This walk starts in the picturesque village of Goring. It follows the Thames Path through wildflower meadows and between wooded hills for spectacular views back towards Goring and the North Wessex Downs beyond.

Length: 3 miles (allow 2 hours)

Start: Goring and Streatley train station. Parking at the station car park or in the village.

Access Information: Easy walking on good paths, sometimes muddy in winter. One short steep hill on leaving the Thames Path.

Refreshments: Pubs and cafes in Goring.

Route:

From the station, turn left and then left again to cross the bridge over the railway. Walk down Goring High Street to the end of the village to where the bridge crosses the Thames.

Just before the bridge, drop down the steps on the left-hand side of the road, turn right at the bottom and follow the lane to the bank of the River Thames.

1. Turn left along the towpath as it curves slowly round with the river on the right for a mile to reach a railway bridge. The brick railway bridge was designed during the 1830’s by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the greatest engineers of all time.
2. Continue under the bridge and keep straight ahead through a series of gates for another 400m to Ferry Cottage. Turn left by the side of Ferry Cottage and cross over a footbridge to a T-junction.
3. Turn right and continue along the Thames Path, with views of the hills ahead, for 600m to the edge of a wood. For those not wishing to do the short but steep uphill section, please return to Goring by the same route. Otherwise continue as below.
4. Turn sharp left uphill away from the Thames Path, and along the side of the wood, to go through a gate at the top at the entrance to Hartslock Wood Nature Reserve. Once through the gate, turn right up a steep footpath to the top of the hill. The chalk grassland provides a blaze of colour in spring and early summer. At the end of the last ice age meltwater broke through the hills to make its way to the sea, cutting through the chalk and creating the ‘Goring Gap’. Walk downhill to the gate at the bottom of the field, go through it and turn left along a track which soon joins a quiet lane.
5. Turn left and follow the lane for 1.5km to return to the station.