Walking the Ridgeway - South Stoke to Goring and Streatley Warren

Our starting point - St Andrews Church South Stoke

A nice route planned for today. A walk down the side of the River Thames from the lovely village of South Stoke. We were actually above the Thames with only fleeting glimpses of it.
We would then cross the Thames at Goring towards Streatley.

The first point of interest is only a few hundred yards away. 'The Perch and Pike' an old 17th century coaching inn. One of the very few pubs actually on The Ridgeway. We felt it only appropriate to call in on the way back and sample the local Brakspear Ale.

To our left runs the train line on the Great Western Main line.

Views from the bridge at Goring

View of the weir

Goring is another very nice place and as the sun was out we had a slight ice cream detour into the town before crossing the bridge. Both the 'Thames Path' and The 'Ridgeway' follow this part of the route.




We climb gradually into Streatley , no more grassy tracks , instead we are on the road. It's a bit different but the houses are interesting and there are still good views to be seen.
At the point where the tarmac ended and the unmade road began we came to a way post stating Streatley was 1.9 miles back and that Ivinghoe Beacon, the starting point on the 'Ridgeway' was 44 miles back.

 Our 'Ridgeway' part of the walk ended as we turned toward Streatley Warren. A sight of special scientific interest .

Streatley Warren covers an area of 76.8 acres of dry chalk valley. There is evidence that the terracing formed on the site is of Iron Age creation, when an archaeological dig was started on the site in 1948. During medieval times the land was used for farming rabbits.

Streatley Warren

Some stunning views from high in the valley















The chalk valley then gives way to woodland as we progress in a loop back towards Goring
There are the first signs of Bluebells starting to emerge.

First Bluebells in the woods

From the woods there are spectacular views looking down on the river Thames.

It's been a really good walk of around 13 miles and that pint in the 'Pike and Perch' went down extremely well !