Best Foot Forward Vol 1 No 4

Vol 1 No 4

Where to walk OXFORD Are we putting off new walkers Walking long distance footpaths Walking the Ridgeway in the 80’s

Walks with full directions, maps, and videos

INDEX

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Are we putting off new walkers

19 20

Long Distance Foot Paths

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6

Ascot Racecourse

38 39

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Physic wells Walking the Ridgeway in the 80’s Autumn is here again

Where to walk OXFORD

WALKS Great Lake and Ascot Heath

6 Miles

24 Oxford Old City Circular

2.25 Miles

32 Cumnor Circular

6 Miles

43 Thames Path - Windsor to Maidenhead 8 Miles 50 South Wokingham Circular 2

7 Miles

Using the Links and Downloading Index Clicking on any of the items in the index will instantly take you too the required page saving you having to flick through the magazine to the required item.

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When ever you see this symbol there is a linked video.

If the symbol appears in either the bottom left or right corner, the video will show more details, such as the inside of a church.

If the symbol covers the whole image it will be a verbal walk through of the walk. If there are two the second video will be a general view of what you may see on the walk.

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Contact We are always looking for articles and people views on any subject on walking or any of the articles in the magazine.

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Are we putting off new walkers

Are we putting people off from entering our great hobby by the cost of equipment needed as stated on a number of web sites, in magazines and books.

a nuisance then a benefit constantly getting caught up in the foliage and gaps in rocks.

So even though I have been walking for well over 30 years I could never join them.

I have even come across a walking club for new walkers who expected you to have proper walking boots, walking poles and other equipment before you could join them.

As they were only walking along wide forest paths, which even in bad weather are easy to traverse, and there walks were of about 3 miles in length. So I couldn’t see why it was necessary to have those items to get started.

A pair of flat comfortable shoes, coat just in case it rained or is cold, something to drink, maybe a map and possibly some food was all that really is needed. But as you had to do a 15 minute course on how to use your walking poles before you could join any of their walks you have too have them to join in.

Of course I don’t know how prevalent these type’s of rules exist to be able to join a beginners group but besides this club I have seen adverts to join other beginning walking groups with similar types of rules.

“you had to do a 15 minute course on how to use walking poles” The club had an advance group and a speed walking group which I can understand if you wished to join either of those groups you would expect to have the equipment they stipulated you should need before joining.

But you would by then have a good idea if walking was for you. Even though personally I hate walking poles finding them more of 4

But the cost even for fairly cheap equipment to join these beginners groups can easily set you back nearly £100 or more.

You could argue that joining other hobbies can be just or in some cases even more expensive but in a lot of cases you can hire, (golf and cycling come to mind), or only one person needs the equipment, (chess and football plus many others) to get started.

Another argument is people can easily find out if they enjoy walking by doing a few walks on their own before splashing out on expensive equipment. But solo walking is not for all of us, I personally find walking with others gives me more enjoyment from the walk. Also I am more motivated to get going if I am meeting others to walk for the day instead of easily slipping into I will put it off until next week mode if I was going to walk solo.

Its been a long time since I started walking and I have forgotten what it was like to start

out and I wonder if the people who run these groups have done the same. This of course is not a problem just in our hobby, but seems to exist in many others, but doesn’t mean we should follow their example. So I think relaxing the rules a little in respect of new walkers will hopefully bring more people into the hobby.

Of course I would not expect or even condone new walkers trying to walk mountainous or rough terrain like Dartmoor with out proper equipment. Only just for the short easy walks most of us did when we first got going in our hobby.

“when a walking club doesn’t realise they were missing two people” Another thing which seems to come up a lot is the cliquishness of some clubs where new members can feel a bit unwelcome.

This of course is not something which just effects our hobby but seems to be a part of our national make up. There of course will always be a few members who will be happy to talk to the new person. But it seems within a very short time they will find themselves on the sidelines of the group, when it doesn’t take too much effort to be a bit more welcoming.

In the case of one person I know who had just joined a group with one other new person neither knew each other before joining and as both being new they gravitated towards each other. When the group stopped for a break at a coffee shop they decided to use the toilet only to come back outside to find the rest of the group had left with out them.

This sort of thing does put off new members when a walking club doesn’t even realise they were missing two people before continuing

their walk. Which at the end of the day would not make a new member feel particularly welcome or wish to carry on being a member of the group.

I am sure a lot of you who do belong to walking clubs will state we always go out of our way to make new members welcome and I am sure in most cases that is probably true.

Also as a group the general impression to the general public is that we are all over a certain age and have very few younger members. This of course is patently untrue but when I do see walking groups out and about the members do seem to mainly be over 50. Again this stereotype is not something that effects us as lots of other hobbies also give off this type of feeling. So much so that a number of these hobbies have now started up younger groups to try and get younger people involved as their membership is dropping at a alarming rate as their members get older.

Besides doing what the other hobbies are doing by starting up younger members groups I can’t see how this ageism thing can be combated. Of course younger people do walk and generally don’t belong to more organised groups so unlike other hobbies we are not going to die off any time soon.

Walking at the end of the day should be an enjoyment of our beautiful landscape and a easy way to stay active and meet like minded people.

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11 10 9

13 14

8 7

6

Great Lake and Ascot Heath 2

4

3

1

6 miles 9.65 km 6

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Exploring the countryside and small villages North of Ascot.

Start and Finish-: Ascot Car Park 7 51.410444, -669993 Easy no steep hills Dog Friendly (dogs must be kept on a lead in certain areas) Because of stairs and small kissing gates not mobile scooter or wheel chair friendly

With your back to the car park turn to your left and walk down towards the roundabout.

1 Turn left into the Winkfield Road and continue straight ahead until you reach the last house on the right hand side.

2 To the left of the house you will see a dirt path. Follow this path until you come out on to Cheapside Road.

3 Turn to your left and walk down Cheapside Road until you reach the entrance to Sunninghill Park on your left just before your reach Water Splash Lane.

As you turn into Cheapside Road you will see the Golden Gates on your left. This was the entrance the Royal Family use to use to enter Ascot Race Course.

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4 Go through the gate and follow the tarmacked road down the hill until you see a sign post on your left marking a public footpath. There is also another sign here asking you to keep your dog on it’s lead.

5 Follow the dirt footpath to your left it can get muddy in wet weather. Cross over the stream and head straight ahead until you come out on a tarmacked road with the Great Lake in front of you and slightly to your left.

6 Continue straight ahead down the tarmacked/ gravel/ dirt road in front of you.

So that the Great Lake is on your right hand side.

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Path leading to the Golden Gates The Golden Gates

7 Follow the road until the end where you will come to a field. Cross the field, there is a path between the crops, and go through the gap on the fence on the other side.

8 This will bring you out on to a dirt track. Cross straight over and go through the gap in the fence straight in front of you. Follow the winding dirt track in front of you until you reach a wide bridal way with a couple of houses straight in front of you.

9 Cross straight over the bridal way and follow the gravel/ dirt drive that runs to the right of the houses until you come out on to the Windsor Road.

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10 To your right on the other side of the road you will see the Loch Fyne Seafood & Grill Restaurant. Just before the restaurant is a gravel driveway. Head down the gravel drive with the restaurant on your right until you reach Lovel Lane.

11 Turn left and walk down Lovel Lane towards the village of Woodside.

12 Go pass Woodside Lane the first road on your right and turn up Woodside Road the first road on your left. Follow Woodside Road going pass The Rose & Crown until you reach a T-junction.

13 Turn left and walk pass the front of The Duke of Edinburgh which is on the corner and continue straight ahead until you reach Kiln lane the first road on your right.

14 Follow Kiln Lane until the very end where it becomes a dirt path.

Please note until you reach the Winkfield Road the fields you will be going pass or through do have live stock in them so you may wish to put your dog on a lead.

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Sunninghill Park Fields near The Great Lake

The Great Lake

15 Follow the dirt path to your right then to your left where you will go through a gate. Continue straight ahead until you come to two kissing gates close to each other.

16 Go through both kissing gates in to a field. Follow the dirt track towards the left of the field and walk down beside the left fence until you see a small kissing gate which leads you in to another field.

17 With the fence now on your right hand side walk towards the winkfield road. You will go through three fields each one accessible by a kissing gate. After entering the last field head towards the right hand corner and go through another kissing gate on to the Winkfield Road.

18 Turn to your right and walk towards Hatchet Lane.

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19 When you reach the Y-junction a short distance along the road.

You will see a alleyway beside No 1 Winkfield Road on the left hand side which leads up between some houses. Follow this until you reach the New Road.

20 Turn to your right and follow the New Road until it reaches Forest Road.

21 Turn left and walk up Forest Road (it’s a good idea if you cross over to the other pavement as the one on the left side of the road finishes a short distance pass the houses) until you reach a large wrought iron gate on your left. There is another one on the right side of the road also.

22 On the right hand side of the gate you will find a smaller gate for people to walk through. Go through the gate and follow the drive way until you reach a sign posted public footpath on your left hand side. On the opposite side of the drive is a entrance into a farm.

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23 Turn left and follow this path which after a short distance becomes Rhododendron Walk. Pass Ascot Heath Church of England Junior School on your right until you reach a small roundabout.

24 Go straight across the roundabout and head down New Road. Keep going to you reach the next roundabout where the New Road turns off to the left.

25 Go straight ahead in to Kennel Ride and keep going until you pass the first road on your right also called Kennel Ride. Just pass the house on the corner you will find a small alleyway.

26 Follow the alleyway until you come out on to Kennel Avenue.

27 Turn to your right and walk up to the next junction.

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28 Kennel Avenue turns to your left.

Keep following Kennel Avenue until you reach the Windsor Road.

29 Cross over the Windsor Road and go through the gate directly in front of you on to Ascot Heath. (During race meetings you may have to wait until you can use the gate) Cross over the race course until you reach the path which runs around the edge of the horse race track.

30 Turn to your left and follow the path around the edge of the race course. You will pass a couple of man made lakes on your right side and a helicopter landing pad also on your right.

31 After awhile you will come to some stairs on your right hand side. Go down the stairs and turn right and walk through the tunnel.

32 At the other end of the tunnel on your right hand side you will find some more stairs. Go up the stairs and walk along the path beside the Winkfield Road. Continue until you reach the roundabout on the London Road turn right which will bring you back to the car park.

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The Rose and Crown

Forest Stream Ascot Heath

Field near Woodside

Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711

by Queen Anne. The first race, “Her Majesty’s Plate”, with a purse of 100 guineas, was held on 11 August 1711. Seven horses competed, each carrying a weight of 12 stones (76 kg).

This first race comprised three separate fourmile (6437 m) heats. Handicap races started at Ascot, the first one being the Oatlands Handicap in 1791.

In 1813 Parliament passed an Act to ensure that the grounds would remain a public racecourse. A new grandstand was opened in 1839 at a cost of £10000. A further Act of Parliament of 1913 establishing the Ascot Authority which entity manages the racecourse to this day. From its creation until 1945 the only racing that took place at Ascot was the Royal Meeting, a four-day event. Since that date, more fixtures have been introduced to the grounds, notably steeplechase and hurdles in 1965.

Ascot racecourse closed for a period of twenty months on 26 September 2004, for a £185 million redevelopment designed by Populous and Buro Happold. As owner of the Ascot estate, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth reopened the racecourse on Tuesday 20 June 2006.

Upon re-opening the new grandstand attracted criticism for failing to provide sufficiently raised viewing for patrons to watch the racing, and devoting too much space to restaurants, bars and corporate hospitality facilities. At the end of 2006 a £10 million programme of further alterations was announced to improve the viewing from lower levels of the grandstand. However, the upper levels provide far less accommodation for the everyday race goer than was present in the former stand.

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Long Distance Foot Paths

A long distance path is normally defined as a path that is at least 31 miles long. So taking most people more than one day to complete. Under that definition there are presently 221 paths fitting that description and possibly a lot more as some are smaller routes put together.

Most of these paths can be done in easy daily walks of various distances and are properly sign posted with good information on various web sites such as wikipedia, transport for London and Walking English Man. With most having there own specialist web sites.

Looking at the map on walkingenglishman.com we can see that just about all of England and Wales has at least one path, with large areas of Scotland covered, and Ireland has a few. So most of us are close to at least one path with out realising it.

Preparing to walk a long distance path is totally different from our normal walks, depending if we are going for longer than a day, if we will be carrying every thing with us or using a transfer system. One of the major problems is finding walker friendly accommodation even if we are camping. This of course depends on which path we are using, as the most popular ones are generally fine on that score. Personally as I just use a sleeping bag and bivvy sack I just need a flat area to put up for the night, still making sure I get the land owners permission where possible, but I know a lot of people don’t like using a bivvy sack. A number of years ago when walking the Ridge Way I saw a number of people who were quite happy using plastic sheeting, but that was during summer, and it had been dry for a few weeks definitely something we can never rely on.

So the first thing is to choose which path to walk with the number available there is plenty to choose from covering all types of terrain and difficulty. Next thing I always do is check the whole length of the 20

walk to see how far it is away from towns, villages, and hamlets. From this I can decide what food and drink I will need to carry for every daily stage. Of course this will be based on how you will be spending the nights in hotels/B&B’s or like me camping. What equipment I should carry this depends of course on the type of terrain I will be walking, the weather and again how close I will be too civilization.

If you have brought new equipment to take with you try it out before you go. This is to make sure how easy it is to use when in the field and if it does what you expect it too. I have been caught out on this before in my case a new light which was hard to turn on in the dark.

So we now have everything planed we just have to decided how we are to get to the start, and of course back from the finish. One major problem with these paths is the start and finish are generally a long way from each other so driving is generally not a good idea. So public transport or a helpful spouse or friend is needed to get us there and back. As a lot of these paths are situated away from public transport we will often need to add a number of miles walk to the start and end. This of course is the same problem we suffer doing a short path which is not a circular.

Always prepare for the worse I don’t know how many times I have looked at weather reports to see there would be non stop sunshine for the next two weeks only to find it would be pouring with rain by the second day. So make sure you have everything you need to cover normal weather conditions in the region you will be walking. This is specially important in more rural and mountainous terrain where you will have a lack of cover.

Now we have everything ready we just need to enjoy the adventure of walking a long distance path. But remember when doing these paths it’s not a speed test. A lot of us can easily walk 20 miles or more in a day. But doing that day after day will tire you out very quickly so take your time and enjoy the scenery taking lots of breaks. Keep your energy levels up by eating and drinking small amounts on a regular basis.

If you have never done one before give it a go and enjoy the adventure.

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Where to walk

Oxford

From its many colleges, historical buildings, waterways, and outstanding countryside Oxford has a lot to offer the casual and more serious walker.

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Besides the city centre with it’s buildings from modern to the late Saxon period if you are a admirer of British architecture there is so much to see.. Oxford and the surrounding countryside is covered with footpaths taking you through charming villages, beautiful countryside or wandering along one of it’s two main rivers or the Oxford canal. The Thames path of course follows the bank of the Thames through Oxford and the Ridgeway is only a short distance away.

Even though Oxford is best known for it’s university it has played its part in the history of Britain in lot’s of other ways. Charles 1st used it as his base during the English Civil War, sacked by the Danes in 1004, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his Arthurian legends here in 1139, and William Morris set up his car company here in 1912.

There is so much to see in such a small area you may find it difficult to decide where to walk where a short walk can take some time to complete with so many sites to see.

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Oxford Old City Circular 2.25 Miles 3.8 KM Start Carfax Tower 51.751934, -1.257982

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Oxford Town Hall See the sites of Oxford.

Carfax Tower,

Easy

Oxford Town Hall, Christ Church College, Christ Church Meadow,

Dog Friendly

The Thames, The Cherwell, University of Oxford Botanical Gardens, Merton College, New College, Hertford College, Bodieian Library, Radcliffe Camera, The Saxon Tower,

(there are cattle on Christ Church Meadow)

Wheel Chair and Mobility Scooter Friendly

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1 Starting on Queen St next to Carfax Tower walk up towards the High St and turn right into St Aldate’s.

Carfax Tower officially called the St Martin’s Tower is all that remains of the 12th Century St Martin’s Church.

2 Walk down St Aldate’s passing the Oxford Town Hall on your right and further down Christ Church College. A short distance pass Christ Church College on your left you will see some cast iron gates. On the right hand side of the road just before your reach the gates is Rose Place.

Christ Church College was originally founded by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525 and was known as Cardinal College. With Wolsey’s fall from power in 1529 and the college only three quarters completed building came to a end. In 1532 the college was refounded by Henry VIII as Henry VIII college.

3 Turn left in to the Broad Walk with Christ Church on your left and walk towards Christ Church Meadow.

4 When you reach the South entrance in to Christ Church turn right in to Poplar Walk. Walk down towards the Thames with Christ Church Meadow on your left.

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5 When your reach the Thames you can take either of the paths on your left both of which are called Christ Church Meadow Walk. Follow them towards the Cherwell.

6 If you took the one beside the Thames do not cross the bridge but head straight ahead along the bank of the Cherwell.

7 Keep following the banks of the Cherwell until it swings off to your right and the path goes straight ahead towards the Oxford University Botanic Garden. Follow the path towards the gardens until your reach some gates.

8 Go through the gates in to Rose Lane and pass the T.S.Eliot Theatre and Merton College on your left and the Botanical Gardens on your right until you reach High Street at the end of Rose Lane.

Oxford University Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. Founded in 1621 as a physic garden for growing plants for medical research.

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Carfax Tower

Christ Church College

9 Turn left and walk up High Street until you come to Queens Lane the second road on your right.

10 Turn right in to Queens Lane and follow it until you reach Catte Street. Passing Queens College on your left and further along New College on your right. Queens Lane changes its name to New College Lane when you reach New College.

New College is officially called ‘The Warden and Scholars of St Mary’s College of Winchester in Oxford’ but got the name new to distinguish it from the other St Mary college now called Oriel College.

11 Turn left into Catte Street and walk down to Radcliffe Square passing the Bodleian Library on your right and Hertford College on your left.

12 When you reach Radcliffe Square turn to your right and head towards Brasenose Lane, with the Radcliffe Camera on your left, which is the first road on your right.

13 Turn right in to Brasenose Lane and head towards Turl Street.

The Radcliffe Camera was originally an independent Science Library but merged with the University in the 1850’s and is now a reading room for the Bodleian Library.

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14 Turn right in to Turl Street head down Turl street, passing Jesus College and Ship Street on your left and Exeter College on your right, until you reach Broad Street at the first cross roads.

15 Turn left in to Broad Street and continue until you reach Cornmarket Street the first road on your left. Going pass Balliol College

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on your right. If you don’t mind taking a short detour go down Magdalen Street which is opposite Cornmarket Street to see the Martyrs Memorial.

16 Turn down Cornmarket Street and head back to the Carfax Tower passing the Saxon Tower, the oldest building in Oxford, on your left.

The Thames

Christ Church Meadow Radcliffe Square

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Cumnor Circular 6 miles 9.7km Easy Dog Friendly (some fields contain livestock) Not wheel chair or mobility scooter friendly Start Cumnor Town Hall 51737180, -1.338067 32

1 Starting on Tumbledown Hill, with your back to the Village hall, turn right and walk up the high Street towards Appleton Road.

2 When you reach the first round about turn to your right and head down Appleton Road towards the Cumnor Cricket Club passing The Bear and Ragged Staff on your right.

3 When you see the sign for the Cumor Cricket Club a short distance pass the Bear and Ragged Badger on the left hand side. Follow the track leading to the cricket club and continue straight ahead passing the entrance to the Cricket Club on your left until you reach a large field.

4 You will have a path leading off to your right in to another field and one going off to your left in to some trees. Continue straight ahead towards a ditch which divides the field in two with trees lining the ditch edge a little further along. (the path may be ploughed if so you should see a path on the left of the field which will take you to the ditch) Once you reach the ditch stay on the left side with the ditch on your right and follow the path all the way around the field edge, the path will go left and then right again, until you reach a opening in the far right hand corner.

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5 Go through the gap and continue following the dirt path through the trees until you reach a small bridge with a kissing gate on the other side. Go through the kissing gate in to another field.

6 Continue straight ahead with the fence on your right until you reach the top right hand corner of the field go through another gate on to a drive and follow that up to the Appleton Road.

7 Turn right and walk through the village of Beselles Leigh. Keep following the Appleton Road for some distance until you reach a T-Junction with the Bablock Hythe Road coming from your left. There are a few houses here and a sign post pointing to the village of Eaton.

8 Turn left and follow the Bablock Hythe Road through the village of Eaton passing the Eight Bells on your right. Keep going for about 2 miles, you will see the Thames through the trees on your left, until you reach a sign post on your left pointing to a bridal way on your right. If the road comes to a end at the Thames you have gone a little bit to far.

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The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor

Path leading to field just pass Cumnor Cricket Club

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9 Go through the gate and follow the bridal way until you come out in to a field. You will pass a Physic Well on your left when the Bridalway swings to the left.

10 Cross the field following the path and go through the gate on to the Leys Road.

11 Continue following the Leys Road until you get back to our starting point at the Cumnor Town Hall.

The Village of Bessels Leigh

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The Eight Bells, Eaton

Leys Road Cumnor

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PHYSIC WELLS

Physic wells for centuries were suppose to be a place were people could be cured of various disease’s by drinking the water from these natural springs and were very popular until the late 17th Century.

Samuel Pepy’s used to visit the well in Barnet to take the waters stating they helped to reinvigorate him.

Over the years most have now vanished or been forgotten about but a few like the one at Cumnor can still be seen.

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WALKING THE RIDGEWAY IN THE 80’s In the early eighties about six months after having started taking walking seriously.

Me and my friend Colin decided to try our first long distance path. For our first try we thought best to be something local and not too long and after hearing my parents had just walked the Ridgeway we decided to give it a go. After all as my parents who were then in their late 40’s could do it how hard could it be for two young men in their early 20’s.

Besides my parents also had the guides and could give us some advise and being just 87 miles long how hard could it be.

The Ridgeway of course was one of Britain’s oldest paths having been used since prehistoric times by travellers, herders and soldiers.

“needed to get use to carrying everything over a long period” Having gone camping in the Lake District the previous year we had all the camping equipment so we just needed to get use to carrying everything over a long period

of time. So for a number of weekends we were walking 12 miles a day to get use to the weight and build up a bit of stamina.

After receiving a number of blisters, very sore shoulders and having finally gotten the weight distribution right we thought we were ready.

Having looked at the complete walk we presumed that 12 miles a day would be about the right distance to plan for as our daily target and any extra would be a bonus.

So seven and a half days in total seemed a perfectly good target to finish the walk.

“with a large supply of chocolate bars to keep energy levels up” In those days the best camping food if you wanted to keep the weight down was dry which you just had to add water too. We got ours from a small camping shop just off Oxford street now sadly closed. We had decided on one sort of main meal a day with cup of soups and bread rolls when we could get them for the others. With a large supply 39

of chocolate bars to keep energy levels up whilst walking. As there were a number of pubs on the first part of the walk before you got to Henley-on-Thames we presumed we could get a fairly decent meal at those to keep up our strength and get a bit of variety.

Timing of course was the key on reaching these pubs. After all we are talking about a period in time when pubs were only open for four and a half hours during the day, when hot food was only served for about two hours and generally was something with chips and peas or the height of pub food sophistication something in a basket but still better than non stop dry camping food.

“have to rely on the good graces of our fellow citizens” Water would be a big thing as we would need to carry a fair bit for drinking, making the dry food and general hygiene when running water would not be available. The second part of the Ridgeway of course has stand pipes situated within a days walking distance of each other so we would be fine after going through Goring. The first part of the Ridgeway doesn’t have those and we would have to rely on the good graces of our fellow citizens who live beside the Ridgeway. This was again was before you could buy water fairly cheaply at most shops and of course when shops were not even open all day or open at all on Sundays. Which generally worked out very well with most happy to let us fill up at their garden taps. Only one gentleman decided to give us his view on walkers using the Ridgeway asking for water.

By stating he wished he had never moved there as he was constantly being badgered all year round by people asking for water 40

and how they always seem to time their request when he either was taking a bath or needing to use the toilet. Not sure either of those things effected us as he was doing some gardening at the time when we asked.

We were now ready and decided we would join the Ridgeway Path at Tring not quite the beginning but not far from it as it was impossible to get to the start by public transport back in the 80’s on a Sunday and I’m not sure if you can get there now. The weather predicted for the next eight days be warm and dry with possible rain showers at night. So in bright warm sunshine we headed off finding the little acorn sign on a sign post just down from Tring station we started to follow the well trodden track, followed by so many others over the centuries, on our first long distance path. This end of the Ridgeway path is actually called the Icknield Way and the route is marked with an acorn.

“we decided to wait until it was totally dark” Making good progress we made our way through the beautiful countryside and small villages. After about 10 miles, it was starting to get dark, we decided to make camp for the night. There were still a number of dog walkers about and not being quite sure if we could camp where we were, which did seem to be a park, we decided to wait until it was totally dark before we put up the tent.

Even though we did have bivvy sacks so could stealth camp but it had started to cloud over so thought there may be rain during the night.

We had with us a single, modern for the

time, two man tent. This was made up of five metal poles two for each end pole and three for the cross pole. A large nylon triangular sheet which formed the base and two sides with a breathable panel at the tops which the three poles would go through and a large square sheet which would sit over the two side poles. Putting this up in day light was easy but now it was pitch dark was not so easy specially as we had forgotten to bring any form of light with us. Practicing during day light hours only had not really prepared us to well. After struggling with this for about 30 minutes we finally gave up and decided we would use our bivvy bags and as it was looking definitely like rain we would use the top sheet to keep off the rain. We could now get our small gas stove working making our dried food into something edible. Dry food in the 80’s was either noodle, rice, or potato based with soya pieces, peas, carrots and tomato with some sort of flavouring added. Curry, sweet and sour or oxo cube beef seemed to be the general flavouring I suppose they used these strong flavours to cover up the fact the rest of the ingredients were flavourless. But it was hot and filling how things have changed.

“glorious countryside of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire” The next two days were fairly uneventful, walking through the glorious countryside of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Along the way we meet a very friendly vicar and had a long conversation with him as he was very willing to show us around his church and gave us chapter and verse on the local history of the area as he was also the local amateur historian. The weather

had been absolutely beautiful with non stop sunshine which of course meant more fluid intake so more stops for water.

Before reaching Checkers we had hardly seen anyone else except the occasional dog walker and a few other walkers either out for the day or like us walking the complete path.

We also did notice that we seemed to be the most encumbered with camping equipment with our fellow walkers only carrying small day packs. So we made a mental note that in future we did not need to bring so much with us. Walking through the grounds of Checkers there seemed to be a large number of walkers around but I think what stood out the most was how many of them had highly polished walking boots and neatly ironed shorts with short back and sides at a time when hair was still fairly long.

“bumped into one of the path wardens” As it was getting towards dusk on our third night we bumped into one of the path wardens who suggested if we carried on a little longer there was a pub (can’t remember it’s name) where the land lord was very happy for people to camp around the back of his pub. As we hadn’t stopped at any pubs so far and thinking something different from dried food would be pleasant we decided to make for the pub.

After a few pints and hot food we asked if it was okay to set up our tent for the night on the pub grounds. Which the landlord was very happy about letting us do. He explained if we went to the right of the pub we would find a hedge go along the hedge and we would be at the back of the pub and he said we can set up 41

anywhere there. Before setting up for the night we decided we would have a few more pints as we weren’t sure how long it would be until our next, which was actually the following day. It was now very dark but we easily found the hedge and made our way along it’s side until we reached what seemed to be a fairly large field. After feeling around for a short while we found a fairly flat piece of ground and got the tent up, after a few days of practice we were now becoming experts and the touch we purchased in a village on our second day also helped, and were we were soon fast asleep. When I’m camping I normally wake up with the dawn and with this morning not being any exception I was awake early and decided to heat up the water for the morning coffee.

First thing I noticed after leaving the tent was the field looked suspiciously like a golf course having played the game a number of times I recognised some of the tell tale signs like the poles with the little triangular flags on them. And if that hadn’t given me a clue the gentleman in the distance striding purposely in our direction and shouting something seemed to have what looked like a golf club in his hand. Waking up my college we very quickly decided to decamp fast and get on our way with out any breakfast.

“lovely little pub in South Stoke with a medieval barn opposite” After a short break at a lovely little pub in South Stoke with a medieval barn opposite we made our way in to Goring were we stopped to just buy some more previsions before heading up on to the real Ridgeway.

This part of the path is totally different 42

from the first part being mostly very open with few trees and most of it not close to any shops. Water would not be a problem because of the standing pipes and if necessary you could buy food at the villages off the Ridgeway even though it would mean adding a few extra miles to the walk but we were sure we had enough to get us to the end.

“We had no major adventures on this part of the path” The Ridgeway has some wonderful sites with a number of hill forts and of course the white horse. We had no major adventures on this part of the path, except nearly being run over by a mini which seemed to pass very close to our heads during one night when we were just using the bivvy sacks, and made it to the end over the next three days which was as planed doing the whole thing in seven days. Maybe not the fastest but for our first long distance path we thought was okay. So with a few new blisters and very sore shoulders we got the train back to London and five days rest before having to go back to work.

Of course things have changed a lot over the years with better and lighter tents, back packs, sleeping bags and specially the food.

I have walked a number of the long distance paths over the years but I think your first is always the one you remember the most and the one you learn a lot from well you should do as I again forgot to bring a torch with me when walking a part of the Thames path one weekend early this year.

Thames Path Windsor to Maidenhead 8 miles easy dog friendly mobility scooter friendly wheel chair friendly 43

1 Starting in the middle of Windsor Bridge head 3 As Brocas Street swings to the right in front from the Windsor side of the Thames to the of the Watermans Arms a road leads of to your Eton side. left. Turn left and follow the road on too The Brocas a large meadow beside the Thames.

2 Turn left in to Brocas Street the first road on your left. Follow Brocas Street passing the Watermans Arms on your right.

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The Brocas

Brunel Railway Bridge Windsor

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4 Follow the dirt track across the meadow towards the bottom left corner of The Brocas. This path specially in the summer can be hard to see so just head towards the bottom left corner of the meadow.

follows the bank of the Thames or instead you can use the wider path which crosses the meadow and rejoins the Thames path just before a foot bridge. Doing this will take out a small loop in the Thames.

5 Continue straight ahead along the track besides the Thames going under the railway bridge, across some small bridges over a couple of streams. Then under the A322 until you come out on a wild flower meadow.

The Thames path from this point until you have nearly reached Maidenhead is very easy to follow as it just follows the banks of the Thames. You will pass The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, Dorney Lake where the 2012 Olympic Rowing events where held, Boveney Lock and Weir, and Bray Lock and Weir.

6 The Thames path is the less used dirt path that

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The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene

7 As you get to close to Maidenhead the path joins the River Road. Follow the River Road, going under the Maidenhead Railway Bridge also known as the Sounding Arch designed by Brunel, until your reach the Bath Road.

8 Turn left and walk over the 17th Century Maidenhead Bridge.

Carry on straight ahead if you wish to go to the station or the main shopping area of Maidenhead.

Thames near Dorney Lock

The Sounding Arch and Maidenhead Bridge in the background

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I have always found autumn to be one of my favourite times of the year. With the changes in the colour of the scenery with it’s reds, yellows and golds before the grey winter period sets in. I also realise it’s the period when so many of us put away our boots and walking shoes until the warmer drier weather of spring appears again.

Yes autumn can be wet and cold with stormy days but it can also have clear bright sunny days maybe not as warm.

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The ground can be muddy but that’s why we have walking boots in the first place besides for their better wear and comfort.

Even walking a path we may have done a number of times before in the spring and summer can look totally different in the autumn with less foliage around it can be surprising what we can suddenly see.

So don’t just put up your boots for the next six months get out in to our beautiful countryside and see it from a different perspective.

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South Wokingham Circular 7 Miles 10.5 Km Dog Friendly Start and Finish Wokingham Town Hall 51.410176, -0.833636 1 Start on Denmark Street opposite the Wokingham Town Hall. Looking at the Town Hall turn to your left and walk down Denmark Street. Pass The Raglan on your left, The Crispin on your right and Wokingham Library on your left. Go over the small roundabout just pass the library and continue along Denmark Street until you reach the next roundabout.

2 Go down the Finchampstead Road the second turning off the roundabout. Walk under the railway bridge and just before the entrance to Tescos you will see a dirt and gravel drive on your left.

3 Turn up the drive and follow it towards the Wokingham Equestrian Centre. Part of the way along you will go through a gate and pass a small stables on your left where the path swings to the right.

4 Continue pass the Equestrian centre on to the tarmacked lane and walk towards the Old Wokingham Alms Houses.

Denmark Street Wokingham

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5 After passing the Old Wokingham Arms Houses on your left, where the lane swings around to your right, you will see a gap in the hedge straight in front of you. Walk through and follow the dirt path towards the driveway to Ludgrove School.

6 When you reach the driveway turn to your right and walk through the gates. Go pass a house on your right and a little way pass that you will see on your left some electric power units and just pass those the entrance to a tarmacked byway .

7 Turn up the byway and follow this to the end where it turns into a dirt track just pass a farm house. You will see a railway line on your right and fields on your left which may contain livestock.

8 Continue along the dirt track a short distance until you reach another track leading off to your right where the fence line finishes.

Turn right and follow the forest track for about a mile until it turns to the left and comes to a Y-junction. There are a number of paths leading off the track some wide and others small but keep carrying on straight ahead.

Meadow near Alms Houses

9 Turn right and follow the path down to Nine Miles Ride.

10 Turn left and walk up Nine Mile Ride, passing St Sebastian’s Church on your left, until your reach a cross road with traffic lights with Heathlands Road on your left and the entrance to Heath Lake on your right.

11 Turn left and walk up Heathlands Road, there is no footpath but you can walk up the verge, until you reach Hatch Ride on your left.

12 Opposite is a forest track with a house on the left hand side, walk up the forest track until you reach a cross roads. The track leading off to the left has a dirt bank covering most of it to stop vehicles using it.

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13 Turn right and follow the path crossing a couple of small wooden bridges until the path does a sharp right turn.

14 Instead of following the path to the right go through the gate in front of you. There is a sign on the gate saying ‘the gate is to keep deer off the fruit’ that grows on the other side of the gate.

Go through the gate and go straight ahead between the polly tunnels until you reach a dirt path with a wooden fence on either side.

15 Follow this path going through another gate.

16 Continue straight ahead with a small golf course on your left and fields on your right until you come out on to a tarmac drive for Ludgrove School. The path turns slightly to the left and drops down in to a small dip a little further along there is a sign here saying that there is a farmers shop if you take the path to your right and they also have a pick your own service.

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17 Cross over the drive and carry on along the dirt track which is slightly to your left until your reach the railway line.

18 When you reach the railway track cross over the railway using the foot bridge and continue straight ahead towards Gipsy Lane.

19 Turn right in to Gipsy Lane and follow the lane until the end where it joins Murdoch Road and Easthamstead Road.

20 Turn left and walk up the Easthampstead Road until you reach the end where it joins Peach Street.

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21 Turn left in to Peach Street and walk back to the Wokingham Town Hall

Field near Ludgrove School

Byway heading towards Gorrick Woods

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Gorrick Woods

Path near railway line

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