you out by the River. From the riverside meadows you get good views looking back towards the Chiltern Hills.

8 Four Arches Railway Bridge You will pass under the Four Arches railway bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel which takes the railway across Aston Rowant Nature Reserve (500m above The Ridgeway) the River Thames. This is a listed building. 2 Watlington Hill (top of Watlington Hill is about 500m from The Ridgeway – a very steep climb) When you reach Watlington Hill Road cross over and left for 10 metres, there is a path on the right at the end of the pavement, which leads up to Watlington Hill. Within a few minutes you will get big open views- worth the detour even if add image you don't go to the very top of the hill. It is a National Trust chalk grassland site providing panoramic views over the Oxfordshire Vale. Great place to see Red Kites www.nationaltrust.org.uk The River Thames near South Stoke 9 3 Swyncombe Church and Ewelme Park South Stoke Tucked away in unspoilt countryside on the edge of wooded When you reach Ferry Lane you will see a boat slipway on hills, the ancient church of St Botolph in the parish of your right and the Beetle & Wedge Hotel on the opposite side Swyncombe is a real gem, in part Saxon it dates back to the of the river. This is one of many ferry crossings that would 11th century. The Ridgeway passes through Ewelme Park once have operated along this stretch of the Thames. In the thought to have been established in the 14th century and centre of the village, St Andrews Church was built in the 13th once serving as a Royal Deer Park. Ewelme Park House is a century and still has early English Gothic features. The east 20th century Arts and Crafts house built on the site of the window of the south aisle has late 13th century stained glass original Park Lodge. of the Virgin and Child. Next to the church is Manor Farmhouse dating from the 16th century with its large barn, 4 Nuffield Place (500m from The Ridgeway) granary standing on staddle stones and a medieval square When you reach the main Nuffield-Wallingford road turn left four-gabled brick dovecote, thought to be one of the largest for 300m then left again (you will see brown signs for in the south of England. Nuffield Place). Nuffield Place was once home to William Morris, an industrialist who founded Morris Motors and Further information brought mass-produced motor manufacturing to Britain. It is The Ordnance Survey Chilterns Walkers Map 1:25 000 scale a rare example of a complete, furnished upper-middle class covers the full route in detail. However there is a wide 1930s home. Now owned by the National Trust, there is lots selection of maps and guide books for The Ridgeway National to see both in the house and gardens. There is a tearoom and Trail, including digital maps for iphones. See shop. www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/guide-books

5 Grims Ditch For visitor information about the Chilterns see This raised bank is an ancient earthwork, dating from before www.visitchilterns.co.uk the Saxon period.

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org Day 2

Wallingford From Wallingford to Goring-on-Thames (6 miles).

Oxford Tube bus shelters to Oxford Link to The Ridgeway Link to sites/attractions

7 Lewknor M40

8 north Hill Lane

0 1km to London 9 0 0.5mile 1

Lewknor

1 north Goring

0 1 2km

0 1mile

Wallingford north 3 0 1 2km

0 1mile

5 4 6 Day 1

From Lewknor to Wallingford (13 miles).