Start: 10am @ Whitchurch Hill, recreation ground (SU637787, RG8 7PW)
Description: anticircular walk including The Almshouses, skirting Woodcote and taking in woods along the way.
Today’s walk was with the Henley and Goring group, thirteen ramblers and two doggies, Peanut and Molly.
The forecast was for rain around 1pm but it didn’t happen, fortunately.
This was a fabulous stroll, some of the paths I recognised from Geocaching many years ago. I discovered a pub In Woodcote I didn’t know existed, but having said that, I have never been in the one I knew about!
We looked down on Elvendon Priory and I tried to remember the history of the place from when I had been here before. I was pretty sure there had been a monastic order here, but when researching later, I discovered I was mistaken. Interestingly, it is thought there may be a tunnel linking this priory with the nearby Goring Priory.
It was shortly after this brief stop that we walked on and were asked by a chap if we wouldn’t mind waiting for five minutes whilst the shooting party finished what they were doing. I have to say I do not approve of killing for sport, so when some of the pheasants flew in our direction, away from the guns, I shouted “Cry Freedom”, a nod to Walt Disney, and some others in our group were similarly delighted the birds were escaping.
Parts of the route took us through some fabulous woodland, autumnal colours still in evidence, although many of the trees are now bare.
Our leader led us to a large log in the woods where we ate our lunch. We could just see Wittenham Clumps and Didcot Power Station through the trees. It was a little bit chilly and we were pleased our walk then led us into the sun for a bit.
One of the great things about these rambles is meeting new people and chatting to them along the way. I think as time goes on, and I get more walks under my belt, I will start to see more people I know from previous walks.
