What’s the meeting time and point please?

Our number may have been reduced by the appointed train not stopping at Ealing Broadway, but 9 assembled at Marlow. A sunny morning cloudy afternoon Off we went, along the river, crossing side to side at every available bridge. This side, that side, even a bit down the middle.

Eventually, the eagerly awaited Flower Pot was reached. But, readers, it was shut!! Shut shut shut. Shut until the New Year. After a spell bawling and howling like banshees, we picked ourselves up and resolutely agreed to carry on to the Stag and Huntsman like the sturdy Saturday walkers we were. Our troubles weren’t over, though. En route we had a protracted wait at Hambledon Lock for three boats to go through.

When we got there, they were having an ‘event’. For ex-pat South Africans. How come so many in the Chilterns? What do they do for biltong? Add a sprinkling of charity walkers and us. The place was packed and there was a big queue for service. Once ordered, however, meals came quick and we managed to commandeer two tables.

We set off again at 3. Up a bloody big hill where poor Mr Tiger was soon left behind. Left to rely on satellite technology and a dog-eared book 2 all the way through the extensive woods, up hill, down dale until Marlow was reached. Poor thing.

There, he reestablished contact with two of the others at a tea shop, called Strawberry something… nice cakes. (Mr Tiger had a chocolate covered doughnut with apricot jam in). They had lost sight of the others who, presumably, had raced on and got the 5:01. The three laggards got the 6:01 after a brief sojourn in the Donkey, where a kindly benefactor bought Mr Tiger a drink.

Just 7 on today's walk - perhaps the weather forecast put off our fair-weather friends. If so, they missed a treat - a lovely, varied walk in lush, green countryside. Yes - it did rain all day mostly of the drizzly sort , but no-one minded, given the need for rain in South-East-England.

Most of the riverside paths were bordered by swathes of cow parsley which was everywhere. Bluebells, where seen, were now on their last legs - just a fuzz. Lots of other Spring flowers were still on show to enhance our enjoyment of the walk. Two geese were seen shepherding their new-born brood of ten goslings - all balls of fluff.

On reaching Aston five stopped at the Flower Pot pub-hotel - food OK but limited veggie options - whilst two of us continued on to the Stag & Huntsman in Hambleden, to enjoy a superb lunch. Six of the group reassembled outside this pub, with the seventh having opted for the Henley finish after Aston. Leaving Hambleden the rain intensified for a while before reverting to the steady drizzle experienced in the morning. The woods and hills in the afternoon made an excellent contrast to the Thames riverside and meadow walking in the morning.

We eventually arrived back in Marlow in time to enjoy refreshments in the Marlow Donkey pub and change

into dry clothing before catching the 17-47 hrs train to Bourne End, with connections to Maidenhead then Paddington.

Seldom has a walk in the rain been so enjoyable.

13 met outside Marlow railway station, most having travelled from Paddington on the TFL Rail service to Maidenhead. Unfortunately, 3 on the posted Great Western service from Paddington were delayed at Slough and missed the connection at Maidenhead for the Marlow service, and so continued on to Henley via Twyford and did the Henley via Hambleden walk. The walk author was one of the 3 and he took the opportunity to do a walk check. The 3 met up with us at the lunch pub in Aston. Finally, 1 walker was an hour behind us: she met us on the platform of Henley railway station at walk-end. So, if I've got my sums right, that makes 17.

We were more than lucky with the weather today. We enjoyed a glorious sunny late autumn day , in mild temperatures, with little if any breeze. The sun enhanced the last of this year's lovely leaf colour all day. The morning leg along the river then over river meadows was particularly pleasant.

On arriving at the Flower Pot Hotel just after 1 pm, 4 of us opted to have lunch, to be joined later by the 3 from the Henley walk. The food was mediocre - and a far cry from earlier times when the pub specialised in game dishes and Sunday roasts, The fare on offer is now egg and chips, bangers and mash etc. No matter, what we had filled us up for the afternoon leg of the walk. Meanwhile, our sandwichers - having been told they could not eat their picnics in the large, empty rear garden of the pub, despite offering to buy drinks from the pub's bar - decided to move on. They picnicked at Hambleden Lock, before continuing their walk - some back to Marlow, and some along the river to Henley.

The 4 "early" diners at the Flower Pot set out after lunch on the Remenham Hill route to Henley - and very enjoyable, too. More leaf colour, and some fine views along the way.

On reaching Henley, 3 of us called in at the Chocolate Cafe to indulge in tea and cakes, to be joined by 2 sandwichers and the 3 Henley walkers later. 5 of us - plus the late walker - took the 15-57 service from Henley, and the 3 Henley walkers probably caught the 16-27 service.

It was a lovely day's walking in glorious late autumn sunshine and in very good SWC company. I got home earlier than expected and in time to attend a church PCC meeting : part of me was hoping I would miss it !

I set off to do this walk, but became aware on the train that I was feeling a bit underpowered and “chesty”. Probably nothing, but from an abundance of caution I decided to not to join the group walk. An agonising decision because I was looking forward to it. A preview of the kind of awkward decisions that await us when the autumn cold and flu season starts... I hope the others - about a dozen, I hear .. enjoyed the walk and that someone will do a walk report.

For the reasons outlined in the last comment, I was NOT on this walk, but I received the following by text from one who was: “I think we were 10 on walk altogether. Emails and some phone numbers exchanged. Had lunch at Flower Pot. Long queues and indifferent food. New chef not working out. 3 walked to Henley.”

Me again: I can add to the above report that five walked to Marlow, since they passed me in Homefield Wood, where I was in solo ultra-socially-distanced contemplation of a stunning array of butterflies (silver-washed fritillaries, white admiral, peacocks, red admiral, gatekeeper, large skipper, brimstone, small white) and gorgeous carpets of wild flowers. (One advantage of NOT being on the walk was that I had a long time to stand and look...) This really is a glorious place in mid July. Since only five SWC walkers passed me and three walked to Henley, the other two must have beamed up to their spaceship (or retraced their morning route to Marlow, I suppose).(Or maybe there were two in the party I did not know and they passed me without me realising it.)

The weather was with sunny intervals followed by cloud followed by hot sun . A classic summer’s day

Walker didn’t join this walk through an abundance of caution. I didn’t join it through an abundance of incompetence, mistaking a Crossrail train on platform 12 for the appointed one on platform 14. Realised my mistake before it set off, but after the other had left, so rode it to Maidenhead and walked to Marlow from there, hoping to meet the rest of the group as they finished but recognising no one.

Spent 45 minutes looking at the Marlow lock operating at more or less normal capacity, then took the 1700 home. Cookham and Marlow look much more alive and less locked down than London.

Could there be another orchard-laden Saturday walk in the near future, please, Walker. Thank you.

8 hardy types on this walk. Yes, the weather was wet. It rained all day more or less (some brief breaks in the afternoon). But it was light rain which waterproofs could cope with pretty well. With a few tiny exceptions paths were not muddy. There was not a lot of autumn colour, but there was a bit: some nice beech tints in one place in the afternoon. In general a nice autumn walk.

What a delight it was to go to the Flower Pot in Aston for lunch! A good honest pub. No gastro. No food served on wooden boards or slates. No tiny portions piled artistically in the centre of the plate. Instead, good honest food in big portions at reasonable prices. Some nice veggie options. Speedy kitchen service. There should be more like them.

Two decided to carry on to Henley from here. Six of us continued to Marlow, getting a bit strung out. Three at least continued on the main walk route and presumably got the 5.06 train. Two of us did the longer ending. We arrived just too late for Burgers (the tea room) but had tea instead in a rather miserable Starbucks.

Thence to the 6.06 train. It got to Bourne End and got marooned there by points failure. Forty minutes later we were sent back to Marlow and then back to Bourne End, arriving 7.13. The prognosis of the points engineer being gloomy at this point, yours truly decamped to a bus to High Wycombe, thence to catch a train to Marylebone. My companion waited it out another hour at Bourne End before the points were finally fixed. He got back to London two hours behind schedule.

If I were you, I would ask for the rail company for a taxi replacement. Had a similar experience this morning heading to Edenbridge. Our train was diverted to East Grindsted. But the good old Southern Rail called taxis for everyone to get to their respective destination. Good luck!

We did ask for taxis. They said the engineer would be there soon. When the engineer said the points could not be fixed they promised taxis. I took the bus at this point - I was not optimistic enough taxis could be found on a Saturday night in Bourne End - but it seems they did fix the points after all. But by this time, says my man on the spot, the driver had left in a taxi, so another driver had to be taxied in. All in all GWR did not cover themselves in glory over this one....

Just a few notes on this walk:

Glorious sunshine all day

The Temple Foot bridge was closed ( see https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path/news/temple-bridge-extended-closure-between-hurley-and-marlow) for details).

Many thanks to Bill and everyone who helped to devise a diversion via Low Grounds Farm, East Lodge, Harleyford Golf Club, Medmenham, then following tjhe towing path to Hambledon Place before crossing the weir and then back tracking to the Flowerpot Hotel at Aston. This made for a longish morning (12km or about 7.5miles) with just 4km or 2.5 miles in the after lunch section, making the total walk about 16km.

Hopefully the environment agency will be able to re-open Temple Bridge shortly, however if this is not possible an alternative lunch stop at the Dog and Badger in Medmenham could be considered with the afternoon leg along the towing path from Hambleden Lock to Henley cutting out the Flowerpot Hotel altogether.

I thought I'd mention the diversion was particularly scenic and worth a walkover if you are in that neck of the woods.

Bluebell buffs might like to know there is a stunning display in Oaken Grove just to the north of the A4155 about midway between Mill End and Henley, almost up to Dockey woods standard.

Looking forward to others reports.

14 on this gloriously warm and sunny day.

A kilometre (whatever one of those is) into the walk the front runners (or should that be front walkers?) encountered a notice on the path alongside the Thames which stated that the bridge at Temple Lock (our intended crossing point) was closed and indicating a diversion up a footpath away from the river. As we had no way of knowing how old the notice was we decided to press on in the knowledge that there was another footpath near to the lock that we could take if the footbridge was closed that would link up with what we assumed was the route of the diversion. After a mile or so (I'm far more comfortable with miles - I understand miles, and furlongs and chains and gnats and smidgens) we reached the lock and were told by the lock keeper that the bridge was indeed closed and that the recommended "diversion" involved backtracking to Marlow to cross the river there (which begs the question why the earlier notice didn't simply advise people to turn round and retrace their steps along the river bank: some things defy explanation).

After debating whether we could persuade a passing boat to ferry across the river, we decided to trust our map reading skills and head away from the river to chart a path across country to cross at Hambledon Lock where we would re-join the published route. What the alternative route lacked in riverside walking it more that made up for in other delights. Quite footpaths, wonderful life-size driftwood sculptures of animals dotted round a golf course (including a pride of lions lazing in and around a tree stump that formed part of the ensemble), a delightful hidden semi-natural garden (sadly separated from the footpath by a high fence) squeezed in between sheer chalk cliffs on one side and a small stream that ran alongside the path, and a long, narrow, unlit brick tunnel that we had to pass through. And we had the added bonus of crossing over the weir at Hambledon Lock, which I always enjoy.

On the other side we were treated to the sight of competitors in the junior section of the annual Devises to London Kayak race portaging their boats overland at speed from one side of the lock to the other while their supporters bellowed, well, support.

From there it was a short walk to the Flower Pot Hotel where almost all of us gathered. Surprising, despite the fact it was a sunny bank holiday weekend it was not that busy and our food orders were speedily delivered.

Three of us, having finished our meals, left ahead of the pack and, forsaking the river once again, took the Remenham Hill route into Henley. Our musing about what had happened to the walk poster (he had not turned up at the pub by the time that we left) were answered soon afterwards when one of our number received a text from him saying that he was enjoying tea in the Chocolate Café in Henley. Turns out he stopped to rest in a bust stop at Hambledon Lock and whilst there devised a cunning short cut which entailed catching a bus for the rest of the way. This has been noted in his record card.

Shortly before we reached Henley discussion, which had ranged widely, turned once again to, well, suffice to say we were still technically in the Chilterns.

We ended the afternoon by joining said walk poster in the Chocolate Café were we partook of tea and cake.

All in all a very enjoyable day which was probably enhance by our unplanned detour.

(Oh, and it almost goes without saying that there was a plethora of Red Kites. We also spotted the odd Buzzard, some duckings and goslings and a lone ring necked parakeet, heard skylarks sing, saw bluebells (still not at there best) and other wildflowers, and brimstones and orange tip butterflies).

13 on a hot muggy day which made the 12 miles, that most opted for, an arduous affair. Herds of detectorists and white deer were spotted in the fields leading to the Flowerpot. Still some flowers and butterflies too. Service in the Flowerpot seemed efficient given how busy it was, I didn't hear many whimpers of discontent. In the afternoon, Homefield Wood was teeming with wildflowers and butterflies (for the lepidopterally minded, big orange ones and little blue ones). Then back to the Marlow Donkey where some of us indulged in a half pint or so of selected beverages.

6 did the full mile Marlow Circular, 5 walking the regular 13.4 mile main walk, 1 doing the alternative ending so 14.8 miles.

Just in case anyone is doubting my maths, 'lucky'13 caught up with us at the Flower Pot.

As the representative of the lepidoterally-minded, I felt it my duty to visit Homefield Wood and check out your report. The big orange butterflies are silver-washed fritillaries: lovely to find another place where they flourish, so thanks. The blue ones were Common Blues, for once living up to their name. That so many flowers have defied the drought is a wonder.

I hope that the train is on time as 4 minutes to connect at Maidenhead is a bit of a worry

The connection is usually held - ie the Marlow branch departure is supposed to connect with the train from Paddington. Do be quick to cross to the other platform when you arrive at Maidenhead, though - the footbridge is towards the front of the train, from memory.

If the Paddington train is very late, the connection may not be held: the Marlow branch is single track and so they can't keep the train waiting forever or the whole schedule for the rest of the day will be thrown out. But for a few minutes they would hold it, I am sure.

Anyway (famous last words!!!!) we have always made the connection in the past. If not, you might look at how much a shared taxi would be. Or you could take along the instructions for the Maidenhead to Marlow walk (which is also very nice) as a back-up.....

Best not end your walk in Henley but instead do the circular walk. I believe the Henley regatta remains in full swing on Saturday and the town is likely to be more than a tad busy.

I'm driving on Saturday to the marlow walk, so if it's changed @ the last minute due to train delay, could someone going on the walk post their mobile number so if no one turns up @ the station i'll know why. no smart phone or computer @ home, so it would help to have the info ahead of time.

also, would the flower pot @ aston still be the lunch pub if you switch to the maidenhead walk?

If you switched to the Maidenhead walk you would have lunch in Cookham

I'm also driving to Marlow, so at least one companion provided.

14 on this walk hoping to have a nice day with a short walk - we all opted to finish at Henley - with a pleasant flat stroll to finish 

The weather was warm breezy grey until late when the sun came out

Before I go on - this report is long because our day was very long and I have written this whilst on the train

The blazered brigade and the fascinatord females ( sometimes not much more ) were in throngs around Henley so the walk was far from pleasant ( more of a queue) for the last 2 Ks but great from a voyeurs 'point of view' with lots of the young enjoying on trend food and drink and chatting animatedly whilst rowers sliced through the very calm Thames being chased by a blazered umpire and film crew in a boat with an engine - good lord those rowers were fast.

Whilst we watched the women's coxless 4 teams ( UK under 23 against Nottingham Uni ) lining up before the off one of the women in our group noted that they were 'very fit' . The men demurred knowing that should they make a similar comment then castigation opprobrium, contempt etc etc.

But I am getting ahead of myself here as before all this happened we walked out of Marlow on flat lands by the Thames to The Flower Pot for lunch and nare saw a soul on or by the river .

Lunch at the Flower Pot was so so though the man who had steak and kidney pudding expressed himself delighted with his choice.  The waiter come pot boy said that they could seat 500 and today was quiet - say 100 sitting in the garden drinkin and eatin. Thus we were served quickly and fairly efficiently though you needed to keep your ears open for your number or you may miss it and the waiter would take your meal back in again.

After lunch the walking was hard but very stimulating, visually more varied than any previous walk that I have been on I suspect. i

Cake and tea in The Chocolate Gallery revived 8 of us before our major travail of the day. 

So fascinators off to those 6 who didn’t bother stopping for tea and presumably got home without any delays.

Bloody trains

Suffice to say a taxi for 8 of us from Twyford to Reading and then a very slow train to Waterloo

Arrived back in Waterloo nearer 8 than 7 having finished the walk around 15.30

For all that, good fun and company - thanks fellow wanderers.

I Strain

Difficult to say exactly but I think 16 on this walk: 13 at the start and at least three late starters. The weather was cloud clearing to plenty of sunshine . A pleasant morning walk along the river. Just before lunch a beautiful meadow of flowers and butterflies. The Flower Pot in Aston was busy but produced food so quickly it boggled the mind. There was a big contingent of leather-clad bikers (ie motorbikers) who departed with thunderous engine revving.

One person then decided to reverse the morning of the walk, possibly to visit the charming village fete we had seen starting up in Hurley. If any went on to Henley I do not know. But certainly a good contingent of us went on to Hambleden, where we had a nice tea on the tables outside the village shop, and on through the woods to Marlow. Here on the "boring kilometre" along a wooded valley there were loads of flowers and my companion spotted an elusive silver-washed fritillary butterfly. A tiny side trip to the Homefield Wood nature reserve revealed other flowers and butterflies.

I know some ended with drinks in the Marlow Donkey and got the 7.06 train. Three of us stayed on to have a wonderful Indian meal at Maliks in the High Street, sat at a lovely upstairs table by an open window.

At last a sensible walk avoiding southern region trains. Intend going from Ealing Broadway.

Don't temp fate Marion - FGW (now GWR)don't have the best claim for punctuality and reliability!

Hope to go jfk

On the subject of tempting fate Ive just returned from Weymouth using South West trains £16 fare and spent 4 hours getting there courtesy of signal failure at Basingstoke. 6 hours getting back as the signalling problems are still ongoing and coincided with a drunken brawl involving police action. No connecting trains at Clapham Junction resulted in taxis being required to get home and insufficient numbers of cabs being available to the cab-line service due to so many passengers being stranded throughout the south west network. Got home eventually at 3.30am!!! Check your homeward service on-line before staying late for drinks and supper after our walks as there are ongoing engineering problems with a number of train companies currently.

Yes, I went to Eastbourne yesterday and unwisely relied on the last train home. Total meltdown. The train was delayed, no staff available to tell us why and when some appeared they more or less shrugged. Complete disorder. Finally a driver turned up and took us back to London but since we would arrive after the last tube, I changed at Clapham Junction hoping for a Waterloo train. An extraordinary scene there with all the mainline Waterloo trains severely late due to the problem Marion describes and signal delays at Feltham affecting local trains. I eventually got home at 2am by night bus.

8 of the train with one Walker tempting two others to join. One explained he had to drive the train back to Maidenhead and the other, although a walker, explained she lived in Marlow and had other tasks to attend to. Nice try C!

Weather started slightly overcast developing into the forecast scorcher

Two were tempted into Burgers in Marlow High Street and all set forth to the Flower Pot. One dallied at Hurley lock for a welcome cuppa and caught up with most others at the Flower Pot. The Pub sports a two year old African Grey Parrot, which whistles a number of tunes (and words) learnt of the locals. It also has a great garden (the Pub that is).

The heat continued to build, but walkers refrained from throwing themselves in the Thames and three staggered into the "Angel on the Bridge" at Henley for a welcome cuppa/Brakespeares finest.

I'm happy to report the trains ran on time and no tracks melted.

A real sizzler of a day though.

Fabulous weather and lovely stretch of the Thames jfk

Henley finds much favour with our valiant walk posters.

Hi,

I would like you explain me how work this group, how many people usually go,...

Thanks.

All is explained here

http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml

How many people usually go? It varies. 5 to15 is a good bet, but it can be less or more. None of us ever know till we turn up. Good weather helps numbers, of course, but I can't count the number of times I have set out on a day of wind and rain and thought "I will be the only one on this walk" only to find a dozen people waiting on the platform.

Apparently only two people did this walk. 2

6 on this walk and the weather=grey-but-dry

We took the easterly side of the river (river on our left) out of Henley to avoid the swamp land on the other side and it was mainly a tarmac surface all the way in the morning . The weir that we crossed on route is excellent but after discussing it amongst ourselves we realised that no one knew why it exists - something to Google when we got back. Just looked it up Jerome K Jerome used to live nearby as did his newsagent Mr W H Smith

Before lunch in Hambledon we wandered around a covered Christmas market in the school hall - we all had a nose but none of us put our hands in our pockets. The home made gifts seemed to lack inspiration and the free range meat was far more expensive than from https://thefoodassembly.com/en

Lunch was had by all 6 in The Stag and Huntsman with two of us enjoying an excellent stuffed breast of pheasant.

Rumour has it that one of the walkers commented shortly after lunch how surprisingly unmuddy the day was so that put the carbosh on such pleasant walking surfaces .

The afternoon was horrendously slippery and muddy

There was a lot of banging going on (country sports?) as we approached Heath Wood but thankfully it was all finished by the time that we got there with just a lot of people mainly wearing tweed with guns wandering off looking sheepish and piles of dead birds - carnage. Seeing as I had had pheasant for lunch my feelings were mixed.

The 3 steep hills became 4 due to us not paying attention to the directions and a total walk of 9.6 miles so tea in Marlow was well deserved but somewhat disappointing due to slow service meaning that we had to rush it - only one train an hour and we didn't want to miss it

Lovely crowd and lovely day

A total of 14 today. This includes one late catcher-upperer and two mid-walk divergers. cloudy warm later with glimpses of sun Flowerpot ok. Cake sale in Hambleden. Dry underfoot, no probs. Lots of pheasant in the woods.