Our cottage for the week is just west of Reading. It is in the back garden of the owners house, has lovely views and there is nothing they have not thought of to provide, even wine!
We set off this morning from Benson Lock along good paths. Amazingly, despite all the rain there is very little mud and thankfully, the farmers seem to have mowed their hay fields, so our decision to walk in boots not shoes was unnecessary and so were the gaiters. The temperature was really good, not too hot.
We soon reached Wallingford with its very interesting church spire, then it was on along the river bank past the elite Oxford University boat house and quite a few rowers until we reached one of Brunel's many rail bridges. We then turned away from the river and eventually came out on the main road before Moulsford. Once through the village, it was back to the river and a lovely stretch where we could see the Ridgeway path we had walked last year on the other side.
We had a very nice lunch right on the riverside at the Boat House Deli in Streatley. We had found this cafe last year as this was our cross over point with the Ridgeway. After lunch we crossed the river and turned right this time along the river bank where there lots of fishermen. Eventually, the path goes away from the river for a short distance, then begins to climb through beech woodland, high above the river, which is very reminiscent of the Ridgeway in the Chilterns.
The final down then up is away from the Thames on a section of the path which seemed very popular with mountain bikers. Then it was down the hill past some lovely houses into Whitchurch.
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