Dipping into the Wells (1102)

This 11-mile (18 km) circular takes us walk into the hills around Goring to discover a story of water, including deep wells and dipping ponds, dry valleys and more. In days gone by the communities here relied on the River Thames, local ponds and wells for their water. Piped water did not reach many communities until the mid-1900s. Yet today, this area is the source of water for thousands of homes from Oxford to Swindon.
We start our walk from Goring Station and climb up through Blackbird Bottom to the dipping ponds on Greenmoor Common, one of the highest points in the Chilterns. Keeping to the wooded high ground, our route takes us on to Crays Pond and Whitchurch Hill before descending on an ancient track to an iconic viewpoint and the Thames. We then pass through the historic hamlet of Gatehampton and along the river back to Goring. All this walking is thirsty work and there are plenty of refreshment options in Goring.