The festival will take place from Friday 22nd May through to Wednesday 27th.
Henley on Thames is a fantastic venue for this type of event and is a wonderful base for walking enthusiasts as it offers walks from the town and its beautiful countryside within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From walks around Henley itself, Nordic walking, “bus” walks, short and long strenuous walks, the Henley Walking Festival has it all.
The Henley Walking Festival is organised by Walkers are Welcome Henley on Thames, in collaboration with the Chiltern Walking Festival.
Friday 22nd May
Walk 1: Keep the Aspidistra Flying! (In the footsteps of George Orwell)
Friday, 22 May at 09:45 am
Join us ‘Coming Up For Air’ in the Chilterns to discover George Orwell’s ‘golden country’. We start our walk at Shiplake station and follow the Thames Path before heading uphill to Binfield Heath and the Crowsley Park ‘listening station’ with echoes of Big Brother. A pause for refreshment (pay locally) at the Bottle and Glass Inn would have Or well’s approval and we can review his criteria for the ideal pub! Refuelled, we continue through bluebell woods (escaping the Thought Police) to Harpsden and along the Thames to Henley, Orwell’s ‘Lower Binfield’ and one stop on the train from Shiplake.
- Pipsticks Walks
- Meet at Shiplake Station, RG9 3NU
- Distance: 10 Miles / 16 km / Contact: Philippa Sanders (07710 453087)
- Email: pipstickswalks@gmail.com
- Dogs Welcome on leads
Walk 2: Evening Pub Walk from Nettlebed
Friday, 22 May at 18:00 pm
A very beautiful walk from Nettlebed. We walk to the hamlet of Crocker End, from there we walk north towards Westwood Manor Farm where there are beautiful views. Back via Berrick Trench where we have beautiful views again. Optional meal or drink at the end at the White Hart. If you are not visiting the pub, please park in the village car park opposite the pub. Dogs welcome, and are allowed in the bar part of the pub where you can eat as well, but not in the restaurant.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at The White Hart, Nettlebed, RG9 5DD
- Distance: 3.2 Miles / 5 km / Contact: Alie Hagedoorn (07894 580413)
Saturday 23rd May
Walk 3: Hop on/off the bus walk from Henley to Marlow.
Saturday, 23 May at 10:30 am
Hop on/off the bus, and choose/combine the distance you want to walk for this linear walk. Dogs welcome. Bring a packed lunch.
Varied walk with various options/lengths of walk, using the frequent buses between Henley and Marlow.
| Walk start/end | Distance | Time | Join | Leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henley – River & Rowing Museum | 10:30 | |||
| Henley – Greenlands, Henley Management College | 2.8 | 11:58 | You can join the walk here by taking bus 800/85011:53 Stop D Bell Street from Henley. | You can leave the walk here by taking bus 800/850 12:09 to Henley |
| Westfield Cottages (including lunchstop/tea |
2.7 | 14:01 | You can join the walk here by taking the bus 800/850 13:53 Stop D Bell Street from Henley | You can leave the walk here by taking bus 800/850 14:04 to Henley |
| Millbank Wood | 1.1 | 14:26 | You can join the walk here by taking the bus 800/850 14:15 Stop D Bell Street from Henley | You can leave the walk here by taking bus 800/850 14:31 to Henley |
| Marlow, West Street | 3.8 | 16:33 | Back by bus 800/850 at 16:33 |
* Schedule subject to changes to summer bus timetable.
- High Wycombe to Reading schedule
- Reading to High Wycombe schedule
If you do the entire walk it will be 10.4 miles. Our walk will visit the new bridge at Fawley via the SSSI Temple Island Meadows and come through the beautiful village of Hambleden where there is a possibility to have tea at the shop, after which we walk towards Westfield Cottages. From here we walk towards the Thames, and will follow the river to Marlow. Buses go frequently, every half hour.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at The River and Rowing Museum, Henley, RG9 1BF
- Distance: 10.4 Miles / 16.7 km / Contact: Alie Hagedoorn (07894 580413)
Walk 4: One Walk, Two Breweries
Saturday, May 23rd at 11:00 am
From Henley Town Hall we walk West out of Henley, through Highlands Farm and up into the wide open spaces of Crowsley. We then South towards Dunsden Green and Loddon Brewery where refreshments and homemade Sausage or Cheese & Onion rolls are available. We leave Loddon Brewery heading North East towards Binfield Heath & Shiplake Row then back through Harpsden Wood towards Henley, finishing at Lovibonds Brewery.
- Meet at Henley Town Hall (RG9 2AQ)
- Distance: 10 Miles / 16 km / Contact: Glen Lambert (07779 146634)
- There are frequent buses to Henley so the return walk is optional
Walk 5: Into the countryside from Henley
Saturday, 23 May at 14:00
Follow town trail to Harpsden, into the woods then back via Bolney passing the Black Bears Polo ground, over Marsh Lock weir and back along the riverbank to Henley. Please allow at least 15 minutes for parking in town car parks, or use free on street parking at Deanfield Road, RG9 1UG, 5 minutes walk from Town Hall. Dogs allowed.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at Henley Town Hall (RG9 2AQ)
- Distance: 5 Miles / 8 km / Contact: Mair Hunt (01491 572751 / 07833 899639)
Sunday 24th May
Walk 6: Bix, Greys Court and the Nettlebed Estate
Sunday, 24 May at 10:00 am
A stile-free walk largely through ancient woodlands, passing Greys Court and exploring some of the many paths on the extensive Nettlebed Estate. With luck, the ‘wild’ rhododendrons on part of the Estate may be in flower.
- Chiltern Society
- Meet at The White Hart, Nettlebed, RG9 5DD
- Distance: 5.5 Miles / 6 km / Contact: Maggie Templeman (07831 878679)
Walk 7: The eccentricities around Henley on Thames
Sunday, 24 May at 10:30 am
A circular walk taking in the beautiful Chiltern landscapes around Henley on Thames. See some of the more eccentric landmarks and learn about who lives here. You are likely to see Red Kites and other wildlife, historic trees, far reaching views. Route includes some hills and varied terrain. Nordic walkers and walkers without poles all welcome. Dogs welcome.
- A Foot in the Chilterns
- Meet at Henley Railway Station
Park in the Station Car Park or other Long Stay Car Parks - Distance: 9.5 Miles / 15 km / Contact: Anthea Osborn-Jones (07966 245264)
- Please Book via the Chiltern Walking Festival site.
Walk 8: Early evening pub walk from Fingest
Sunday, 24 May at 17:00
Early evening pub walk via Rotten Row and Rockwell End. Optional pub stop at the end. If not visiting the pub, please park elsewhere in the village. Dogs allowed.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at Fingest, Chequers PH, RG9 6QD
- Distance: 5 Miles / 8 km / Contact: Peter & Jeanne Stone (01491 412330 / 07747 842023)
Monday 25th May
Walk 9: Chill Out in the Chilterns (Charity Walk)
Monday, 25 May at 10:00 am
Grab some boots and give yourself a boost - and support the Bluebells Day Centre, a Henley based charity dedicated to supporting Dementia patients and their families. This 7 mile walk explores the Hambleden Valley and surrounding hills. It’s a hilly one with two long climbs, steep in part (total ascent 900ft/275m) but we will take our time with plenty of discoveries along the way! This is England at its best - rolling Chiltern hills, towering beech woods, a sparkling chalk stream, picturesque village and thriving pub.
- Pipsticks Walks
- Meet at Hambleden Village Car Park, RG9 6RP (by the Stag & Huntsman Inn) (GR: SU 7849 8653)
- Distance 7 Miles / 11 km / Contact: Philippa Sanders (07710 453087)
- Email: pipstickswalks@gmail.com
- Charity donation on the day - Please Book Here
- Dogs Welcome - must be under control at all times, livestock may be encountered
Walk 10: Walk from Ibstone, visiting the Barn at Turville Heath
Monday, 25 May at 10:00 am
Park on roadside near Grays Lane. Walk via Turville Heath Barn, where we will have lunch (5.3 mile into the walk). A lovely walk with many fine, far-reaching views over open countryside, it passes through delightful beech woodland and the Chiltern village of Turville, which is the setting for The Vicar of Dibley. Frequent sightings of the red kite are likely.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at Grays Lane in Ibstone, HP14 3ER
- Distance: 8.1 Miles / 13 km / Contact: Alie Hagedoorn (07894 580413)
Tuesday 26th May
Walk 11: Walk along the Oxfordshire Way to woodland and golf course.
Tuesday, 26 May at 10:00 am
Walking to the Oxfordshire Way path at the Fair Mile. From there a path goes to Lower Assendon. A hilly climb ,on the other side of the road, will take us into Lambridge woods and eventually to the golf course and back into town. The circular walk includes hills, woodland and open grassy areas.
- Chiltern Society
- Meet at Henley Town Hall (RG9 2AQ)
- Distance: 4 Miles / 6.5 km / Contact: Margaret Jane Aitken (07817 582065)
Walk 12: Henley Health Walk
Tuesday, 26 May at 12:00 am
A gentle paced 30 minutes walk around Henley Town.
- Walking for Health
- Meet at Henley Town Hall (RG9 2AQ)
- Distance: 30 Minutes / Contact: Annalie Thomasson (01235 422226)
Wednesday 27th May
Walk 13: Thames Short Walk
Wednesday, 27 May at 10:00 am
We will walk down Station Road along the Culvert Wildlife Footpath (behind the River and Rowing Museum) to the Thames towpath and back to Christ Church for an optional homely lunch. Participants for lunch will need to book with via the contact number no later than May 20th so the chef can calculate the covers.
- U3A Short Walks group
- Meet at Christ Church Centre, Reading Road, Henley (RG9 1AG)
- Distance: 3 Miles / 5 km / Contact: Catherine Notaras (07474 095807)
- Email: catnotaras@gmail.com
Walk 14: Henley’s local villages
Wednesday, 27 May at 10:00 am
This is a gently undulating walk with various landscapes. We will walk through Harpsden, Binfield Heath, Crowsley Park, Peppard and Lambridge Woods and along the Thames to finish. Please bring a picnic. Moderate pace. Dogs allowed.
- Henley & Goring Ramblers
- Meet at Henley, Mill Lane car park, RG9 4HB
- Distance: 12 Miles / 19 km / Contact: Susan Maguire (01491 680109 / 07835 872791)