The John Barleycorn Inn at Goring
The John Barleycorn T: 01491 872509 is on the corner of Manor Road and Station Road en-route to the main car park when approaching from the river.
Distance: Approx 5 miles
Time: Allow 3 hours (more if you want to admire the views or have a pushchair)
Walking Conditions: Mainly off road with narrow paths and steep hills. Not suitable for push chairs other than all terrain type. The pusher will need to be fit and the child will need to dismount on several occasions
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 cross the road where safe to do so. Continue across the river bridges. Just after passing the entrance to the Swan Hotel cross the road and go left into Vicarage Lane. Continue for 100 mtrs. and then fork right into a narrow path. Follow the path to the main road (A329), taking care not to trip on roots and fallen trees, and turn left along the footpath for about 200 mtrs. Take care as traffic on this road is heavy and fast moving
You will notice some steps with a handrail climbing the bank on the opposite side of the road. (Pushchairs will need to be carried up the steps, or you can continue along the main road to the entrance to The Holies (NT) beside Streatley Hills House) Cross the busy road with great care and follow the path that follows the edge of the wood to a kissing gate.(Pushchairs dismount again)
Enter the National Trust meadow and strike out towards the centre to meet a grassy track. Turn right and follow this to a field gate with a pedestrian gate alongside. Go through onto a very steep tarmac track and continue to the top. Turn now and again to admire the view and catch your breath
Go through the gate at the top of the hill and continue to another gateway (usually open) where a path joins from the right. Turn right onto the path, go through a kissing gate and down to a viewpoint on the right
(From here you can see the communications mast at Woodcote - 3 miles, straight ahead - and the Water Tower at Tilehurst - 10 miles, to the right - as well as the entire village of Goring and some of Streatley with the Thames running through the centre)
When you have rested, or picnicked, return to the main path and continue onto the grassland, cross the track and bear slightly right to follow a grass path that forks away from the hedge. In about 100 mtrs look out for several flint mazes set in the grass. From the mazes set out to the right to find the gravel path again and continue along it until it descends to a field gate with kissing gate beside it. Take care descending as this path can be very slippery. Go through the gate (do not be tempted to take the steep steps that descend to your right) and ascend the path on the other side and follow it to the road. (B4009)
Cross, with care, to the NT Car Park and go through the gate onto Lardon Chase (NT). Follow the track along the top of the hill until you come to a left turn with a gate in the hedge and some benches. Stop to admire the view. From here you can see most of Streatley and all of Goring, but from a different angle
Turn left and go through the gate onto Lough Down (still NT) From this point you can see Didcot Power Station - 5 miles, Whittenham Clumps - 7 miles - and on a good day the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - 22 miles. When you have had your fill descend a steep path to a stile and gate
Turn right onto Rectory Road, taking care as there is no footpath. Continue to the junction with Wantage Road and then take the footpath on the right of the road to the junction with the A329. Cross at the junction to the opposite footpath and turn right towards the Bull Crossroads
At the traffic lights turn left down the High Street and cross the river bridges. At the Miller of Mansfield, turn right into Manor Road where you will find the John Barleycorn on the left. You may need to book in advance if you want to eat at this popular pub which serves a range of dishes at reasonable prices and a mean pint of Breakspears ale. Once refreshed, continue into Station Road and the car park
Contact us and tell us if you liked this walk, or if you encountered problems with directions or expectations
Distance: Approx 5 miles
Time: Allow 3 hours (more if you want to admire the views or have a pushchair)
Walking Conditions: Mainly off road with narrow paths and steep hills. Not suitable for push chairs other than all terrain type. The pusher will need to be fit and the child will need to dismount on several occasions
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 cross the road where safe to do so. Continue across the river bridges. Just after passing the entrance to the Swan Hotel cross the road and go left into Vicarage Lane. Continue for 100 mtrs. and then fork right into a narrow path. Follow the path to the main road (A329), taking care not to trip on roots and fallen trees, and turn left along the footpath for about 200 mtrs. Take care as traffic on this road is heavy and fast moving
You will notice some steps with a handrail climbing the bank on the opposite side of the road. (Pushchairs will need to be carried up the steps, or you can continue along the main road to the entrance to The Holies (NT) beside Streatley Hills House) Cross the busy road with great care and follow the path that follows the edge of the wood to a kissing gate.(Pushchairs dismount again)
Enter the National Trust meadow and strike out towards the centre to meet a grassy track. Turn right and follow this to a field gate with a pedestrian gate alongside. Go through onto a very steep tarmac track and continue to the top. Turn now and again to admire the view and catch your breath
Go through the gate at the top of the hill and continue to another gateway (usually open) where a path joins from the right. Turn right onto the path, go through a kissing gate and down to a viewpoint on the right
(From here you can see the communications mast at Woodcote - 3 miles, straight ahead - and the Water Tower at Tilehurst - 10 miles, to the right - as well as the entire village of Goring and some of Streatley with the Thames running through the centre)
When you have rested, or picnicked, return to the main path and continue onto the grassland, cross the track and bear slightly right to follow a grass path that forks away from the hedge. In about 100 mtrs look out for several flint mazes set in the grass. From the mazes set out to the right to find the gravel path again and continue along it until it descends to a field gate with kissing gate beside it. Take care descending as this path can be very slippery. Go through the gate (do not be tempted to take the steep steps that descend to your right) and ascend the path on the other side and follow it to the road. (B4009)
Cross, with care, to the NT Car Park and go through the gate onto Lardon Chase (NT). Follow the track along the top of the hill until you come to a left turn with a gate in the hedge and some benches. Stop to admire the view. From here you can see most of Streatley and all of Goring, but from a different angle
Turn left and go through the gate onto Lough Down (still NT) From this point you can see Didcot Power Station - 5 miles, Whittenham Clumps - 7 miles - and on a good day the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - 22 miles. When you have had your fill descend a steep path to a stile and gate
Turn right onto Rectory Road, taking care as there is no footpath. Continue to the junction with Wantage Road and then take the footpath on the right of the road to the junction with the A329. Cross at the junction to the opposite footpath and turn right towards the Bull Crossroads
At the traffic lights turn left down the High Street and cross the river bridges. At the Miller of Mansfield, turn right into Manor Road where you will find the John Barleycorn on the left. You may need to book in advance if you want to eat at this popular pub which serves a range of dishes at reasonable prices and a mean pint of Breakspears ale. Once refreshed, continue into Station Road and the car park
Contact us and tell us if you liked this walk, or if you encountered problems with directions or expectations
