Cholsey to Goring walk

23.5km (14.6 miles)

Landranger 174, Explorer 170

3 out of 10.

This walk offers a fine combination of gentle Oxfordshire countryside, wide grassy horse training gallops, a stretch of the Ridgeway with splendid views from the Berkshire Downs, and a final saunter along the banks of the Thames. Although the walk is fairly long, it has nothing too steep or demanding.

The main walk is best undertaken from mid spring to early autumn. With a fairly late start to accommodate the early lunch stop at The Red Lion Blewbury. The suggested tea stop is the Beetle and Wedge riverside restaurant at Moulsford, a place with ‘Wind in the Willows’ and ‘Three Men in a Boat’ associations. There are also plenty of hostelries in Streatley and Goring at the end of the walk.

Before starting the walk, devotees of Agatha Christie’s detective stories might want to make a short detour to visit the novelist’s grave in the churchyard of St Mary’s, Cholsey. To do this, follow the walk directions for the first 180 metres till you reach the railway bridge, but instead of turning left under the railway, turn right and follow the path for 700 metres as it climbs up to the church. Afterwards, retrace your steps and pass under the railway to rejoin the directions.

Goring circular walk via Moulsford

You may combine these directions with the Goring circular walk directions (17) for a 20 km (12.4 mile) Goring circular walk via Moulsford, finishing with a 2.5 km southerly walk along the Thames. Use the Goring circular walk directions until the Bell Inn [6], then these directions.

Take the train nearest to 10.00am (before or after) from Paddington.

The recommended lunch stop is The Red Lion, Blewbury.