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Perfect walking conditions approaching Mapledurham Lock |
We open this newsletter with some good news: the Benson Weir on the Thames Path is back open! The Environment Agency closed the weir 2-3 years ago following storm damage. The weir served as a vital crossing for the Thames Path. Its closure meant a road walk from Benson to Wallingford. Fortunately the adverse effect was somewhat mitigated by the opening of a ferry running from the Benson boatyard to the lock on the other side of the river. This served walkers well for most of the time the diversion was in place. The weir has now been replaced at a staggering cost of £15m and the path is now well and truly open.
The opening happily co-incided with the start of the season, April 1. We are now officially open although our first bookings are not until after Easter. Nonetheless if you need immediate help then we are available.
The paths are looking in good condition. We had a relatively dry March and the Thames Path, as far as we know, is clear of floods. Considering that large parts of the Path were underwater in February it’s a remarkable turnaround.
Reading’s Walks Festival is returning this year and will be running from May 9 to May 17. There will be more than 40 walks around the town, the Thames and the Kennet & Avon Canal. For more information. See here for more information.
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The Thames Path crossing the newly installed Benson Weir |
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Other Thames Path News
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of the Thames Path. To mark the event, the National Trails office is partnering with Drinkable Rivers in organising a relay of the entire Thames Path starting at the source on June 5 and ending at Woolwich on June 28. We will be leading one of the sections: probably Newbridge to Swinford on June 10. We’ll share more of this as it becomes available.
The King Charles III way has now officially opened. Also known as the English Coastal Path this is a continuous route around the coast of England. It’s not a circular path as Scotland sort of gets in the way, as does Wales. As there is already a Welsh Coastal Path I’m not sure why this couldn’t have been included.
Nearer to hand, the English Coastal Path snakes its way around Kent and crosses the Thames at Woolwich before heading around the Essex coastline. Which is why the Thames Path moved 1.2 miles downstream from the Thames Barrier to Woolwich a couple of years ago. In theory it means that you can continue walking along the Thames Estuary on either the Essex side (north) or the Kent (south) to the sea.
Before you get too excited the path on both sides (indeed this applies to the entire King Charles III Path) is still very much “in the making”. Downstream of Woolwich it’s also surprisingly remote with little transport and minimal accommodation. So, I’m afraid we’re unable to support it for some time.
On a completely separate subject, the Environment Agency have been hard at work clearing up abandoned boats, some of which have submerged, and selling them off where possible. The below photo is of a crew en route at Mapledurham en route to an abandoned oat further upstream.
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Environment Agency operatives at work |
Whilst on a short break up north we found ourselves walking around the Cathedral City of Durham. We were surprised (only because we’d forgotten!) that the Camino Ingles starts here and that there were distinctive blue and yellow signs pointing to Santiago de Compostela. It’s a lot further from Durham than from Reading!
One day there will be a continuous walk from Durham to Southampton and from there to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In the meantime we must make do with the short stretch in Durham, the St Frideswide’s Way from Oxford to Reading, and the St James’ Way from Reading to Southampton.
In the meantime, Reading will be hosting a fair on April 25 to celebrate its connection with Galicia, Spain, the terminus of the walk.The fair will feature music, food and audio-visuals of the Camino. It will be attended by representatives from Galicia.
Ridgeway News
We’re getting a little bit concerned about the Plough at Cadsden, a useful stop a few miles before Wendover for lunch and also a bed for the night. This pub is unique in that it’s the neighbouring pub for Chequers, the country seat of the Prime Minister. The trail passes through the estate. It’s been closed since before Christmas being “refurbished”. However, little work seems to be happening and they are not responding to phone calls. Until the situation is clearer we would recommend not including them in your plans.
On a brighter note a water tap has been installed at Sparsholt Firs. The western half of The Ridgeway from Avebury to Goring and Streatley is largely devoid of water, passing only through one valley on its 40 mile journey. So its essential that you fill up with water for your walk. This water tap at Sparsholt Firs could make a big difference. From memory we think there’s a similar tap above Bishopstone and another on the eastern half near Nuffield.
Finally we don’t often have to report a trail blockage on The Ridgeway. But, between Wigginton and Tring, a tree has fallen blocking the Path. Walkers have managed to circumvent the fallen tree to the side.
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The Plough at Cadsden: will it re-open? |
Kennet & Avon Canal Walk
Like the Thames, the canal has also enjoyed the benefits of a dry March with the flooding at Burghfield now dry.
As we write the annual Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race is underway. This 120/125 mile route follows the Kennet & Avon Canal as far as Reading where it meets the Thames. Aside from the challenge of its sheer length, there are 77 portages (points where you must get out of the canoe and carry it for awhile). These will almost all be locks. The Senior Doubles race (120 miles) is a continuous race finishing at Barns Elm Boathouse opposite Craven Cottage in Fulham. The Stage Race (125 miles) is over 4 days finishing at Westminster. Last year’s Senior Doubles completed the non-stop 120 miles in 17 hours and 17 minutes.
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Between Bradford on Avon and Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal |
North Downs Way anyone?
We’ve had a spate of enquiries for the North Downs Way which runs from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. It’s 153 miles in length. It’s too far away for us to support but we are looking to see if there’s a company we could partner with. If anyone has experience of walking this route as a multi-day walk then we’d love to hear from you.
And finally....
Easter is, of course, the time when lambs come out. So we’re closing with a shot we took whilst driving through the Chilterns.
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Ready to book?
