Goring to Cholsey
Crossing the bridge from Goring to Streatley, you are in fact crossing from Oxfordshire to Berkshire.
Looking to the left of the bridge you have the views of the Downs on the right and the Chilterns on the left. Whilst on the other side of the bridge is the lock and weirs.
On the banks of the river is the hotel
The Swan which is in the most magnificent setting.
I couln't walk past without stopping at the Boatyard teashop next to the Swan to enjoy a huge piece of cake and pot of tea.
Feeling refreshed I returned to the path via the Church lane.
Back on the pathway, I couldn't resist one last look back towards Goring Lock.
The river seems quite still here with not so many boats passing by allowing the river to reflect the beautiful scenery of both of its banks.
It is only a short walk before the next lock comes into view. This is Cleeve Lock, the shallowest on the river. Just half a mile from Goring Lock it is the shortest distance between two locks on the river.
The distance from Cleeve lock to the next one at Benson is over 6 miles and as a consequence this stretch is used as a training ground for the Oxford University rowing crews.
I was now walking by the side of a meadow with hundreds of geese making themselves at home there.
Does Canada have any geese left?
The heron has the perfect perch waiting to spot an unsuspecting fish below.
The path takes you away from the river here towards the village of Moulsford.
Leaving the river you pass The Beetle and Wedge restaurant. A strange name I thought until I found out that the word beetle is an old English word for mallet.
The perfect place for lunch and a drive in the country in one's open topped car.
The parish church of St John the Baptist in Mouldsford. The church is not as old as it looks as it was rebuilt in 1846. Very little remains from the 12th cent church that once stood on this site.
Coming back along the path to the river, the Four Arches Bridge comes into view. Another of Brunel's engineering masterpieces. There are two bridges here.
As you walk beneath you get a view of the brick built bridge with the skewed arches.
I'm now walking through The Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve. It is very, very quiet here. It is late afternoon and I can no longer hear the boats travelling up and down stream. I am glad I have almost reach my stopping place for the day.
Seeing the path stretching in the distance from the river, I always hope that I have correctly read the map and that this is the way to the railway station!
A welcome sight.
Wow great to see my area get such a nice mention. A few bits of information for others reading the blog. The Swan was owned at one time by Danny La Rue though I never saw him there. I did see this Daty old man from Steptoe and Son and he did look that way. The white pub over the river just past Cleeve lock is called the Leathern Bottle and was once owned by the most miserable git I had the misfortune to come across. But one story about him is worth hearing. He was very possessive about the river frontage and would not let anyone moor up and one day a big cruiser came up to moor and he ran out shouting they could not moor so they left. Later in the evening from the guy who owned the Beetle and Wedge Hotel at Moulsford who thanked him for sending down Des O Connor who had spent a few thousand at the bar.
ReplyDeleteFurther up where the Hereon is sat on the pole is Runsford Hole where Saunders Boat Yard started later he joined with Roe to become Saunder Row.
http://spuduka.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/saunders-boat-yard.html
The last stretch of road is called Ferry Lane and runs Past the old Fairmile Hospital.
http://forgottenfairmile.blogspot.co.uk/
Looking forward to the next section
PS Never knew that about the Uni boats training there always though it was Wallingford Rowing Club
The geese look quite large. It must be quite a sight to see them landing in a field.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots and the reflections are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely area. This just confirms my need to get there for a visit some time. I would love to walk about those little communities and enjoy the sights.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely area. This just confirms my need to get there for a visit some time. I would love to walk about those little communities and enjoy the sights.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photo tour of an area I haven't yet had the pleasure to visit. It looks like my kind of place for a walk.
ReplyDeleteAlways fabulous shots of the glorious places! looking delightful, Indeed! yours most welcome at my new post about Kerala Houseboat, India.
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely walk. beautiful reflections in the river and pretty houses and scenery.
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