Friday Street, HenleyUnsettled weather, but there seemed a reasonable prospect of a dry afternoon, so we planned our first "proper" walk for a little while. This walk begins on the Berkshire side of Henley bridge. You walk up the road for a while, but soon climb into Remenham Woods. Just on the edge of the wood we saw a buddleia humming with butterflies: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Large White.
After a series of fields and lanes, and some nice views of the Chilterns, you walk along a ridge, then through a gap in the hedge to descend a field-side path towards Culham Court and its deer park.
The house is a classic red brick Georgian mansion built in 1771. It was sold in 2006 for £35m. The deer park features two varieties: fallow deer and what seemed to be white deer. The two herds were noticeably separate.
Soon you join the Thames path and follow it below Culham Court through a wonderful flower meadow overlooking the Thames.
On the far side of the meadow you leave the Thames Path again and follow a lovely track across open land which is part of the Greenlands Estate covenants: land given to the National Trust in 1944 by Viscount Hambledon to protect the landscape around Hambledon and Remenham. A great success. The Viscount would surely be pleased with the effect of his bequest.
You then pass through the village of Remenham to rejoin the Thames Path, now right by the riverside and follow it all the way along Henley Reach back to Henley Bridge.
This is the location of Henley Regatta of course, and the vast marquees were still very much in evidence.
From: Rambling for Pleasure along the Thames by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers Association group.
Map: Explorer 171 (Chiltern Hills West).
Rating: Four stars.
Flower of the day
This Dark Mullein was in evidence in several locations.
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