Activity Group - Day Walks
Day walks are held on the first Wednesday of every month starting at 10:30. They are generally about 6 miles and include either a stop en route for a snack at a pub or a picnic, both of which make for a very pleasant social get-together.
The pace is steady without being too slow. We are a friendly group and welcome anyone wanting to get about in our beautiful local countryside. Join us a guest in the first instance to see how you like the concept of the walks – just contact the group leader via the contact tab. Details of the walks will be emailed to regular walkers and also posted under ‘Current News’ on the u3a Henley-on-Thames website about a fortnight in advance.
On Wednesday 7 February, 2024 12 members strode out from Henley towards Aston. The weather behaved, the walk was pretty much mud-free and everyone enjoyed a break at the (refurbished) Flower Pot pub with its two log fires.
For Wednesday 6 March the walk leader, Mike Starkey, had planned an exciting walk which was to include part of the Aston Rowant Discovery Trail. However, on 28 February, Mike did a full recce of this walk and, given the current wet weather and the promise of more to come, he recommended that the walk should be CANCELLED. It was already very muddy in parts and there was also the added risk of flooded fields making parts of the route impassable. We thank Mike for undertaking the recce and for his considered assessment and sensible decision.
In the meantime, he very kindly offered to have a browse through his collection of walks for an alternative in order that we can come up with something for Wednesday. Given that the majority of our walks are across fields, up and down hills or alongside the river, this was not straightforward! Thank you Mike for volunteering to investigate other options.
All group members received another email on Monday 4 March giving details of an alternative walk to be led by Mike and starting from the long term (pay and display) car park behind Henley Station. This walk takes in The Fairmile and beyond to Bix Common and on to the Rainbow Inn pub at Middle Assenden for lunch - approx 4 miles, then returning to Henley via The Oxfordshire Way and the Deer Park, about 2 miles or so.
Wednesday 3 April The walk leader is Peter Laws. The starting point for the walk, at the usual time of 10:30 am, is the village car park situated in Hurley High Street. The car park is free and the nearest post code for SatNav input is SL6 5NB. Lunch will be at The Rising Sun in Hurley. The walk before lunch is approximately 4.5 miles and 1.75 miles afterwards. Walkers can choose at the time whether or not to join both. The walk kicks off along the river towards Henley and then turns away, gradually moving uphill and across before heading down with super views of Hurley and the river. We then continue to Hurley High Street for our pub lunch. The after lunch walk follows a wooded path to return to the river and thereafter to the car park from which we started.
Wednesday 1 May The walk leader will be Gill Hegarty. The group will meet in Goring at the usual time of 10:30am in the public car park by the Catherine Wheel pub where we will also be having lunch. The walk in the morning will go around the hills above Streatley and is about 4.5 miles long. There are some uphill climbs but we can take our time and there are some spectacular views from the top looking back down to Goring so definitely worthwhile! After lunch we will be doing a shorter walk along the riverside hopefully, about 2.5 miles.
We need to order lunch beforehand and as the pub is closed on Mondays, I need to submit our orders next Sunday so please can I have your requests by Saturday night 27th.
We are also hoping to welcome Jill Kendall for lunch on the occasion of her very special big birthday! If anyone else would like to join us just for lunch, that’ll be lovely. I expect we’ll be arrive at the pub around 12:45-1pm.
Note that the car park is pay and display, £2 for up to 2 hours, £4 for up to 5 hours, £5 for more than 5 hours. It obviously makes sense to car share where possible. Alternatively, free parking is possible along Manor Road nearby.
Wednesday 5 June The walk leader will be Julia Whitelaw. Further details t.b.a.
Wednesday 3 July Details t.b.a.
Wednesday 7 August Details t.b.a.
Wednesday 4 September The walk leader will be John Evans. Further details t.b.a.
Wednesday 2 October The walk leaders will be Jo and John Stoves. Further details t.b.a.
Wednesday 6 November The walk leaders will be Sue Hatcher and Anne Deacon. Further details t.b.a.
For general enquiries about the day walks, please contact the group leaders, Gill Hegarty or Julia Whitelaw via the contact tab on this website.