Walk from the top of Whitchurch Hill

Join us for a fairly easy 5 miles walk at the southern tip of the Chilterns. Part of it will be along the Chiltern Way, with panoramic views across one of the most picturesque parts of the Thames (between Pangbourne/Whitchurch and Goring/Streatley), also over the hamlet of Blackbird's Bottom.

There has been a lot of the rain over the last few months, so this walk has been chosen to avoid the resulting mud as far as possible, with much of it on high ground and hard tracks.

Meet at 2:00 p.m. on the western edge of Hill Bottom (RG8 7PU), where Gashes Lane goes off to the north and Bridle Road to the south.

The Sun (0118 984 3909) is only 250 yards down the road, within easy walking distance if you want to have lunch there first. They serve Sunday roasts from 12:30pm, and advise booking in advance. If you are thinking of going for lunch before the walk please post a comment below to let others know. There is limited parking near Gashes Lane, so if you are eating at the Sun ask if you can leave your car there during the walk.

Directions:

From Pangbourne/Whitchurch:
Take the B471 up Whitchurch Hill and past the first road to Goring Heath. About 0.3m after the church (on your right) turn right at the cross roads towards Goring Heath / Hill Bottom. After about 0.3 mile you come Gashes Lane (left) and Bridle Road (right), where the bungalows & houses begin. The pub is about 250 yards further along.

From Caversham:
About 0.4m after leaving Reading on the A4074 turn left at the Pack Saddle towards Mapledurham. Continue along this road, past the garden centre at Goring Heath after about 2.9m; then after a further 0.3m turn left to Hill Bottom / Whitchurch Hill. Soon after passing the Whitchurch Hill sign, fork right to Hill Bottom, just after the bus shelter. The pub is on your right after about 200yds, and Gashes Lane about 250 yards further along.