2 today. Almost mud-free. Early cowslips, plenty celandines. Sun shining. Birds tweeting. Britain’s best pub. Where was everybody?

We parted company at the Bell, my companion being both a faster walker and a non-drinker, so it was left to me to provide the obligatory custom. A pint of mild later, I said hi to the giants, then set off again, up that bloody big hill then down again into Streatley. By then it had started to rain but you could hardly call it that. Not worth putting a coat on.

Got the 15:18.

sunny am cloudy pm turning rainy

Unfortunately taking the longer route wasn't so easy and definitely not mud free. The 550m walk through Long Copse and Burnett's Copse was a nightmare. The entire track had been churned up by tractors so that I had to negotiate mud that even went over the top of my boots. Needless to say this slowed me down somewhat and didn't reach Goring before the 5.17 train.

1 at the station. Waited a bit but nobody else. Goring’s churchyard quite a sight. A frothy sea of cow parsley. Pint of mild at the Bell then back the short way Some bloobs but not particularly photogenic.Up the hellish hill, buttercups on top, down the other side. Quick half in the Catherine Wheel. Home. Trains OK, reduced because of strike but still running. cloudy chilly

I’m amazed that only 1 person turned up for this walk. I arrived too early for the scheduled train at Ealing Broadway and was so cold in the brisk north easterly winds that I went home. Sorry to have missed you Ian. Presumably Thomas and his brisk walking followers were still in Wales.

Hello I am interested to join but I will be alone and am scared to miss the group at the departure station. Can I have the leader number to call just in case?

Thanks

Ps I am Annelaure...not unknown:)

Hi

Our walks don’t have leaders. more information on they way we work here. https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml Our lot are usually discernible by their outdoor appearance.

Suggested meeting place: just outside platform 1 exit. Platform 1 is the opposite platform.

4 of the train.

2 walked anti-clockwise, 2 walked clockwise on the longer SWC loop in the morning.

Cold and frosty.

4 cold and frosty

The Village Café closed at 4 pm, Pierreponts café at 3 pm.

A select 3 off the train, all harbouring some sort of affection for the lunch pub. The weather was Mostly overcast with some sun later There was a slight sprinkling of rain at first but hardly enough to shake an umbrella at.

We followed the SWC route a.m. and the YHA route p.m.

The Bell didn’t disappoint. We dipped into the church and said Hi to the giants. We marvelled at the old yew stump.

Then on, picking blackberries, collecting windfalls, past the garden with the birds with hats on and the meerkats in the hedge. We sprinted up the last hill like a pack of gazelles then down the other side, back into civilisation.

In Goring we dropped into the John Barleycorn then, purely for the purposes of research you understand, the Catherine Wheel. Of the two, I liked the JB best with tinkly jazz piano wafting out of the speakers.

Enjoyable day out. Group Cohesion factor 100%

Added the gpx for the YHA afternoon route if you fancy a shortcut on the way back. The Queens Arms (one of the tea pubs) is closed.

10 on a day that started sunny clouded later Dry underfoot. The Bell was a hit. We sat in the garden. Some ate, some drank. Almost t-shirt weather till the clouds came over. A quick look at the giants and we were off, 3 taking the YHA route, the rest the longer SWC one. The hill near the end hasn’t got any lower and the steep slope down any less steeper.. Not that it bothered me. I just skipped along like a mountain goat. Free as a bird. The 3 YHAers got to Goring first and paid a visit to the Catherine Wheel which was OK but wasn’t the Bell. One SWCer joined us. The others caught us up on the way to the station. I think they might have looked in the Swan.

After an unpromising start with dismal skies and rain seen from the train, the day brightened, so cloudy dry turning sunny later

4 at the station, all wanting to do a walk shorter than the 11.5 miler. For some this meant short-cuts. For me it meant the YHA map (which works well). I was soon left behind and there was no whizzy magic today. No accidentally turning up at the front later on. “sigh”

At the Bell, I was treated to a recitation of the various beers on offer, along with their merits. I don’t think any of us ate there but some did partake of the liquor. Myself I settled for a pint of dark mild. I do like the Bell.

Round the back of the pub there was a sort of rally going on, farm machinery, motor bikes, cars. Basically, anything old that moved.

Then we were off wending separate ways back to Goring. We seemed to make good progress. Two of us caught the 4 o’clock. Never saw the other two.

A lovely day out except for the lunch pub(the reason for posting!) being closed because of the weather forecast. Goring was dry as 2 got off the train. The day remained dryish windy . There was some moisture in the wind, which wasn't as bad as forecast. We stopped at The Bull for coffee and beer before getting the1648. A most unexpected result, preventing my planned test of my wet weather gear climbing a hill in a gale....

Good bluebells in the afternoon.

Not completely sure I’m coming tomorrow, but from SW London, Ealing Bdwy 0937 direct to Goring 1038 looks preferable to travelling in to Paddington

As per the tin, I think most agreed that Goring is certainly not boring....the walk began very socially distanced with two groups arriving on two separate trains about 15 minutes apart...the four from the later train eventually caught up with the six from the earlier train at the lunch pub where a few dined on their simple rolls (more basic than usual) in their garden enjoying some tasty ales and ciders, making for a total of 10 . After lunch 3 opted for the traditional Goring circular while the rest strode off via Moulsford...with fine views. Disappointingly, the riverside pub was closed for refurbishment....but a bit further along, the very clear waters proved irresistible for one who had a lovely refreshing dip in the river while the others relaxed on the grassy banks...Back in Goring time was short and pub formalities long, so we opted for some take out drinks to enjoy on the 17:00....for the most part, the day was warm and mostly sunny with one short shower ...

CAMRA Pub of the Year: The Bell Inn in Berkshire comes out top

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-51474059

Yes lovely down to earth pub.Take cash . May walk jfk

I intend to go.

Just to point out that you might want to allow more time to get to Paddington on Sunday. The Circle line is out of action and strikes are affecting the Bakerloo line. The Hammmersmith & City line is serving Paddington but a section (from Baker St. to Barking) is closed. It is about 10 minutes walk to Paddington from Lancaster Gate on the Central Line, or, indeed, get the Central Line to Ealing Broadway. https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

5 on a day that was cloudy at first sunny later and windy A little muddy in places, but not enough to whinge about. One went for the steep start and the Warren route, the rest went the more traditional way. Lunch at the Bell was - as predicted - rolls. They did a nice pint of mild (called Baldrick)

After lunch, two took the shorter map route, one took the SWC route, two tarried. Two rounded off the walk with a visit to the Bull.

Hope to see you there jfk

13 walkers in sunny turning overcast to some degree weather. But no sign of jfk...

10 were tempted by the walk poster into exploring an alternative to the start: over and across Lardon Chase/Lough Down and thoroughly enjoyed it. Grand views back along the Thames Valley through the Goring Gap and then ahead towards Dorchester-on-Thames.

All 13 walked the long version as posted, up to and along the rim of Streatley Warren, then through the seasonal Open Access land at the top of the valley, again with superb views back down into the Thames Valley.

The lunch stop at The Bell Inn, stuck in a timewarp as it is, was a very convivial affair. Good to experience it mid-week, being far less busy than on a weekend.

4 took an unofficial shortcut in the afternoon, following Reading Road to cut out the lower end of the walk, some quiet and atmospheric woodlands. The rest encountered en route a shoot in full flow, and later saw the van carrying away their quarry, plenty of pheasants. A few more steep ascents followed and Streatley finally came back into view where - after a final steep descent from a magnificent viewpoint - 6 of us dived into The Bull Inn, a very cozy Marston's Pub, with a large fireplace, where we whiled away the wait for a convenient train. 1 of the shortcutters went to Pierreponts Cafe in Goring apparently, the rest went directly to the station.

The various parts of the group thus were spread out across the 16.13, 16.40 and 17.12 trains.

Snowdrops, muntjacs, a very pretty coombe, some atmospheric woods, the odd steep ascent, ground frost (in places) and blue skies . 16 walkers had an appetite for that and enjoyed a good day out. The entry point into the seasonal Open Acess area at Streatley Warren from the north has unfortunately now been shut with barbed wire blocking the access, so we had to walk around the rim of the area (with fantastic views) rather than through it (2 though then entered from the westerly field gate and were recommending the extra effort involved with descending and re-ascending through the pretty valley).

There seemed to be some discrepancies on the approach to Aldworth between gpx route and text, and in the ensuing confusion a large part of the group missed a turning and added a good 10 minutes of walking. The Bell Inn then was near full, but most found a spot to sit and enjoy the simple but good food on offer. 5 walked on to The Four Points Inn in hope of a proper full pub lunch, but that was fully booked so we had baguettes or chips outside, the first al fresco pub lunch of the year!

In Streatley/Goring a few chose to visit The Bull Inn in Streatley while most went for the 17.05 train.

If you go to the Bell at Aldworth a most interesting village associated with Elizabeth 1 st make sure you take cash. The last time I visited they did not accept credit cards .

very large sized rolls are served and puddings and ploughmans.jfk

7 5 set off on the proper walk and 2 followed the map.The map two were quickly separated. The steep climb up Lardon Chase saw to that. Most had sandwiches. I can report that the mild in the Bell is most drinkworthy.(Hope that’s a word). And I heard good reports about the Tyler. light rain heavy mist till 12 dry and mild thereafter with hints of sun Any worries that I wasn’t going to achieve this winter’s mud quota were splashed into the long grass today. Plenty of the slippy stuff. (Mudlarks take note). This made for a treacherous descent into Streatley. Quite a strenuous walk but worth it for the Bell.

6 brave souls on this walk, defying a weather forecast of endless rain. But in fact the rain stopped soon after we started walking. The morning was then dry but grey, the afternoon drizzly . Much better than expected.

The best part of this walk - certainly the best bit for woods and autumn colour - is in the afternoon. There was some good beech colour on this section but we only saw some of it before darkness fell. This was because we eschewed the normal sandwich-only lunch pub and diverted to another (nice, if busy) up the road that did full meals. We did not get there till 1.45 and left at 3pm.

Walking in the woods as dark fell at 4.45 was entrancing. Owls hooted, pheasants clucked noisily as our approach disturbed their roost - and was that a sika deer I heard rutting? Once it was fully dark navigation was tricky at times and descending the steep hill to Streatley in the blackness was not easy. But thanks to K and T, our expert night walkers, we all got there in one piece by 6pm.

After a pub tea the clouds were breaking and three of us set off, intending a short stroll along the Thames under the supermoon. But it was so lovely we walked all the way to Pangbourne. How to describe this for those who have not done it? The silvery light dancing through the branches, dappled patches on the path, the whole landscape reduced to shades of mysterious blue, familiar objects taking unfamiliar hues. We arrived reluctantly in the relative civilisation of Pangbourne just in time to catch the delayed 21.12 train and then decamped at Reading to search for provisions (thanks M&S). Then a fast train back to London arriving only a bit later than the original train would have done.

Oh, and on the moonlight walk we practically tripped over a badger! He (she?) was so busy feeding on something that we were within a foot of him before he bolted off. Never ever seen one so close before.

There is no Hammermith & City or Circle line east of Edgware Road this weekend and no District or Circle south from it either, so the only way to Paddington from these directions is by the Bakerloo

5 on this walk; weather was overcast windy but dry and mild . The somewhat overly pessimistic weather forecast perhaps limited the numbers for this walk or possibly it was due to another Goring walk done on Saturday. A fine winter's walk with a fair bit of tarmac in the short morning stretch but some lovely woodland trails in the afternoon. Just two ate in the Bell and we did not linger too long there as 70% of the walk is after lunch. You have to keep up a reasonable pace too in winter as at the end there is a steep climb followed by an equally steep, long and slippery descent. You certainly do not want to be doing the latter in near darkness.

The wind was challenging at times in exposed areas but really added to the atmosphere of the walk in the woods. (Question: why do so many deciduous shrubs and trees still have green leaves on them at this time of year.??)

We reached Goring around 3.15 and the lure of a 3.41 train proved too strong so we set off to catch this. However we were delighted to discover that en route the Village cafe in Goring High street is now open until 5pm on Sundays - a real bonus for Sunday walkers as Pierreponts cafe is closed then. We got some takeaway teas for the train home. (There was a good selection of cakes too.)This good news for Sunday walkers needs to be added to all Goring-ending walks information.

An excellent day's walking.

Why do some deciduous trees still have green leaves? It goes like this:

For much of October we had relatively sunny weather with cold nights. This was ideal conditions for making many trees turn, and led to a rather early leaf fall at the end of October and in the first week of November.

But some hardy trees, which always hang on to the end of leaf fall, were only partly affected. Ie, they only partly turned their leaves in the cold weather: some remained green.

Since the end of October the weather has been remarkably mild, windy, changeable. The wind has blown off all the turned leaves, but those that have not turned are feeling no particular incentive to do so, since the weather remains mild. There is a precedent for this. In 2005, a warm year, quite a lot of leaves remained green into December.

Leaves you see at this stage are mainly on oak, hazel, perhaps a bit on beech. Also weeping willow which is always late to turn. What is worth noting is that even strong winds, such as we have had in recent days, do not strip all these remaining leaves off. On the whole foliage falls when it is good and ready to, and not before!

For more see

http://nature-and-weather.walkingclub.org.uk/search/label/October-nature

and

http://nature-and-weather.walkingclub.org.uk/search/label/Nature-Blog

i did this lovely walk on Sunday returning by a different route. i was very impressed with the Bell Inn which does homemade soup for £3.50 also very well filled rolls £3.50 but doesnt accept credit or other cards.They also specialise in real ales.

At teatime i took tea at the Swan Hotel situated on the Weir and in comfortable relaxed surroundings . it cost £2.30 and is still my favourite teastop in Goring.jfk

Thanks for the explanation Walker; interesting stuff.