Segment 8: Henley to Tilehurst

What is this?
This is the 8th leg of the 180 mile walk to the source of the Thames. This is the last Segment for this year (2011). People have the option to just come and do this walk on Sunday or come a night before to Henley and stay with the group. A group of people are making this a weekend trip doing Bourne End to Henley the previous day.

Meeting time is 10:00am at the Henley-upon-Thames Station.

To get to Henley by 10:00am you need to get take the 8:43 train from Paddington to Twyford and then change at Twyford to take the 9:43 train from Twyford to Henley getting to Henley at 9:55pm.

The cheapest ticket (if you are doing a day trip from Paddington) is ask for the Thames Walk ticket day return to Tilehurst = £16.50, I am told the Thames walk ticket will also be valid on the branch line to Boure End.

If a bunch of you plan come from Paddington that day, you can meet at Paddington around 8:15 and try and get the group saver ticket. If there are any volunteers happy to co-ordinate these please send me a mail.

People who wish to drive can bring their cars and leave them at the Henley Station, getting back from the end of the walk in Tilehurst to Henley is relatively easy.

Details of the Walk

This walk will start from Henley upon Thames railway station, leaving the posh town of Henley the path becomes rural very quickly, We walk along the north side of the river for most half the way and then switch to the south and carry on the south side until the end of the walk at TileHurst. 1 mile after the start of the walk we come to Marsh Lock where the Thames path actually takes to the centre of Thames, we walk over a few bridge before coming back to the shore. Two miles from the start we come to the village of Shiplake the path leaves the river here and we walk through the town for about a mile before coming back to the river shore. A detail map through Shiplake will be provide to make sure you know where to go, other that this part following the route is easy as you just need to stick to the side of the river.

After Shiplake the path is rural again and we go through many field and meadows before arriving at the village of Sonning, At Sonning we switch from the north side of the river to the South side, the Lunch stop is as soon as we cross the bridge at Sonning. This is the first bridge to come to after the village of Shiplake so you cant miss it. After Lunch at The Bull we head along the route and with a couple of miles will reach the busy town of Reading, we keep walking through this mainly urban landscape for another 2 miles before the path becomes rural again, and then runs parallel to the Great Western Railway until the end of the walk at Tilehurst. The path actually takes us right to the railway platform (so I am told).

The attached map shows all the details of the route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5176381

The website below gives a more detailed description of this walk.

http://www.thames-path.org.uk/thames_henley_tilehurst.html

Pit Stops and Lunch

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/f/2/8/event_71093032.jpeg

The Lunch Stop will be at Sonning, at the

The Bull Inn

High Street, Sonning, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 6UP

http://www.fullershotels.com/rte.asp?id=67

The Bull Inn is a traditional 16th century inn. Visitors and guests today are enchanted with its character and uniqueness. Having seven luxurious, en suite bedrooms, our guests tell us our beds give the best night's sleep ever!

This quintessentially English inn is mentioned in the novel "Three Men in a Boat".

Sonning is the most fairylike little nook on the whole river. If you stop at Sonning, put up at The Bull, behind the Church. It is a veritable picture of an English country inn".(Jerome K Jerome)

Pits Stops

The toilet stops will be few and far between but you will find then at the various locks along the way. Shiplake Lock (3 Miles) , Sonning Lock (6 Miles) and then at various places in Reading (8-10 miles)

Apres Walk drinks and getting home.

Apres Walk drinks will not be exactly at the end of the walk, because there are no interesting pubs in Tilehurst, more over the route finishes right on the station platform, therefore the plan is to take the train straight from Tilehurst to Reading at the end of the walk and meet at a pub near the Reading Station. The Apres walk pub will is

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/0/5/4/event_71093332.jpegThe Three Guineas

Station Approach, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1LY

http://www.three-guineas.co.uk/

Trains from Tilehurst to Reading are at 42 minutes past every hour. Therefore the intention will be to take the 14:42 or the 15:42 from Tilehurst. It takes seven minutes to get to Reading. So it may pay to time you walk such that you are at Tilehurst exactly at 14:42 or 15:42.

Trains from Reading to Paddington are every 15 minutes.

How far is it and when will I get there?

The walk is 11.5 miles , the total walking time at an average speed should be 4 hours. Therefore if we start at 10:00am and allow 42 minutes hour for Lunch means we should finish the walk by 14:42.

Approximate times for the walk are as follows

10:00 Start from Henley

10:20 Marsh Lock

10:40 Shiplake

12:00 Sonning (Lunch Stop)

12:45 Finish Lunch

13:30 Reading

14:40 : TileHurst

FAQ

What do I need to bring?
Suitable footware and clothing, ideally a torch, possibly a map. The track is likely to be muddy in many places. Hiking boots are increasingly recommended, so long as you've worn them in first. The walk will go ahead even if the weather is horrible. Drinks, chocolate to share, optionally lunch. Money for lunch and a pint at the end.

It is nearly winter now and will get dark quickly , so warm clothing is essential.

What if I can't make it?
Please change your RSVP to "no" as soon as you decide you can’t make it.

IWhat if I am late?
We will be leaving the meeting point at 10:00. If you are delayed beyond that, you will be on your own. You can try and catch up with at Shiplake (which has a train station) beyond that it will be difficult.

Can I do only part of the walk?

Yes you can quite at Shiplake or at Reading, anywhere else you will find it difficult to find a train to take you home.

What if I get lost?
Please don't, but if you do, please phone 0776 9682056 , even if you can make your own way home.

The route is quite straight forward you just have to stick by the river, the only tricky bit is at Shiplake , if you get lost there ask for directions to Shiplake Lock when you get back to the side of the river.

What if it rains or the weather is bad?
The walk will be on rain or shine, make sure you get enough waterproof clothing.