Guide to walking in the Thames Valley, southern England
Walking in the Thames Valley
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Walking in the Thames Valley offers 25 challenging circular walks around the River Thames and River Kennet in the south of England, taking in the Southern Chilterns, the Berkshire and North Hampshire Downs, Southern Oxfordshire and the eastern edge of Wiltshire. All routes are within easy reach of Reading, Newbury, Abingdon and London.
Activities
Walking, backpackingSeasons
Spring and autumn offer the best walking conditions and clearer skies. In winter some paths may become impassable after heavy rain due to flooding, especially along the Thames.Centres
Reading, Newbury, Abingdon, LondonDifficulty
Walks range from 10 to 18 miles, with one 26-mile, 2-day option, all on good paths. Many routes also have shorter options.Must See
The Chilterns and North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the World Heritage Site at Avebury, the Uffington White Horse, lots of cosy pubs and ancient churchesIntroduction
Getting Around
Food and Drink
Accommodation
When to Walk
Kit Suggestions
Walking with Children
Using the Guide
Maps
Access and Rights of Way
Long-Distance Routes
The Walks
Walk 1 Lechlade and a Thames Meander
Walk 2 Wiltshire Ridges and Liddington Castle
Walk 3 The Bedwyns
Walk 4 Fosbury Hill and the Chutes
Walk 5 Faringdon’s Folly
Walk 6 Lambourn Downs: Striding out with horses and dragons
Walk 7 Thames Village Meander
Walk 8 Hanging Around on Walbury Hill
Walk 9 The Letcombe Gallop
Walk 10 Wantage and the Village Challenge
Walk 11 Farnborough: A poet’s hideaway
Walk 12 Cold Ash and Hermitage: A writer’s retreat
Walk 13 Blewbury and its Hillfort
Walk 14 Watership Down: A land of rabbits
Walk 15 The Pang Valley: A river runs through it
Walk 16 Dorchester-on-Thames: An ancient place of worship
Walk 17 The Aldworth Giants and Thurle Down
Walk 18 The Goring Challenge
Walk 19 Oxford Hills and the River Thame
Walk 20 Historic Ewelme and Swyncombe
Walk 21 Roman around Silchester
Walk 22 Chiltern Patchwork
Walk 23 Thames and Chilterns Meander
Walk 24 Hambledon Valley and a Royal Regatta
Walk 25 Cookham and Stanley Spencer
Appendix 1 A Brief History
Appendix 2 Local Geology
Appendix 3 Useful Contacts
Appendix 4 Further Reading








