We start this week’s newsletter with the disappointing news that Cassington Sewage Treatment Works has been referred to the Environment Agency for sewage spills into the river at Port Meadow, just north of Oxford. Cassington lies just upstream of Wolvercote with Port Meadow downstream. Port Meadow is a popular place for swimmers. It seems that an IT failure caused late notification of the discharge on Christmas Day leaving swimmers literally “in the poo”. Raw sewage is only allowed to be dumped during heavy rains.
Route News
The weather has been particularly cold this week with sub-zero temperatures at night. It has left the paths quite frozen making walking that much easier.
In November we reported on a closure of the Path near Shifford Lock which we were told had been fixed. This week we were able to get up there and are pleased to report that all paths are indeed open. However, we should add the following provisos:
1. Although the access route to Shifford Lock (on the opposite side of the river from the Thames Path) is now open, you still can’t cross the lock. So a circular walk is not possible.
2. Although the path from Shifford Cut to the ford at Duxford is now open, you can’t cross the ford as the water level is too high. Hopefully this will be possible in the summer. The Path here was temporarily suspended last summer as works were underway to build a fish pass. A major tree replanting exercise has taken place following the felling of trees as part of that work.
Following last week’s field work we can be sure that the Path is still flooded upstream of Cricklade. A way around is to follow cycle route 45 into Cricklade. More details are available on our Thames Path Walkers facebook group.
A website that may help you refill your water bottle is refill.org.uk. They have a downloadable free app that shows you where you can get water for free!
Finally, watch out for the Henley Toad Patrol. This may be a little early but just to let you know that fences have started to be installed for the upcoming great migration from north of the A4155 to the promised land of the Thames.
Thank you to those who joined our first webinar last Tuesday, an Introduction to the Thames Path. If you missed it, don’t worry. We are repeating it every two weeks.
The second in our series of winter webinars takes place tomorrow at 8pm with the Thames Path: Source to Oxford. The series concludes on 8 March. Click here to register for these free events.
If looking for a guided London walking tour, look no further than Rosalind from Wide Eyed London. Here’s a list of her latest walks:
Rosalind is our preferred London Guide, Check out our experiences page or Rosalind’s home page to make your walk more enjoyable.
Reminders:
Abingdon County Hall Museum started a new exhibition this Saturday: “Morland – a family business”. Morland are the brewers responsible for the Old Speckled Hen. The name was derived from a paint-speckled MG car that used to run around Abingdon referred to as Old Speckled ‘Un. Abingdon was also the home of MG cars.
Battersea Power Station is hosting a Light Festival starting January 13th until February 27th. There are six installations displayed against this fabulous building. Winter is a perfect time to tick off those London miles – especially when you can walk at night!
London Luminaries have published their winter virtual lecture series. These run from January 19 through to February 3 and feature Orleans House, Marble Hill, and Hogarth & Turner’s Houses, all found on the left bank near Twickenham. Tickets available here.
If walking on the right bank through Rotherhithe next year you might want to take a detour to the Titanic Exhibition which is at Dock X in Surrey Quays. The exhibition opened this week. Tickets available here.
That’s all folks. Mind how you go!
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