Given his 'photos taken on this walk are up on the website, there were at least 2 on this walk. If there were more of you, please don't be shy in correcting this number.

7 in total on the walk in glorious sunshine . An Elizabeth Line cancellation meant some arrived late and reversed the reverse ending to make a 12.30 lunch booking, and some arrived early! (Dont ask). The Flowerpot has reopened and was doing extremely good business both inside and out in its large garden, as was The Stag and the Chocolate Cafe. Five had Fish and chips at the Stag which all agreed was excellent. Reversing the walk is a most sensible idea.

A train ticket with Network Card is cheaper than contactless

The contactless price cap is £25 to Henley (no Network card discount), about the same price at 2 (via zone 1) singles.

With a Network Card, from Paddington, its £12.80 return, so cheaper.

If already on the Elizabeth Line, it might be easier to continue to Ealing Broadway, and get a train ticket there, for £10.75. If you did this, you'd have to change there on the way back to tap back in.

9 of us assembled outside the station, welcoming 2 new walkers. The day stayed fine, if overcast & the walking was good with little mud for the time of year. We stayed together until lunch except for one slower person, where 4 went to the pub and 4 had sandwiches in the church porch.

Afterwards, 3 went on & one joined the others for a beer. The five of us then took the high route back,catching the 1700 train after tea & cake or in one case, a beer in the Angel.

I’m in ! Will bring both champagne and nibbles

Gabriella

Hi all,

just have found the club - the NY walk sounds fab!

Re booking a place The Stag & Huntsman: shall I need to know who has already made a reservation? (just to add me to the existing list - or is that senseless?)

Many thanks and looking forward very much to joining you!

Merry Xmas!

Margarita

Hi Margarita

Firstly, welcome to the SWC ! If you are the same Margarita who was on yesterday's Windsor walk - hello again !

Reference our New Year's Day Walk - West, I have no idea how many plan to show up or who wish to have lunch in the pub mid-walk. I will try to keep a place for you on one of my tables - I expect the pub is now fully booked. See you on the 1st.

and will bring nibbles. Is it alright if I take Adrian's place as he's gone to Hathersage?

Valerie

Hi Marcus! Many thanks for responding. Yes that's the same Margarita.

Happy new year and see you and all soon!

Forgot to say: I also have some bubbles - how many we are? I mean isn't it too much to have three bottles for four people?

Shall I brig some disposable paper cups for bubbles? I have some too.

Hi Rita. No need to bring bubbles but do please bring some paper cups (plastic champagne flutes better even if not environmentally friendly).

Sorry Valerie, I no longer have any spare places at the pub. But do bring some nibbles, and perhaps a sandwich for your lunch.

The Stag and Huntsman have over 100 people booked to eat inside and there is no outside table service. Anyone wanting to eat or drink outside where there are a few tables will need to queue up at the bar and the wait will be considerable but there may be some food available if arriving early. Sounds like a better and safer bet to take a festive picnic!!

Hi All,

Last-minute change: unexpectedly, I am leaving London for Kent, a place close to Ashford; this makes me rethink the New Year walk. I think I will join the Hastings group. Sorry, no plastic flutes from me.

Valery, I hope you can take my place in the pub - if I had it of course!

Have a lovely walk and let's meet up in 2022.

Happy New Year!

Noting Marion's comment below, I can confirm The Stag & Huntsman is fully booked. Due to Covid regulations I have not been able to make a sizeable block booking at this pub, as in previous years. Might I suggest those of you looking to go on a New Year's celebratory walk with the (almost) certainty of a pub lunch should consider going on the New Year's - Shoreham walk in Kent, where you have several pubs to choose from in both Shoreham and Otford. Otherwise, please bring along a sandwich if you plan to join me on the Henley walk. Thanks.

Thanks Marcus I was able to reserve a table for 2 however on line for 1.30pm confirmed but I shall take a hot meal in a vacuum flask plus a Stollen cake to share as I don’t want to hang around for an hour to get served if the service is too chaotic.

Thank you, Rita.

Is that OK Marcus?

I haven't been to Henley for 25+ years and am really looking forward to the walk :-)

Valerie

Yes - that's fine, Valerie.

“Nice weather”, someone said to me, staring up at the blue skies above Paddington station. But it was not to be. The grey permacloud had reasserted itself by the time we got to Henley.

23 assembled at the station. Most had come on the earlier TFL train. I didn’t know so many of us were that old….

We walked up onto the hill, cracked open the two bottles of champers kindly supplied by our walk poster - and then the rain started. Not heavy or persistent but bits and pieces of rain till lunch . But at least it was ludicrously mild - the warmest New Year’s Day since the last one that was this warm (107 years ago, apparently).

No New Year’s Day is complete without a paddle, and on our way to Great Wood we all got to splash about in some gloopy mud. But otherwise it was a pleasant morning in cheerful company.

At the start of the walk we established that we had collectively booked more tables at the Stag & Huntsman than there were people on the walk - so much for warnings about not coming on this walk if you want a pub lunch. In the end 15 ate there, ten of us at a big table by the windows (one of which I opened for extra ventilation and omicron thwarting purposes. Odd to eat on the first of January in a gentle breeze...)

A nearby table of non-walkers ordered after us and got their food first. Paying was a bit of a palaver. Otherwise no complaints: a nice lunch.

We left at 3.15pm and had time to finish the walk to Hambleden Lock and along the Thames before dark. The last stretch on the river path was in truth a bit more tedious in the gathering gloom than it is in the opposite direction in the daylight, but the Chocolate Cafe was still open to welcome us at the end.

I got my tea and cake at 4.45pm, at which point there was a mass rush for the 5.01pm train. Thankfully three of us were happy to wait for the 6.01 (though the cafe staff were perhaps less happy about this). We were efficiently whisked back to London to await whatever 2002 has in store for us.

Some travelled to Twyford on LT Trains, some on GWR trains, and one by car to Henley, and outside Henley railway station 9 of us assembled for today's walk on a very hot sunny day , pushing 30 degrees C, and far too hot for most people's preferred walking conditions.

Henley was getting ready for next month's regatta with marquees being erected in the parks next to the River, and the town was busy, despite the heat. Fortunately there was a bit of a breeze off the river during our morning leg, which kept us from over heating, and it was lovely to linger when crossing Hambleden Weir, with its cooling spray, but then it was a slog over the fields in stifling heat to the village - and respite inside the Stag and Huntsman pub. I dined indoors, and enjoyed an excellent meal, whilst others found some shade in the pub's garden and took on liquid.

The afternoon was a bit trying although the Great Wood did provide some shade. I was alone, trying to book check, but found it difficult to concentrate in the heat, so eventually gave up, said "sod it" and just pushed on to the end.

On the outskirts of Henley I caught up with two stragglers who were heading for Wetherspoons to rehydrate but I just wanted to get home. At the station one other walker was waiting for the train, although at Twyford he waited for the LT Train service, whilst I was happy to get on the more comfortable air conditioned GWR train, and thought the few quid extra for the rail ticket was well worth it.

This is a lovely walk - and I might even post it for another New Year's Day extravaganza, when we do it in reverse - but it was hard work on a hot sweaty jockstrap of a day - and although our sun-buffs might have enjoyed their day, I did not.

For LT Trains, please read TFL Trains.

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I'll collect them at the start.

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8 off the train, with contact details & toilet queuing making for a fragmented walk through Henley. 3 went to the Huntsman,the rest of us a picnic by the church. Rain threatened, but dry and overcast . The picnicers headed off to the Flowerpot for a beer in the garden. We all eventually regrouped in Henley, with 7 staying for a drink at the Anchor & one going for the train.

Table booked for SWC at the S&H pub for 12.45 (eight peeps).The Llunch Monitor.

20 on this walk in lovely sunshine after early mist and cloud cleared (it only affected the first 45 minutes or so). A nice simple outing on a beautifully spring-like day. Chaffinches sang, daffodils and celandines were out and someone (not me, alas) reported seeing a brimstone butterfly.

Our thanks to Anonymous for booking for eight at the pub, but surprisingly it was not that busy. Many of us decamped to the garden, where we sat in warm sunshine for the first time this year. Food came very quickly: in one or two cases it was on the table before its recipient had the chance to sit down.

After lunch, the climb up into Great Wood and then a descent in the golden haze to Henley. Most seemed to go to the Chocolate Cafe, and eight of us carried on afterwards along the river to Shiplake. The first third of this walk - to Marsh Lock - was as busy as Piccadilly Circus, but it emptied out thereafter. At Shiplake we saw a train go up and while we waited for it to come back three blackbirds serenaded us.

Just think: there will be days and days and days like this.

15 at the station. light but persistent rain Going, muddy at times, OK at others. The directions were fairly easy to follow in reverse. The occasional twist and turn needed care but we made it. Great Wood was pretty, the fallen leaves still giving it an autumnal feel. The lunch pub was fine with speedy service – it is, after all, a favourite. Then the flat, bit along the Thames, which I would describe as ‘stultifying’, but others seem to like. The Chocolate Café was visited – a first for me, believe it or not. Then home.

11 on this walk. Speaking personally, I was looking forward to riding on one of the new electric trains, but diesel still rules it seems, filling the Paddington trainshed with particulates. Our train was 12 minutes late but the Henley connection was held. We made a long stop at Henley station to use the loos, all train loos having been out of action.

It was cloudy to start but things soon improved and it was mainly sunny to lunch. I think we all agreed that this is a great walk to do in reverse. Navigation is not hard and one has a gentle climb, a pleasant walk along a lane and then a lovely descent through Great Wood with the low sun shining through the trees and illuminating the last dribs of autumn colour. You can lunch knowing the main effort is behind you.

Five of us lunched in the pub. A bit gastro - especially in portions, though also in prices: I was glad I had a thick parsnip soup to bulk out my micro main course. The kitchen seemed to be run on biblical principles - the first shall be last, good things come to those who wait. The sandwichers were long gone by the time we had finished, as is Midweek Walk tradition. One pub luncher went on ahead too. So four of us walked in part drizzle, part atmospheric dusk to Henley, where three of us had tea at the Chocolate Cafe.

Two then rushed back on the 17.09 to catch the height of the rush hour (another Midweek Walk tradition). One (me) walked down to Marsh Lock and back, enjoying (sadly brief) flashes of moonlight and got the 18.17..

Stunning views and good company on this walk.

Thank you to Marcus.

Hope to be able to take part in this traditional walk posted and hosted in such a lovely way by Marcus jfk

A disappointing turn out of 8 (half our usual muster) probably due to the poor weather forecast, which for once turned out to be accurate drizzle turning to steady rain all day temperature mild but conditions miserable . However, the inclement conditions did not affect our good NYD humour and the drizzle was only starting as we toasted in the New Year above Henley. Onwards then as the weather deteriorated but with the bonus of mud levels being lower in the Great Wood than on previous New Year Days. The Stag & Huntsman pub was far less busy than usual (again, twas the weather) and we were served a pleasant lunch during which our damp walking gear dried off. We said goodbye to the 3 in our group after lunch who sensible opted for a taxi back to Henley, leaving 5 of us to re-don the gear and head back out into the steady rain as we maintained a good pace along the Thames path back to Henley. We judged the daylight well as darkness was setting in when we were made welcome at the Chocolate Cafe for tea and a shared huge wadge of triple chocolate cake. A short walk to the railway station, and the 5 of us were on the 17-07 hrs train with good connections to London, to end an enjoyable, albeit damp day in the very best of SWC company.

Having now set this walk for our NYD walk west or north for a number of year's now, the consensus amongst our small group was we need something different for January 2018 - so plenty of time to plan that !

VEry enjoyable new years Day Champagne walk in the rain. As usual admirably hosted and led by Marcus so big thanks to him jfk

No better way to start the New Year.

As I don't drink..I'll be getting Sausage Rolls and a few chocolate bars for the group. Hope that's ok!

......bringing nuts and short bread. With the early start we can eat on the train! P

10 on this walk cloud with drizzle late afternoon . Those who got up early for this walk suffered the not-inconsiderable setback of all trains out of Paddington being cancelled due to a double suicide at Hayes and Harlington (The second time in little more than a month that a walk out of Paddington has been disrupted by serious train problems: we are seriously displeased - Ed). A few decanted to the Sevenoaks walk, but others persisted and decided to go onto the walk by car, as the following report from Marcus describes:

"We mustered 10 thanks to David and his fellow car drivers who set out from Ealing and as our drive down was so quick we were able to set out on the Henley walk in reverse and enjoy the champers on the hill above the town. We arrived at the Stag & Huntsman bang on time to take up our reservation on one large table, which worked perfectly. With the short afternoon leg to follow we did not have to rush our lunch - just as well as the pub was very busy and there was a bit of a wait for our food to arrive, but the staff coped and they looked after us very well. Light drizzle and rain accompanied us along the (unflooded) Thames path back into Henley, where the stop at the Tea Room for all 10 was de rigeur.

Although Paddington had reopened by 3 pm (six hour closure !) 3 of us accompanied David in his car back to London."