Chilterns 2-Day Walking Breaks from Henley-On-Thames to Wallingford (Overnight in Watlington)

Home , Chiltern Hills, Ewelme, Maidensgrove, Middle Assendon, Mongewell, Nuffield Place

Chilterns 2-day walking breaks From Henley-on-Thames to Wallingford (overnight in Watlington). Return from Wallingford to Henley by bus.

A two-day 21 mile walking break in the Oxfordshire Chilterns, taking in some outstanding scenery, superb country pubs and two historic market towns, famous for their Midsomer Murders connections. The route follows two popular Trails, The Ridgeway National Trail and the Oxfordshire Way, allowing you to explore the best of the Chilterns landscape, yet with the comfort of knowing you are following high quality waymarked routes. Poppies by The Ridgeway near Watlington

Day 1 Henley-on-Thames to Watlington, along the Day 2 From Watlington to Wallingford along The Ridgeway Oxfordshire Way (10.5 miles). There is a railway station in National Trail (11 miles). Henley with regular trains from London Paddington (via Twyford). There is car parking at the railway station. From Watlington, the first 3 miles of The Ridgeway is level and straight with hedgerows each side and occasional views From Henley the route climbs up into the Chiltern Hills, of the wooded hills. From North Farm (just beyond Britwell passing through beech woodlands, with some spectacular Hill Road) the path narrows and starts to climb up into the views. From Christmas Common you will drop back down, to beech woodlands, offering wonderful views. The path climbs the historic market town of Watlington. through Ewelme Park and up to Nuffield, a high point of the Chilterns. From there, follow Grims Ditch 4 miles down to Where to Stay: The Fox & Hounds Hotel in Watlington is Mongewell, and then follow the River Thames to Wallingford. popular with walkers and does evening meals www.thefatfoxinn.co.uk Where to Stay: The George Hotel is a traditional hotel right in the centre of Wallingford.

Return Transport: from Wallingford to Henley-on Thames. There is an hourly bus service from Wallingford (every 2 hours on Sundays), from outside the Corn Exchange Theatre. Journey time 40 minutes. www.thames-travel.co.uk route 139. Or there are several taxi firms in Wallingford, cost around £25, journey time 20 minutes.

About The Ridgeway National Trail About the Oxfordshire Way The Ridgeway National Trail is described as Britain's A 65 mile long waymarked route from Bourton-on-the-Water oldest road, following a route used for at to Henley-on-Thames. The route passes through the most least 5,000 years by rural and scenic landscapes of Oxfordshire including two travellers, herdsmen and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds and the soldiers. It starts in the Chilterns. World Heritage Site of www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/oxfordshire-way 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

Country pubs along the way The Rainbow Inn, Middle Assendon, Tel 01491 574879 The Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove, Tel 01491 641282 (½ mile off the route, worth the diversion!). The Crown Inn, Pishill, Tel 01491 638364 The Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common, Tel 01491 612599 The Fox and Hounds at Christmas Common

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org Route information: 3 Watlington Hill (top of Watlington Hill is about 500m Henley-on-Thames from The Ridgeway – a very steep climb) Famed for its Royal Regatta in July, the picturesque town of Where The Ridgeway crosses Watlington Hill Road (as you Henley has a charming centre with shops, galleries, face uphill), there is a footpath diagonally to the right at the restaurants and cafes. You can stroll along the banks of the end of the pavement, which leads up to Watlington Hill Thames and admire the many pleasure craft or relax with a nature reserve. Within a few minutes you will get big open picnic in Mill Meadows. Henley has a variety of festivals, views- worth the detour even if you don't go to the very top attractions and accommodation. Visit the Tourist Information of the hill. It is a National Trust chalk grassland site Centre in the Town Hall, Tel 01491 578034. providing panoramic views over the Oxfordshire Vale. Great There are numerous B&Bs and hotels in Henley. Visit place to see Red Kites www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.henleyaccommodation.co.uk 4 Swyncombe Church and Ewelme Park Watlington (500m off the route) Tucked away in unspoilt countryside on the edge of wooded The small market town hills, the ancient church of St Botolph in the parish of of Watlington sits at the Swyncombe is a real gem, in part Saxon it dates back foot of the Chiltern to the 11th century. The Ridgeway passes through Hills and dates back to Ewelme Park thought to have been established in the the 8th Century. The 14th century and once serving as a Royal Deer Park. town is full of historical Ewelme Park House is a 20th century Arts and Crafts buildings and a wide house built on the site of the original Park Lodge. selection of interesting and diverse shops – 5 Nuffield Place (500m from The Ridgeway) download the 2 mile When you reach the main Nuffield-Wallingford road Watlington Town Trail Swyncombe Church turn left for 300m then left again (you will see brown which picks out the highlights. signs for Nuffield Place). Nuffield Place was once home to William Morris, an industrialist who founded Morris Motors Wallingford (1.5km off the route, there are paths both side and brought mass-produced motor manufacturing to Britain. of the River Thames) It is a rare example of a complete, furnished upper-middle Familiar to millions as the original Causton of Midsomer class 1930s home. Now owned by the National Trust, there is Murders, Wallingford grew up in the 9th century on a wide lots to see both in the house and gardens. There is a tearoom stretch of the Thames. Its layout has changed little since and shop. www.nationaltrust.org.uk then and the town still boasts extensive Saxon earthworks and remains of the 11th century castle in meadows beside 6 Grims Ditch the River Thames. The old Corn Exchange in the Market This raised bank is an ancient earthwork, dating from before Square, antique shops, the museum and heritage trains on the Saxon period. the Bunk Line railway to Cholsey give a still-unhurried air. For more information on Wallingford see 7 The River Thames www.southernoxfordshire.com or visit the Tourist Discover a lovely stretch of the River Thames. The Thames Information Centre, Tel 01491 826972. Path National Trail is on the other side of the River, it is 184 miles long, from the source of The Thames in the Cotswold Things to see along the way hills to the sea. For more about visiting the Thames see 1 Warburg Nature Reserve www.visitthames.co.uk A magnificent place for its wild, remote tranquillity, owned by the Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. The Further information flowerrich grasslands in the valley bottom give way to grand The Ordnance Survey Chilterns Walkers Map 1:25 000 scale woodlands rising up the valley sides. There is a small visitor covers the full route in detail. For information and centre (no café) with information about the reserve downloadable maps for the Oxfordshire Way see www.bbowt.org.uk www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/oxfordshire-way There is a wide selection of maps and guide books for The 2 Maidensgrove Common Ridgeway National Trail, including digital maps for iphones. This is a large, grassy open common high in the Chilterns. See www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway/guide-books Most of Maidensgrove common was ploughed during the Second World War so crops could be grown as part of the war For visitor information about the Chilterns see effort. These days the common is cut for hay each summer. www.visitchilterns.co.uk

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.chilternsaonb.org Day 1

Henley-on-Thames to Watlington, along the Oxfordshire Way (10.5 miles).

Watlington

1 Day 2

From Watlington to Wallingford along The Ridgeway National Trail (11 miles).

Watlington

north

0 1 2km HENLEY

0 1mile ON-THAMES

Wallingford 4

6 5 7

0 1 2km

0 1mile north