What to expect
Two Guided Walks
Led by Blue Badge walking guide
River Thames
The most iconic waterway in England
The White Hart Hotel
Traditional 16th-century coaching inn
Picturesque Villages
Explore Abingdon, Streatley & Goring
About this trip...
This wonderful fully guided walking break explores the beautiful Oxfordshire and Berkshire stretches of the Thames Path, passing through historic riverside villages. You'll stay in a delightful 16th-century coaching inn, nestled in the charming village of Dorchester-on-Thames — the perfect base for experiencing some of England's finest countryside and its most famous river. A perfect short stay for solo ramblers seeking nature, history, and great company.
Activity Level:
What's this?What's included?
Room for sole use
Solos Board - Breakfast & evening meal daily with half a bottle of wine
Welcome drink & information meeting
Two guided exclusive walks including transfers
Experienced Blue Badge walking guide-
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
What's extra:
- Insurance click here
- Lunches
Itinerary
- Arrive & check-in
- “Abbey to Abbey” Abingdon to Dorchester
- Streatley to Goring Figure-of-Eight
- Departure Day
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrival
After checking in to our hotel, we meet our Tour Leader and fellow Solos guests for the welcome drink and enjoy our first evening meal together.
- Dinner included
Day Two: “Abbey to Abbey” - Abingdon to Dorchester
After breakfast, we make a short coach journey to the lovely town of Abingdon. A town for over 6,000 years, this was once the county town of Berkshire. We begin our walk next to the former County Hall and pass the impressive gateway to its former abbey, once one of the richest in the country. We cross the River Thames and follow its path, soon discovering the junction with the former Wilts and Berks Canal and the grade two listed Old Culham Bridge. We follow the old course of the river into Sutton Courtenay, a former royal manor. In the churchyard, we discover the burial sites of a former Prime Minister and a well-known author. We re-join the Thames Path and follow it past a lock to Clifton Hampden Bridge, enjoying a late lunch in the adjacent pub, mentioned in Jerome K Jerome’s 'Three Men in a Boat'.
Our walk in the afternoon takes us back to our hotel, with our route taking us through water meadows and fields parallel to the river. Always ahead of us we will see the twin bumps of Wittenham Clumps, an Iron Age hillfort. Reaching another lock, we leave the Thames Path and head across meadows towards Dorchester, another settlement packed full of history (and Midsomer Murders locations). Here we will have an opportunity to look around the abbey and museum, and perhaps succumb to the lure of the abbey tea rooms before returning to our nearby hotel.
- Walking distance: 10.4 Miles
- Approx walking Time: 5 hrs approx
- Ascent/descent: Minimal
- Transfer time: 15 mins approx
- Breakfast & dinner included
Day Three: Streatley to Goring Figure-of-Eight
After a short coach transfer, we start our half day walk in the delightful small riverside village of Streatley, a twin with Goring on the opposite bank. Our route ascends quite steeply to Lardon Chase above the village, where we encounter our first magnificent views across the Thames, as it winds its way through Goring Gap, where it forced its way through hills 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. We do a loop through beech tree woodland and chalk downland. The woodland canopy provides dappled shade if sunny and a vast umbrella if wet. We will almost certainly hear, if not see, a variety of wildlife, including the magnificent birds of prey, red kites, which were re-introduced to the area back in the 1990’s. Our route drops down to the river, which we cross on a causeway bridge next to one of the most picturesque Thames Locks. This is also a path crossroads, where the Thames Path meets the Ridgeway Path.
The second half of the route is a circuit on the Goring side of the river, first following the Thames Path. We can admire the way Brunel built the railway through this area before returning to Goring and exploring this village. There are café and pub options in Goring before re-joining our coach for the short journey back to our hotel. Perhaps before departing for home, we'll have a final wander around delightful Dorchester on Thames.
- Walking distance: 5.5 Miles
- Approx walking time: 2hrs 45 mins
- Approx ascent: 445ft/135m
- Transfer time: 20 mins
- Breakfast included
Trip Reviews
Fantastic walks
Lovely hotel, fantastic walks - guide was also excellent. Group all lovely.
Walks were expertly led
Smooth administration, good venue and comfortable group size. The walks were expertly led and accurately described.
Guide was knowledgeable
The hotel and food. The walking. Graham the guide was very knowledgeable.
Guide very informative
It was very well organised. The walks were well selected and the tour guide very informative.
Accommodation
The White Hart Inn - Dorchester on Thames
Originally a 16th-century coaching inn, this charming hotel situated in the 'chocolate box' village of Dorchester-on-Thames retains all the character of the old inn with modern amenities, making the hotel a perfect accompaniment to our escorted group walking break.
Facilities include
Facilities include characterful restaurant, traditional bar and bar area with slate floors open fire and ancient beams, complimentary wi-fi, free car parking
Room includes
The comfortable individually designed rooms include en-suite bathroom with bath and shower, hospitality tray, telephone, hairdryer, freeview flat screen TV and complimentary WiFi
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
Location & Transport
From M40 travelling South: No exit junction 7 Exit at Junction 6 and take B4009 via Watlington to Benson, then A4074 to Dorchester on Thames.
From M40 travelling North: Exit at Junction 7 and take A329 via Stadhampton and Warborough to Shillingford, then A4074 to Dorchester on Thames.
From M4 travelling west: Exit at Junction 8/9 and take A404/A4130 via Henley on Thames and Nettlebed to Crowmarsh, then A4074 to Dorchester on Thames.
From M4 travelling east: Exit at Junction 13 and take A34 to Abingdon, then A415 to Dorchester on Thames. Nearest Train Station: Didcot Parkway
Walking Programme
Two exclusive guided walks are included in the programme. The walking programme is graded easy to medium and you can expect to walk up to approx 10 miles on the first walk and approx 5 miles on the second walk.
What To Wear
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort. The weather, even in summer, can be unpredictable. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses.
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff (including restaurant, kitchen and reception staff) of approximately £10.
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of bar staff and housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (the rounding up of the drinks bill and a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, restaurants expect a 10% gratuity (do check that service has not already been added to your bill). For taxis 10% of the metered fare.
Dress Code
The dress code for during the evening is casual.
