How to walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley: Thames Path Day 7

This walk takes you from one county to another, Wallingford in Oxfordshire to Goring and Streatley in Berkshire. If we are being specific, Goring and Streatley are actually two separate historic towns connected by a bridge.

A church with tall spire poking out from behind a mass of green leafy bushes and trees in Wallingford at the start of the walk towards Goring and Streatley. — Walllingford

I much preferred this walk to the previous section. Maybe it was because it was half the length? If I was following the National Trust website route, it would have me walking all the way to Tilehurst, doubling the length of the walk. I’m glad I didn’t do that.

Before heading out, I checked the weather forecast and saw it was due to rain at 1pm. I wasn’t planning on leaving for the walk for another couple of hours. Seeing this, I knew that if I left now I might be able to finish just before the rain started. So I grabbed my stuff and headed out.

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What to expect on the walk between Wallingford and Goring and Streatley

At 7 miles, the walk between Wallingford and Goring and Streatley is quite easygoing. The landscape switches up between narrow dirt trail surrounded by trees, and vast meadows. It is a little rugged and can get quite muddy in sections, but this is broken up with neatness and large fields.

A dirt trail surrounded by green leafy bushes, heading towards a wooden bridge, on the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley. There is a big tree on the right, hanging over the trail.

A path on the right lined with strips of grass, and the river with boats moored to the side on the left, partway through the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley.

A grass trail through the green meadow on the walk between Wallingford and Goring and Streatley. The meadow is filled with yellow buttercups. There is a row of big leafy trees on the other end ahead.

There are more impressive riverside houses to look at, and a really nice riverside pub with live music towards the end.

Logistics

Start: Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Finish: Goring and Streatley, Berkshire.
Distance: 7 miles.

Time: 2h 30min.
Difficulty: Easy.
Terrain: Grass, dirt, lots of mud, path, some road.

Dog friendly: Yes.
Time of year: I walked from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley at the end of May.

Public transport

Goring and Streatley has a train station, with direct trains to London Paddington. It stops at Reading if you want to change to a different line.

To get to Wallingford you can get the number X20 bus from Reading (50min journey), or the 33 bus from Didcot Parkway train station (25 minute journey).

I bought myself a return ticket to Reading, then got the bus to Wallingford, and bought a single train ticket to get from Goring and Streatley back to Reading.

Amenities

Wallingford: Lots of highly rated food options in Wallingford, from pubs, to cafes, coffee shops, and a bakery. And a Waitrose.

Along the route: 4.5 miles in you have the Beetle and Wedge pub and restaurant. It looked great. I sat on a wooden bench just next to it for a quick snack whilst listening to the live music. I couldn’t stay, as I had to make it to the end before the rain.

Goring and Streatley: Most stuff is on the other side of the bridge in Goring. Just over the bridge is Pierreponts Cafe, the Miller of Mansfield Pub, then in the Arcade you have a chippie and village cafe. On the other side of the station is a Tesco.

Accommodation

If you are spending the night, I recommend the Town Arms in Wallingford. It’s one of the cheaper options, and looks pretty good, and has excellent reviews. It’s a pet friendly bed and breakfast pub. For camping you have the Ridgeway View which is a little past Wallingford.

Goring and Streatley has a YHA. You can get your own room for a pretty reasonable price here. It isn’t pet friendly. Or if you want something a bit fancier, the Miller of Mansfield looks like a good option. It’s a pet friendly bed and breakfast with bar and restaurant.

Map for the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley

Read the previous section: Abingdon to Wallingford day 6

Route Description: Walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley

The start of the Thames Path is on the town side of the bridge. So if you are in town, head towards the bridge and take the right turn just before you reach it.

I actually had a venture onto the bridge first, to look at the views, seeing as I didn’t quite make it to the bridge last time.

Looking along the wide river in Wallingford, and the start of the walk towards Goring and Streatley. There is a couple of stone houses on the left and green grass and trees on the right.

Looking along the road bridge towards the village of Wallingford, at the start of the walk towards Goring and Streatley. There is a cyclist on the road, and a few people walking along the pavement on the bridge. Over the bridge there is a church to the left and Tudor houses to the right.

After you have taken the right turn, walk all the way to the end, and turn left at the church along a little alley and then under an archway in the houses.

Looking along the road lined with stone buildings.

A trail sign in front of a stone wall with the church behind. There is a big tree with green leaves to the left. — Turn left here

A path leading through an archway tunnel under the red brick houses.

Then turn left to walk along the footpath.

A sign saying 'footpath no cycles', on a black metal fence.

A dirt trail lined with bright green leafy bushes. There are two people walking on the trail ahead.

A path lined with metal railings, with a patch of green grass to the left and some hedges and trees ahead.

A little way further along, the path is not quite on the river side, as the riverside seems to be privately owned. Peoples own little front gardens.

A dirt trial with puddle, lined with masses of green leafed bushes and trees. There is a red walled shed just visible behind the bushes on the left.

Looking over the grass lawn with outdoor chairs on a wooden platform and the river behind.

A wide dirt path lined with wooden fence, tall grass, and a weeping willow tree hanging over, when walking g out of Wallingford towards Goring and Streatley.

After a short while you will be on a proper dirt trail next to the river, and then through some fields and meadows.

A dirt path on the right lined with tall grass ands trees, with the river to the left and a blue and white speed boat moored to the side.

A thin trail leading through the tall grass of the meadow, towards trees on the other side.

Looking across the meadow filled with yellow buttercups on the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley.

Looking along the tall green grass field, with a big tree and river to the left.

Rugged and neat

You will then have a section of going from rugged to neat and back and forth. What I mean by that is, trail through bushes and ruggedness leading you to a section of neatly cut lawn, then back into ruggedness. The cycle repeats a few times.

A dirt trail lined with tall grass and big bushes.

A neatly cut grass lawn on the right and river to the left. There are trees ahead, and lining the left side of the river.

A dirt trial surrounded by masses of bushes, with a big tree on the right leading left over the trail.

You will pass by the Oxford Brooks Rowing club. I wondered about this. We are a fair way outside Oxford. Does Oxford Uni take up all the riverside real estate in Oxford, and Oxford Brooks pushed way out here?

Looking across the neatly cut lawn, past a few very tall trees, tiothe black boat shed.

A dirt trail lined with bushes and trees.

Walk through the meadows and Cholsey Marsh

You will then walk through the meadows with a view to some cute things over the river, before entering the Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve. Don’t worry, it’s not marshy. It might be very muddy through.

Looking through a gap in the bushes to the river, and field on the other side, when walking from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley.

A narrow trail through the tall green grass meadow. There is a person walking along it ahead.

Looking over the tall grass to the river, on the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley. There is a black boat shed on the other side partially hidden buy masses of bushes and trees.

A narrow dirt trial on the left leading through the bushes, with a sign on the right saying 'Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve'.

Looking over the green grass meadow to a cluster of houses on the other side, partway through the walk between Wallingford and Goring and Streatley.

A muddy dirt trail lined with big green bushes.

Looking over the tall grass to the river which is lined with masses of green leafy trees and bushes.

When you reach the dirt road, cross over, then along a dirt trail surround by bushes and trees.

A metal gate and dirt road on the other side.

A dirt trail leading through a green tree and bush tunnel. It's dark with a light through the tunnel ahead.

Up the steps, the trail and surroundings become even more rugged, and you will pass by a hidden pillbox (I think). It was too hidden to tell exactly what it was.

Dirt ground leading to some steps going up. The steps are surrounded by big green bush leaves.

A thin dirt trail lined with big bushes and trees.

A thin dirt trail lined with grass and bushes, curving to the right around the big tree.

The mud

Up until now it had been fairly muddy in places. I passed a guy who warned me it was very muddy ahead and my shoes will get covered. I thanked him, but thought to myself, it can’t be that bad. I’ve already experienced all of it…

Oh but it was. It was that bad. You know that kind of mud that tries to suck your shoe off.

A big patch of mud surrounded by bushes.

Today was my first day wearing new hiking boots. I had gotten quite used to wet feet as my old ones had holes in. I lived with those holes and wet feet for about a year because I couldn’t bare to get ride of them (translation: I was too cheap).

Today, my feet stayed dry. It was a wonderful feeling.

Walk under the railway bridge and to the road

You will reach a big railway bridge, and when you stand under it, I think you can see the tracks. I’m not 100% sure that’s what I was looking at, and I considered waiting to see a train pass over.

A dirt trail on the right lined with green bushes, with the river on the left and three people stand up paddle boarding. There is a bridge with arches ahead.

A wooden bridge with ivy growing up it. It is leading under a big archway bridge.

I only considered for a moment, then continued on. A few minutes later I looked back to see a train pass over and wish I’d waited. That would have been a first. Looking at a train running from underneath.

Past the bridge, the trail will lead you to a dirt track road, then up to the main road, where you turn left.

A narrow dirt trial lined with messy grass and bushes, with a wooden fence on the left side.

A dirt track leading straight ahead, lined with hedges.

A road going across the screen, with a trail sign pointing left and back. There is a big hedge on the left, and a red brick wall with bushes in front on the other side of the road. — Turn left at the road

Walk along the road

There is now a long stretch of road. At least there is pavement, and the occasional nice looking cottage.

A tall grass meadow field and house covered in ivy on the other side of the road.

When you reach the junction with a sign for the Beetle Wedge, turn left onto Ferry Lane.

Looking across the road to a brick walled house and big blue sign outside saying 'beetle and wedge'. The house is surround by the green leafy trees. — Turn left here

A road leading ahead, partway through the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley. There is a stone wall on the left and bushes and Tudor house on the right.

At the end of this road you will reach the Beetle Wedge Pub. Walk to the left around it, and then you need to actually walk through the riverside beer garden to get back onto the path.

A parking area in front of a hose covered in bushes. There are cars parked, and a big weeping willow tree on the other side of the car park.

I felt a little awkward doing this, as there was live music going on, and here is me walking between the stage and people.

This seemed like a wonderful place to stop. We are not far from the end of the walk, the music was relaxing, the food looked good. I couldn’t stop though, I needed to make it to Goring and Streatley before the rain.

So I compromised and sat on a wooden bench to have a quick snack whilst enjoying the music. I’m not 100% sure this bench doesn’t belong the to pub. But I thought I’d claim it until someone told me to buy something or move.

The houses, more mud, and meadows

After the pub, it’s a bit of nice path riverside walking, passing by lovely houses, and the colourful house which stopped me dead in my tracks. I have so far been avoiding taking photos of peoples homes close up, and just taking photos of the ones across there river because they can’t see me. But I needed to get a photo of this one. I was quick though.

Looking along a neatly cut lawn with a big tree and a colourful house partially visible on the other side.

Looking across the river to a green meadow and white walled house, near the end off the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley. The house is surrounded by big trees.

A promenade walkway on the right and river with boats moored to the side on the left. There are people walking on the promenade ahead.

It’s then another section of muddy trail in the trees, before reaching more meadows.

A big muddy patch of the trail, surrounded by bushes.

A grass trail through the meadow, with a big hedge on the left.

Looking over the tall grass to the brown coloured river and trees and bushes on the other side.

A dirt trail lined with tall grass, and the river to the left. There is a big tree branch with green leaves hanging over the top of the frame.

The final stretch of the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley

The final meadow is quite special. A vast field with a carpet of yellow buttercups. I hadn’t checked the map, but I had a sense that this was the last one. Ahead I couldn’t see more buildings along the river, a sign you are about to enter a village.

Looking over to tall grass to the river and house on the other side, near the end of the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley.

Looking over the tall grass to the river and a blue barge moored to the other side, near the end of the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley. Behind the barge are lots of big trees.

When you reach the lock, you will be on path for a bit, then when you reach the trees, take the little gate under them.

A blue boat going through a lock in the river.

A wide path lined with grass on both side, and the river to the left.

A dirt trail through the grass leading to a gate under the big trees. There river is to the left. — Go through this gate under the trees

For the rest of the walk, it’s along this dirt path, with more views to nice houses on the other side.

A dirt trail surrounded by bushes and trees.

Looking across the river with ripples to Tudor style boat garage on the other side at the end of the walk from Wallingford to Goring and Streatley.

A dirt trail leading ahead, lined with tall grass and bushes on both sides, and bigger trees and bushes to the right. The river is to the left.

Looking over the green leafy bushes to the river, and grand house behind a neatly cut lawn on the other side.

The trail will then lead you away from the river, to reach a boardwalk. Continue on the boardwalk, then go left on it where there is a split. You will then reach the road.

A trail curving ahead to the right through the tall grass meadow.

A wooden walking surround by straggly trees.

A wooden trail sign on the left with white acorn, and road with puddles on the right.

At the road turn left…

The end

This is where it started to rain. It was light for a few moments, then became apocalyptic. So I waited under the trees. I was fully waterproof, but the rain was so aggressive that instinct is to hide. I was quite chuffed with myself that I made it. Better to be here than on dirt trail.

When the rain calmed down to normal rain, I made my way to the station. It’s still a bit of a walk to get there. About 10min.

At the main road, turn left, then walk all the way along and over the bridge. Stay on this road as it does a curve.

A road bridge with wooden railings. There are big trees on the other side, and part of a white walled house visible.

The wet road curving ahead towards red bricked buildings in goring.

Then when you reach the Arcade, walk through it. Stay straight through the houses, then at the end, turn left.

A road with stone and red bricked houses ahead. There is a brick wall on the right with tree leaves hanging over it. There are green leafy bushes on the left.

Keep going and you will reach Goring and Streatley station.