Pete's Walks - Hambleden, Stonor, Henley (page 5 of 5)
Shortly beyond Temple Island the Thames started to curve eastwards (right). There was a grand house on the other side of the river where a wedding was obviously being celebrated. A little further on I reached Hambleden Lock, where I had to wait a few minutes for some small boats to enter the lock before the gates were closed and I could cross over. A long footbridge then led over some weirs in the river to Hambleden Mill, where I spotted a couple of Egyptian Geese (they were with some Canada Geese - the inconsistency of the names has always puzzled me, why isn't it Canadian Geese or Egypt Geese?).
The Thames curving westwards after Temple Island
Hambleden Lock
Footbridge between Hambleden Lock and Hambleden Mill
Weir between Hambleden Lock and Hambleden Mill
Hambleden Mill
Egyptian Goose at Hambleden Mill
Beyond the mill a path went between two houses to reach the A4155 at a road junction. I crossed over and headed north on the minor road that runs through the Hambleden Valley. After about a quarter of a mile, just beyond a lane junction, a footpath started on the right, running almost parallel with the road through a large empty pasture. It was quite sunny now, and this made for a pleasant end to the walk. The course of the Hamble Brook was just to my right, but it was completely dry. After several hundred yards I went through a gate and crossed a farm track, the path continuing northwards through another very large pasture, now with a small herd of cattle some way off to my right. On the far side I went through a gate and turned right over a bridge over the dried up stream, re-entering the charming village of Hambleden. I was soon in the village centre, with the car park down a short street on the right.
The road north from Hambleden Mill to Hambleden
The footpath back to Hambleden
Approaching Hambleden
Bridge over the dried up Hamble Brook
Hambleden Church
Hambleden
This was a really good walk. It was nice to try out some new paths, and the route south from Coxlease Farm to Henley is very good and I enjoyed walking it again. The final section along the Thames was obviously flat and there were many other people walking here, but it made a very pleasant change to follow the wide river and to admire the views along and across it. This is certainly a route I'd like to walk again sometime.