Thames Path Hike

The Thames Path is a 184-mile National Trail that roughly follows the River Thames from its source in the Cotswold Hills to the Thames Barrier east of London.

For three days this week I walked part of the trail from near Reading to Oxford. I’m grateful I was joined by two friends I’ve known for much of my life.

  1. Reading
  2. Pangbourne (start of hike)
  3. Wallingford
  4. Abingdon
  5. Oxford (end of hike)

Day 1: Pangbourne to Wallingford

Our foot journey started in the town of Pangbourne. We stayed in Reading the previous night. Day 1 of our hike began with a short train ride from Reading to Pangbourne.

River Thames at Pangbourne.
Later in the day’s walk we saw teams of women then teams of men practicing competitive rowing. They were probably students: it was Wednesday afternoon, and traditionally students take part in extra-mural activities on Wednesday afternoons.
Home for the night was this 16th century coaching inn in Wallingford, a picturesque market town.

Day 2: Wallingford to Abingdon

Lock gates.
At each lock there was also a weir. We saw several locks and weirs over the three days of our hike.
A backwater.
The trail was often by the river, but sometimes veered away from the river.
Pub lunch: Welsh Rarebit and squash soup.
The Cosener’s House, a big old house by the River Thames, our home for the night.
After dinner we walked through this gateway, the entrance to former Abingdon Monastery, on our way to the Cosener’s House.
Stairway to our rooms, The Cosener’s House

Day 3: Abingdon to Oxford

Next morning we wandered around Abingdon before we hit the trail again.
The Thames at Abingdon.
Yet another weir. We crossed the river at this point.
Worcester College, Oxford. One of my friends graduated from this college and was able to take us in for a look around.
The remains of the pud. A mint garnish was all that remained of a sticky toffee pudding: a fitting end to dinner on the last night of our three-day Thames Path hike to Oxford.

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