The Ridgeway - Wallingford and East Illsley ~ Griffmonsters Great Walks

Thursday 10 February 2022

The Ridgeway - Wallingford and East Illsley

Author: Griffmonster | Thursday 10 February 2022 | No comments |

The Ridgeway - Wallingford and East Illsley

The third walk of a multi day hike along the Ridgeway going East to West

The fourth day of a multi-day hike along The Ridgeway National Trail. An easy walk alongside the River Thames to Goring is followed by another strenuous hike over the hills

NOTE

This is a walk summary intended to provide the user with just the essential information in order to navigate the walk route. Fully detailed information notes, refreshment stops and walk features are not included in this. A full write up will be included in the near future.

The Ridgeway - Wallingford and East Illsley - Essential Information

Walk Statistics (calculated from GPX):

Start location: Wallingford
End location: East Illsley
Distance: miles ( km)
Total Gain: ft ( metre)
Total Descent: ft ( metre)
Min Height: ft ( metre)
Max Height: ft ( metre)
Walk Time:
Walk Grade: Challenging
Terrain: Footpath

Maps:

The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map: OS Explorer 170 - Abingdon, Wantage & Vale of White Horse
GPX Route File

Route Verification Details

Date of Walk: 17/06/2007
Walk Time: 08:00:00 to 17:00:00
Walkers: Warm, pleasant, sunny intervals
Weather Conditions: Warm, hazy skies

Walk Notes

The first part of this walk follows the River Thames and is easy walking through the riverside meadows. This is the east side of the river whilst the west side has the Thames Path running alonside its banks. There is the church at Norh Stoke to visit along this route and luckily the vicar duly walked in at the right moment with the ancient door key that allowed access.

TAnother encounter with cows saw Steve W. hemmed in against the river bank. This cow charmer's magic did not work this time and eventually he had to wade through the herd with a push on their snouts. Further along is the impressive giant archways of the railway bridge. The path soon comes to the river crossing at Goring which is separated from Streatley by the river. A stopoff at the Bull Inn for a drink to provide the impetus for the next part of the walk.

TThe next section to our overnight stay at East Illsley is across some high ground. A long hike across hard stony tracks. Encouragement was the sign at the start of this which was pretty much the half way point along the Ridgeway. We arrived at the pub we had booked rooms at and grabbed a well deserved pint of beer which was taken into the garden. It was early evening and there was a good throng of folk sitting inside and outside, all well lubricated. We sat there reflecting on the days adventures with the juke box being played on the speakers outside, although nothing too loud and certainly not intruding on our thoughts of the day. The Kaiser Chiefs came on with their recent hit song Ruby. This is one song that invites a change of words and as the intro led into the first verse I accompanied it, .... 'LEt it never be said...' the words serenaded '...I am a pisshead' I accompanied. At this point a young woman sitting adjacent to us supping from a pint pot in her hand just spluttered into her beer, soaking her jeans. Had she never heard the real words? A sly look in our direction and a glancing smile at these out-of-town nomads.