6 off the train on a sunny day with some clouds .

A walk with fine views, plenty of daisies and buttercups, as well as some poppies; geese and goslings, sheep and lambs, kites and plenty of birdsong, some dreamy valleys, atmospheric woods and pretty villages. 1 walker fell behind soon after Hambleden, 3 of the rest lunched at The Frog, which was superb, and met the 2 sandwichers plus a late starter outside. 2 of those then walked an unofficial shortcut, while 2 each of the others walked main walk and long walk each.

For my subgroup it was touch-and-go whether we'd make the 16.30, so we sat down outside the Chocolate Factory for a warm drink. 17.00 train therefore, 2 others on an earlier one, 2 on a later one, 1 unaccounted. 7

As someone noted on one of last month's Henley walks, Freedom Passes can be used on TfL rail services to and from Twyford. The 0943 from Paddington (0951 Ealing Bdy) arrives Twyford at 1031, leaving you 15 minutes to buy a return to Henley. There's a similar connection time for a TfL service on the return journey.

Good point, Sean: thanks for pointing this out.

(Not that anyone on our walks has Freedom Passes: we are all youthful types...)

I think I am right in saying that it is “proper” Freedom Passes only, though, not the more limited 60+ ones?

@Walker: You're right, Freedom Passes only. No type of Oyster card is valid on this route beyond West Drayton, in Zone 6.

Comments mention a bridge, broken in 2019. Are we confident it is fixed?

Yes, David, we absolutely are. I walked across the bridge back in July

21 on this walk on a lovely sunny day , one of those poignant summer-like September days which you know will not be repeated very often before the colder weather sets in. The train from Twyford to Henley was a bit over-burdened with a zillion or so Meet-Up types, but we soon sloughed them off as we set out in small socially-distanced groups.

The walk over Remenham Hill and up to Hambleden was very pretty and the valley beyond too. Still a fair number of flowers to be seen and some butterflies; green grass and trees, blue skies. I think four managed to navigate the protocols to have lunch at the Frog (“overpriced”) but quite a few of us opted instead to climb Windmill Hill above Turville to have sandwiches, with a grand valley view. Two of us would have rounded that off with a drink in the pub there, but the sight of a slow-moving queue to get a garden table put us off.

We then had a long and peaceful walk through the woods. Several said they though this was the best bit of the walk. It was also suggested that the walk might work better backwards, with the pubs in Hambleden and Aston as possible tea stops.

Starting the last leg to Henley we came across an open air antiques fair, which was a bit unexpected (just as well they had a dry day for it...). Nearing Henley, two of us swam in the river, having first to find a gap between the moored boats and see off a swan that was lingering in the hope of food. The water was ....refreshing....and the current almost non-existent, which was a surprise for those used to swimming in the sea.

In Henley some squeezed onto the back patio of the Angel and some got into the Chocolate Cafe before it closed at 6pm. The latter looked rather spartan with only a few widely spaced tables, but the cakes were still just as nice.

The tail-enders getting the 19.31 train discovered that it (and other 31 pasts) connect with the slow, stopping (and toilet-less) TFL trains, while the 01 past connects with faster GWR trains. Worth noting when coming back from Henley walks in future.

You might have to detour along the A4155 (or take the bus) for the last 3km. Someone left a comment here in January that the footpath past Fawley Court was closed because of a collapsed bridge. This newspaper report said that Bucks County Council hoped to replace it by end-March, but these things always seem to take longer.

Seven alighted from the train to find two others on the platform, making for a total of 9 on this warm sunny day .

Conditions could not have been better for our investigation of the midsomer murder villages....From the get go, clues were abounding...a large lone red glove on a post; two boots protruding from a bush...another lone black glove on the side of a lane....All very suspicious...During our investigating in the morning, we managed to lose 2 along the way, though one later surfaced at the lunch pub; the other headed bravely off on his own.....never to be seen again (at least on Sunday)….

The lunch pub was fab...I think it would definitely satisfy the gourmet group...After lunch, 5 climbed to the windmill in Turville for a birds-eye view of the lovely valley and 6 ultimately decided to make the most of the fine weather with the extension via Stonor Park which was well worth the effort. On the final approach back to the Thames we were treated to the pleasure of a massive young lamb nursery full of infants...some not really sure what to do; some slightly older frolicking in a gang and one rather curious little guy intent on inspecting a visiting pheasant....

On to the river for the final stretch with the setting sun...lovely way to end a long walk...until reaching a canal with no bridge....(the signage on this end not being very clear about the status of things)...However, being a resourceful lot, we found an alternate route around the water obstacle (certainly not the first and doubtfully not the last to use this unofficial option)….the signage on the Henley side of the closure was slightly more clear, suggesting a closure of the path until about May 2019...

Arriving in Henley about 18:25, a tactical decision was made to forego G&Ts at the pub and gather some provisions before catching the 18:53 for what was a very jolly journey back to London....

Watch out for the body sticking out of the hedge. You have been warned......:>)

14 on this walk, one joining us by car at Mill End and the other coming on a later train and getting the bus to the same place. One on the original train also stated his intention of getting the bus to Mill End but was never seen again. Two boots were found sticking out of a hedge halfway through the morning (see photo on our Facebook page) so possibly he will be featured in a future episode of Midsomer Murders.

The weather was quite a lot of sunshine with one huge hailstorm in the afternoon . The sun lasted long enough for some of us to have lunch in the garden of the Frog in Skirmett. Others, including three newbies, had lunch in the Bull and Butcher in Turville (never saw them again either: people certainly do disappear with amazing frequency in this part of the world). You are spoilt for choice for pubs on this walk, as both places were very pleasant. The Frog staff were a bit unsmiling but the food was damned tasty, so we forgive them.

The morning is very flat. In the afternoon we were threatened with lots of hills, but in fact there was one big long hill (a gentle one) and otherwise lots of fairly level tracks through woodland. The woodland came in useful as shelter when the hailstorm hit: after that it was a bit iffy weatherwise but little rain really.

Coming down to the main road we found that the Henley Show was just coming to an end with showjumping, traction engines and I don't know what. Some got the bus here, while four of us (and maybe two later?) did the riverside walk. This was beautiful with sunshine chasing the dark clouds away to the east. A lot of geese and swans on the river for some reason.

A good number of us got to the Chocolate Cafe in time, where we overcompensated for the calories used up in our 15 miler. Top marks to them for having a vegan chocolate cake. And so homewards, breathing great lungfuls of particulates on our diesel train, but with a brief glimpse of a cleaner electric train (they are being rolled out) at Southall.

I'm thinking of getting a bus at the start, hoping to meet up in Hambledon. The plan is to get the 1018 from Ealing Broadway (1011 Paddington) arr Henley 1119. The 800 leaves Norman Avenue near the station at 1145, arriving Mill End 1200.

On a hot and sunny day: 11 walkers.

9 had taken the posted early train (early for mid-week), 1 had struggled to get out of his patch of West London due to tube and bus disruptions and was half an hour behind, 1 other was behind as planned, taking a bus from Henley to Mill End. The Frog in Skirmett was reached at 13.15 by all but 1 very fast walker, and a table inside was chosen over yet more sun exposure out in the lovely garden. Good food, quickly enough served, in very pleasant surroundings.

1 enthusiast added the excursion up the hill to the windmill by Turville to the route, all else sped on along the long version of the walk, which includes Stonor Park. The enthusiast nearly caught the main group again, in Stonor Park, but got sucked in by the promise of tea and ice cream to divert to the new cafe by the visitor centre.

Said extension is fairly hilly, but also very scenic, with splendid views of Stonor House and its ancient stone circle, and up Stonor Valley, and later across the Thames Valley.

On the home straight along the Thames one could admire the extensive prep works for the Henley Regatta in 2 weeks time.

18.17 train for some, The Angel pub for others.

As Peter knows I wrote a similar walk to this one but it has its lunch stop at the Bull and Butcher inTurville jfk

Want to walk the longer version, but have to be back early. Solution: am aiming for the 8.57 via Reading for a 10.02 start from Henley.

The 8.57 was delayed sufficientlying to miss the connection at Reading back to Twyford, so a Plan B was needed. Bumped into a nother SWCer near the main exit, and we decided to cab it to Henley. Got.there a few mins b4 the train, but no one else was on it. Off into the sunshine, initially along paths familiar from other walks, then further up the valleys. Splendid views, pretty villages. Got to The Frog for noon. Excellent food. On to the hillier part of the walk, still in sunshine initially. Very nice scenery, Stonor Park probably the best part of it. Occasional rain from 14.45 onwards. Time in Henley for cream tea at the Chocolate Café. 16.24 train.

Was with the main party, arriving Henley at 11, about 10 of us, 1 of whom got the bus to Mill End and joined there and 3 returned the way they had come down the valley from various turning points instead of going over the top.

Slightly cloudy on leaving Henley and on approaching the lock I commented 'the sun's wanted in about 100 yards' and it duly arrived as we started to cross the lock and stayed to lunchtime for the very pleasant walk up the valley.

Only 4 of us in the Frog, not sure where others went to for lunch, so a well split group.

12 sunny then rainy

Anyone planning to do this walk?

8 on this walk in perfect rambling weather, w= cloudy-and-dry-with-a-light-breeze. Two decided to do a short walk, lunching at Hambleden and then ambling back to Henley. The rest of us were all sandwich eaters so we walked past the recommended lunch-time pub the Frog in Skirmett and walked on to Turville which is an absurdly attractive hamlet with an excellent pub, a small church and grounds a few metres away with benches and a windmill on a hill which you can climb up towards to enjoy the expansive views and your lunch.

After resting for 45 mins with some of us visiting the Bull and Butcher we set off on the mainly woodland stretch back to Henley where we enjoyed a cuppa at the Chocolate Theatre cafe and met up with one of the short walkers before catching the 17.07 train.

All enjoyed the walk which although quite long presents no problems with navigation although as the author I could not understand what possessed me to to direct people down a lane at Hambleden for 70m when you could go through a lovely churchyard.

If you are a confident map reader or have GPS you can do many walk variations in this area and emboldened by the comments for this walk I may post my 17.2m Henley circular later in the summer for those who enjoy a long day out.