Thames Path Ramble 14: Saturday 1st August 2015 Sonning-on-Thames to Henley, which is about 6 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 14: Saturday 1st August 2015 Sonning-on-Thames to Henley, which is about 6 miles.

Sue and Jem, Ann, Janet, Ian and I walked through the picturesque village of Sonning-on-Thames to arrive at our start point, the narrow, red-bricked arched bridge built in 1775. 

 We crossed over, dodging the traffic, to see the Mill Theatre and entrance to George Clooney’s house, both on an island. This meant we had another bridge, a wooden pedestrian one, to cross to reach the far bank and relative tranquillity. This section became more rural, wooded and green.

 There were patches of immensely tall Himalayan Balsam, (an invasive species), ducks, (both real and plastic) and a large plane tree with a swollen trunk and ‘dragon’ branches. We had spotted, earlier in the walk and high in the distance, Shiplake College grounds and after an hour or so came to the college’s boathouse. Here we paused for a few minutes, taking in the scene, but all was quiet and no schoolboys were ‘messing around on the river’. Our main picnic stop was beside Shiplake Lock and here was busy with boats. When leaving, we left the riverside, passing a board with doggy bags in a dispenser thoughtfully positioned. 

We walked through Lower Shiplake, past The Baskerville PH and hotel to then cross the Twyford/Henley railway by Shiplake Station. 

 Then our path took us along a shady, quiet and long lane, with large properties and ornate gardens that could be glimpsed behind large gates and hedgerows. Right at the end, an elaborate model railway line with St Moritz Station, could be seen in a more accessible garden. Unfortunately, there was again no activity, the 10.12 train not having left the garden shed!

 Upon re-joining the river, by a bend, we were facing the Park Place estate. This is supposed to be the most expensive house in the country (bought for £140M in 2011). The gardens with temples, grottos and tunnels in the chalk hills, were laid out in 18C. We could see a nice ‘rocky’ bridge, which was made, without using mortar, of stones from Reading Abbey (Cyclopian?). It still carries traffic travelling between Henley and Wargrave over the Happy Valley estate road. Once there was a lavender plantation, with distillery for making perfume on the estate.

Many people were out enjoying the sunny weather. Boats of all shapes and sizes were queuing up to go through Henley Lock. This lock is unusual in being nearer the riverbank away from the towpath. We walked along wooden foot bridges that diagonally crossed the water to a small island by the lock and back again.

The final part of our walk was into Henley centre, past the River and Rowing Museum, parks and many more boats including ‘The New Orleans’  (a corporate hire boat reviving the stylish tradition of a Mississippi sternwheeler). 

To moor here you need to pay and display by the hour as you would do with a car. 

We finished our 2015 walks by visiting the Chocolate Café and agreed that it would be a good place to revisit when we start our walks again next year.

Thames Path Ramble 13: Friday 31st July 2015 Tilehurst to Sonning, which is about 6 miles.

Thames Path Ramble 13: Friday 31st July 2015 Tilehurst to Sonning, which is about 6 miles.

Sue and Jem, Ann, Janet, John, Julie, Ian and I re-joined the Thames Path and crossed the Great Western Railway line beside The Roebuck near Tilehurst Station. This section of path was quiet and shady beside the river and the mainline railway was close too, but up at a higher level.  The weather was fine and we made good progress going along Thameside Promenade into Reading centre. We saw preparations being made for the Reading Rock Festival, which is held here in August and gradually the busyness increased with people camping, dog walking, keeping fit, boating etc.

We passed a boatyard where swans and ducks appeared to be imprisoned. 

Caversham is on the opposite bank, which is steeper and woodier. 

We stopped for our picnic lunch near to Caversham Bridge from where tour boats depart and close to where the grass had been chomped low by a large flock of geese (Greylag, Canada and Egyptian). Just along here we spotted the African Queen hotel boat again (familiar from previous Thames Path walks closer to Oxford). 

We went past Fry’s Island and high rise blocks of flats and offices seemed closer and closer as we walked towards the centre of Reading. Then, our way was barred as building work was being carried out on Reading Bridge. Many signs were up that seemed to confuse us and the ‘Diversion’ route wasn’t obvious. We asked locals and workers and found our way round to Caversham Lock where we watched the African Queen negotiate its way through. There were just a few inches to spare all around, but all seemed to go well and passengers were not disturbed from their comfortable seats on the top bow deck.

 For a while from here, on the opposite side of the Thames, there are many lakes and marinas (resulting from gravel workings?). At one point, moored to the opposite bank we saw another interesting boat; one not going anywhere, just seeming to be a hanging garden.

Then it was over the River Kennet/Kennet and Avon canal via the Horseshoe Bridge. It is very close to the Great Western Railway Line and about 20 years ago, plans to build a road along here were shelved. 

 We passed a canoe shop and went through another riverside park. Gradually, the path once again became quieter and the countryside returned. The wooded acres of Reading Blue Coat School grounds, with several Private signs, were to our right and then, after walking around a bend in the river, we could see Sonning Lock. We knew that there was a café here and our planned finish not far beyond. 

We sat for a while at the lock, watching boats go through, and resisted the café temptation as Janet had offered rock buns, a sweet pie and mugs of tea round at her house. Sonning -on-Thames Bridge was the official end of our walk, to where we will return to, tomorrow.