Old Father Thames
Using Inn Travel to arrange our walk allowed us to rely on their expertise of selecting good accommodation with great food and a carefully chosen walking itinerary, cherry-picking the most scenic and interesting sections of the Trail. This worked a treat for us as we left our car at home and used senior rail cards and bus passes to get around easily at the start and finish of our walks.
Our Stage Towns were
Oxford where we stayed in the Vanbrugh House Hotel, right in the centre of the city
Streatly-0n-Thames right on the riverbank by the lock and weir in the famous Swan Hotel. Go There
Henley on Thames in the Hotel du Vin with an old brewery complex.
Luggage was transported for us between hotels.
We clocked up 56 miles in our week, following the route notes and adding some of our own improvisations along the Chiltern Way to get a new perspective of the Thames within its own valley.
OXFORD
This where we stayed -
Vanbrugh House Hotel
This was the Street Scene just opposite the Oxford Union.
The Covered Street Market was fun and had a great vibe.
We were there a week before the Queen's Platinum Celebrations.
CARFAX TOWER
The tower is all that remains of the 13th century St Martin’s Church, the official city church of Oxford from 1122. In 1896, the main part of the church was demolished to make more room for traffic in the area.
The tower is 74 feet tall and no building in central Oxford may be constructed higher than it.
As such, it’s possible to climb the 99 steps to the top of the tower for an amazing view over the Oxford skyline.
BELOW
Here I am emerging on the roof after climbing the 99 steps.
On the way down, my rucksack got impaled in the narrow circular staircase rail and Sheila had to free me!
And then a walk through the University Quarters
The Radcliffe Camera
is an iconic Oxford landmark
and a working library,
part of the central
Bodleian Library complex.
It is linked to the Bodleian Old Library
by the underground Gladstone Link.
What I love about this photo
is the bikes propped up
outside.
That is very much a feature
of Oxford
The Old Bodleian Library and Exeter College
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Exeter College
The Sheldonian Theatre was built from 1664 to 1669 after a design by
Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford.
YES - I HAD TO TAKE THIS TOURIST PHOTO!
The bridge is popularly known as the Bridge Of Sighs but is officially called Hertford
Bridge as it connects two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane in Oxford.
My Pal James Dixon is an Alumnus and has tagged these pictures for me. Thanks James!
James Dixon loves fine dining and it is particularly appropriate for me to call him an Alumnus because the Latin translation is "one who is nourished"
and then back to our Lodgings
Photo taken at night. Notice the busker!
STREATLEY
OXFORD
Streatley and Goring are two most attractive villages joined by a long bridge
over the Thames.
Our organisers, Inn Travel had booked us into The Swan which was a large busy hotel
located in a gorgeous location by the lock and weirs.
There is absolutely no indication we are on a Walking Tour!!
In the picture, taken from the bridge, you can see the Lock and 2 Weirs and there is
another Weir beyond the
river bridge too. This means that the river here as we viewed it from the Hotel Is of
enormous width.
HENLEY ON THAMES - or Hot as the railway timetable tells us!
No, this isn't a picture of Henley but a view of the classy houses on the way in from the
Reading direction.
Our Tour organisers booked us into the Hotel du Vin which once was a brewery with the
result that all rooms were different and there were many character features and oodles
of ground floor space.
What a great Treat - Spend 2 nights in a Brewery!
Outside Seating
Indoor Restaurant
and a very talented Chef called Dan.
