Bishop John’s Pilgrimage September 2014 Getting there, Facilities along the way and Accommodation Introduction The Thames Pilgrim Way Planning group do not have the resources to arrange transport to and from start and end points or accommodation along the way for pilgrims and each pilgrim needs to take responsibility for their own lunch and fluid intake. We provide tea at the end of the day. We have produced this document to help pilgrims in their planning. Day One – Radcot to Newbridge 10 Miles Getting there: OS Explorer 180 has most of the route except for the first mile from Radcot Bridge to Radcot Lock. Start grid reference: SP2801. Radcot Bridge lies in a remote part of Oxfordshire, roughly 8 miles west of Witney and 19 miles west of Oxford. It can be found 2 miles south of the village of Clanfield, on the A4095. Clanfield is served by infrequent buses, and there are no train stations nearby. Facilities Overnight: The Plough at Clanfield (01367 810222) is 2 miles from the path and the nearest place to stay. The Swan Hotel at Radcot Bridge (01367 810 220) offers camping facilities and food but no accommodation. Lunch: Four miles from Radcot Bridge, The Trout at Tadpole Bridge (01367 870382) provides meals, but the best option is to take a picnic. At the end of the day, The Rose Revived at Newbridge (01865 300221) offers meals and accommodation. There are public toilets at Radcot, Rushey and Shifford Locks. Day Two Newbridge to Wovercote 13 miles Getting there: OS Explorer 180 Start grid reference: SP4001. Newbridge lies on the A415 between Abingdon and Witney, 11.5 miles south west of Oxford. It is difficult to reach by public transport and the nearest train station is Oxford (11 miles) Route finding There is a diversion away from the river at Bablock Hythe, along a path and then across two meadows until you reach the river at Pinkhill Weir. Navigation is not easy here, and you need to be alert to spot the Thames Path signs. Facilities Overnight: The Rose Revived (01865 300221) offers food and overnight accommodation. Lunch: After 7 miles, lunch can be obtained at the Talbot Inn, just off the river at Eynsham (01865 881348), reached by crossing Swinford Bridge. There are many picnicking opportunities, as the path is mostly through fields and meadows. Towards the end of the day, the Trout Inn (01865 510930) is a popular eating place, with plentiful seating along the riverside. There are toilets at Northmoor, Pinkhill and Eynsham Locks, and in Wolvercote village. Day Three Binsey to Christchurch. Grand Day Out. Day Four Wolvercote to Radley Getting there: OS Explorer 180 and 170 Start grid reference: SP4809 Wolvercote is two miles north of Oxford city centre with its bus and train station. The easiest pedestrian route from the station is along the canal which takes you to the east of Wolvercote, with the Thames Path at the west end. Route finding Route finding is very easy on this stage, although you need to cross a busy road in Oxford. Facilities Overnight: The Trout Inn (01865 510930) offers accommodation and food, and there are many places to stay in Oxford. Lunch: Plenty of choice in the city. Otherwise, the Isis Tavern (0871 951 1000) is a few miles south of the centre. Open Thursdays to Sundays, it can be reached only by foot. The King’s Arms at Sandford Lock (01865 980 348) also serves food, as does the Bowyer Arms at Radley (01235 523452) at the end of the day. There are toilets in Wolvercote village, and Oxford city centre. Day Five Radley to Little Wittenham 12 miles. Getting there: OS Explorer 170. Grid reference: SP5499 Radley lies north east of Abingdon and can be approached by car from Kennington off the A423 south of Oxford. There is a train station at Radley, about 0.8 miles from the Thames, with trains running approximately once an hour. Public car parks can be found near the river at Hales Meadow Abingdon, Culham Lock and Clifton Hampden Bridge. Facilities Overnight: Although the Bowyer Arms (01235 523452) near the station, offers food and drink, the best place for accommodation is Abingdon or Oxford if travelling by public transport. Lunch: There are two pubs near to the river at Clifton Hampden (the Barley Mow, 01865 989234 and the Plough 01865 409 976), and in the summer Hales Meadow just south of Abingdon bridge has ice cream vans. Dorchester has a range of hotels and pubs. There are public toilets at Abingdon, and Culham Locks. Day Six Little Wittenham to Mouslford 11 miles. Getting there: OS Explorer 170. Grid reference: SP5693 Radley lies north east of Dicot and can be approached by car from roads of the A4130 from Didcot or south from Clifton Hampden off the A415. Public car parks can be found at Day’s Lock, Little Wittenham. There is a train station at Culham 3.5 miles from the Thames, with trains running approximately once an hour. Route finding There are three major diversions away from the river on this day’s journey. Just before Shillingford the path diverts onto the A4074 for a short but noisy and rather unpleasant time. In Wallingford, walkers are taken along a road parallel to the river, dropping back down onto the riverside just by St Leonard’s Church. One last diversion takes the pilgrim through the village of Moulsford along another busy road, the A329. In all cases the diversions, though not terribly attractive, are clearly marked. Facilities Overnight: There are numerous hotels and pubs in Dorchester, about 1 mile from the path. Shillingford Bridge Hotel (01865 858567) about one hour’s walk along the path, offers morning coffee or lunch, or more lunch opportunities can be found in Wallingford. Mouslford, at the end of the journey, is home to the Beetle and Wedge (01491 651381) where dinner is served. There are toilets in Wallingford. Day Seven – Moulsford to Tilehurst 11 Miles Getting there: OS Explorer 171 Grid reference: SU5983 Moulsford lies between Reading (12 miles south east) and Oxford (18 miles north), and is bisected by the A329. There are no public car parks in Moulsford. Cholsey station is about 2 miles from Moulsford. Trains to and from Reading and Oxford are regular and frequent. For Tilehurst station, continue along the A329 for a few hundred yards after the path has turned left over the railway footbridge to drop back down to the Thames. Route finding A short detour at Goring takes the pilgrim from one side of the river to the other over Goring Bridge. The ascent into Whitchurch is off the riverside but clearly marked and on wooded tracks Arriving at the attractive Mapledurham Lock, the route is then diverted again away from the river and through a housing estate. The path is well signed, but be alert, particularly to catch the railway bridge by the side of a former hotel. Facilities Overnight: The Beetle and Wedge at Moulsford has three rooms. (01491 651381) Lunch: Six miles from Moulsford you will find the National Trust Pangbourne Meadow, or visit one of the many pubs in Whitchurch and Pangbourne. Nearer the end of the journey, Mapledurham Lock has a small café serving snacks and ice creams. There are public toilets at Cleeve Lock, Goring on Thames, Pangbourne River Meadow and Mapledurham Lock. Day Eight Tilehurst to Shiplake 11 miles Getting there: OS Explorer 171 Grid reference: SU6674 Tilehurst is on the A329 a few miles west of Reading. Tilehurst station is close to the path and has regular trains to Reading. Route Finding Having found the way back onto the riverside at Tilehurst, the route stays by the river as far as Sonning, where the path crosses the river at Sonning Bridge, a narrow, rather dangerous crossing. At Shiplake Lock the path again diverts through the fields as far as the village of Lower Shiplake. At the Baskerville Arms, the path turns towards the station and crosses the railway track. Facilities There are many places to stay in Reading, and lunch opportunities will also be found there although you will have to divert off the path into the city centre. The countryside along the Thames beyond Reading is ideal for picnics. The Baskerville Arms at Lower Shiplake (01189 403332) offers food and accommodation. There are public toilets at Sonning and Shiplake Locks. Day Nine Shiplake to Marlow 10 miles Getting there: OS Explorer 171 Start grid reference: SU7779 Shiplake is three miles south of Henley on Thames on the A4155. It is served by a station with regular trains through to Reading. Route Finding The path crosses the river over Henley Bridge and is briefly diverted away from the river through the village of Aston, but the path for the most part stays close to the river and presents no route-finding difficulties. Facilities The Baskerville Arms at Lower Shiplake (www.thebaskerville.com, 0118 940 3332) provides B&B and evening meals. Henley makes a good coffee stop, At lunchtime, the Flowerpot Hotel (01491 570200) , provides lunch (01491 574721) although picnic opportunities are again plentiful. At Marlow there is plentiful accommodation. There are public toilets at Henley on Thames, Hurley Lock, Temple Lock and Marlow Lock. Day Ten Marlow to Maidenhead 8 miles Getting there: OS Explorer Start Gird reference SU8586 Marlow is five miles north of Maidenhead on the A404 and Marlow station is very close to the Thames Pilgrim Way, offering a regular service to Maidenhead, Slough and Reading. Route Finding At Marlow the path leaves the riverside to run between a row of houses and their gardens, but this is clearly signed and presents no difficulties.