Gorhen one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this from Goring to Henley, on a warm and sunny summer morning.

It starts with a tiny bit of street walking before connecting with public footpaths and the Chiltern Way. There are some fields, and sections through lovely forest. But also some less nice parts on narrow footpaths. After crossing The Oratory School's ground, there are some steep steps down and up to cross the slightly busy and dangerous A4074. Then there is a section of fields to cross, following by quite a long stretch on "quiet lane" roads, which were indeed very quiet, with only an occasional car. After a view more fields and some steep incline (and decline later) through some woods, you end up in colourfull Henley-on-Thames. Good route, but some sections could become quite muddy in wetter weather, as they're narrow and sheltered.

Route is largely on quiet roads and not many footpaths.Follows Chiltern Way Extension in early part. Would be ok for wheels in the mid section. Several pubs on the route and quite easy to navigate. As you approach Henley about 1 mile out of town the path to the left of the college playing fields is a nicer route (IMHO) than the one suggested.

Nice start and end to route on well kept bridleways, rest of route on what were referred to as 'quiet lanes'. I wondered if they had been old drovers roads gradually upgraded as it was a largely straight line between the 2 river crossings. Not much traffic and some pleasant woodland walking.

Goring to Henley (Gorhen 1) review. (Martin Ellis, July 2021).

This is a very pleasant route through woodland and quiet lanes, with only one instance of a steep incline. There are well situated break points. Be aware there are number of gates, and the path becomes narrow and rough in a few places. A stretch of bridleway at the Henley end is likely to be churned up and muddy in wet conditions.

Follow the Chiltern Way signs out of Goring. You ascend a rough woodland path (Photo 1) and then a tarmacked lane (Photo 2) into Woodcote. The route through Woodcote passes a convenience store, café and The Red Lion pub.

Follow a narrow (potentially muddy) footpath alongside playing fields and then through school grounds. This avoids having to walk along the busy A4074. The steps down to the A4074 crossing point are steep and have a handrail (Photo 3). Nearby is The Highwayman Inn (Photo 4) on Exlade Street. I was told this was once the major carriage route between Oxford and Reading.

The route continues along the appropriately named Quiet Lane (Photos 5,6). This ends at The Unicorn (Photo 7) at Peppard Hill. A short walk further on is The Red Lion at Rotherfield Peppard. This pub is currently being refurbished and will reopen at the end of summer 2021.

The final leg of the walk is through woods and along the Park and Prime Lane path & bridleway. On my walk, the woodland path was dry. The bridleway proper, however, was muddy in places even after a few dry days (Photos 8, 9).

In conclusion, I would say this route meets the criteria for a Slow Way. It is a direct and pleasant route between Goring and Henley. For walkers interested in extended their route, I recommend adding a stretch of the Goring Heath woodland southeast of Woodcote.

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