The Catherine Wheel at Goring (01491 872379)

Distance: About 3 miles

Time: Allow 2 hours 

Walking Conditions: Flat with no hills. Some narrow and uneven walking along the towpath. Suitable for pushchairs with good wheels, but may need to lift it over the gate to the water meadow

Parking: Goring Village Car Park. (Pay & Display charges may apply. Please check notices) 

Route: Leave the Car Park by the lane running past the public toilets. At the High Street turn left and continue towards the river bridge. Take the lane to the left of the bridge approach, crossing the bridge over the millstream and continue to the river towpath

If you have time, turn right and watch the boats entering and leaving the lock, then return and walk along the towpath until you come to a small grassy area just after crossing a bridge over a backwater

Continue along the towpath. Take care as it is narrow in places with tree roots that are trip hazards and an overhanging tree trunk. In wet weather the surface can also be very slippery. There are also some steep steps either side of small bridges over entrances to boathouses. In about half a mile go through a skewed barrier onto a water meadow. The path continues ahead to follow the edge of the river and eventually you will come to a railway bridge known locally as The Four Arches. Take time to marvel at the Victorian craftsmanship as this bridge is built on the skew. In fact, there are two bridges, built at different time and using different brick patterns

Continue along the river bank through several gates until the path narrows. At Ferry Cottage the path turns left and crosses some marshy ground via a narrow bridge and then passes between dressage rings to meet a section of the Thames Path. Turn left and continue onto a concrete road at Gatehampton Farm. Continue straight ahead to a junction. Cross to the field footpath which turns to the left. Continue along Gatehampton Road to the Railway Station. Go over the station footbridge, turning left at the bottom of the stairs and follow the platform to a gate. Walk down Station Road, taking care as there is no footpath.

The Catherine Wheel is at the entrance to the Car Park and serves the best pint of Brakespears Bitter for miles as well as a large range of home cooked food at reasonable prices. There is also a well kept beer garden

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