Health Walks in the Goring Gap

 Goring-on-Thames,
South Oxfordshire, UK

Walk Timetable

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The Goring Gap Health Walks Timetable is reviewed twice a year. This is to reflect the seasonal changes which add and remove the evening walks that are included from April to mid September. Demand for a particular walk on a particular day may lead us to review the arrangements mid season, though this is unlikely. Click here for our Downloadable Leaflet

All advertised walks take place every week throughout the year, as shown below - including Easter and bank holidays. The ONLY exception being when a normal walk day falls on Christmas or Boxing Day. A walk may be cancelled due to exceptionally bad weather, such as a Thunder Storm. If this occurs, the leader will still attend the start point to inform walkers.

Summer timetable

Valid from 1st April 2010 to 31st September 2010
 Day Start Time Approx Duration Distance

Grade

Monday 19:00 1hr 15 mins 4 to 5 miles A/B
Tuesday* 10:00 1 hr 2 to 4 miles B+* / B & C* & First Steps
Wednesday 1900 1hr 15 mins 4 to 5 miles A/B
Friday* 10:00 1 hr 3 miles B & C
Saturday 08:00 1hr 30 mins 5 to 7 miles A - 08:00 between 1st April & 31st October
Saturday* 09:00 1hr 15 mins 4 to 5 miles A/B
Sunday 10:00 1 hr 3 to 4 miles B

Winter timetable

Valid from 1st October 2009 to 31st March 2010
 Day Time Approx Duration Distance

Grade

Tuesday* 10:00 1hr 15 mins 2 to 4 miles B+* / B & C & First Steps
Friday* 10:00 1 hr 3 miles B & C
Saturday 09:00 1hr 30 mins 5 to 7 miles A* 09:00 between 1st November & 31st March
Saturday 09:00 1 hr 15 mins 4 to 5 miles A / B
Sunday 10:00 1hr 3 to 4 miles B

New First Steps walkers must contact us before turning up for a walk so that we can ensure that there is a dedicated leader available.

Walks marked with * may be combined or split depending on the number of walkers or available leaders. If combined, a route will be chosen to allow faster walkers to take longer loops. No walker will be forced to step up their natural pace (though encouragement may be given at any time!).

New walkers do not need to contact us before walking, though they are welcome to do so if they have any questions.
Just turn up at Goring Village Hall five minutes before the start of their chosen walk clutching your Outdoor Health Questionnaire form (see below).

All New Walkers should download the Outdoor Health Questionnaire (MS Word format) or (pdf format), fill it in and hand it to the Leader on their first walk.

Click here for the up to date Leaders Rosters showing who will be leading a particular walk

Meeting Point

All timetabled walks start from Goring Village Hall, which is at the eastern end of the River Bridge and fronts the High Street. It has a large clock turret. Parking can be found in nearby Thames Road or follow signs to the village car park.

Also see our village map
(Please note that the Village Hall is between the Free Church and the River. The unmarked road opposite is Thames Road.)

Goring Village Hall viewed from Thames Road.
The river bridge is to the right, village centre to the left (as viewed from the camera position)

Special Walks

Special walks (Daffodil, *Bluebell, The Bell at Aldworth, Boxing Day, New Year's Day) may start from another point or at a different time.
See Latest News for full details. 

*Regular walkers, particularly those who have told us their e-mail address, will be informed in advance. 

New walkers and those without transport will be collected from the Village Hall and taken to the start.

Regular routes

Because of the unique walking opportunities of the Goring Gap, it is not possible to publish walk routes in advance. Indeed it is recognised that the informality of the Goring Gap Health Walks is the very reason that so many regular people support them. Because of the number of routes available it is rarely necessary to repeat a route more than once every four to six weeks and even then there may be variations of direction and loops.

Walk leaders take several factors into account when choosing which route to take, none of which can be predicted in advance. 

bulletThe weather will dictate on or off road. Some woodland paths become very muddy and slippery even if it only rains a little
bulletThe number of walkers may prevent the use of narrow paths or stiles and may require a split group
bulletThe ability of the walkers 
bulletThe number of available leaders 
bullet'Special requests' 

Most of the time leaders will use a route that includes a minimum amount of road, preferring to use footpaths and lanes. Normally only bad weather will force the use of hard surfaces for the entire walk. This also restricts the number of available routes.

Dogs - policy

Dogs are welcome provided that they are kept on a lead when walking on public roads and are under control and obedient when off the lead in open places, particularly where there are grazing cattle.
On National Trust or other land where there are signs requiring dogs to be kept on a lead, owners MUST comply with the notice.
Owners must be aware of their dog at all times and ensure that the dog does not weave in an out between walkers legs and cause someone to trip.
If the walk leader feels that a dog is not properly controlled they may ask the owner to control the dog or leave the walk.

GGHW or WHI do not accept any responsibility for any incident or damage caused by a dog and advises owners to take out insurance against accident and third party liability.

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