Walk In Berkshire: The Goring & Streatley Circular

If you are looking for moving from beginner to intermediate, then I recommend this circular walk in Berkshire as your first challenge. When I did this walk, it was my first hike outside of London after the third lockdown restrictions were lifted for outdoor activities. It was the perfect challenge to get back to hiking after three months of walks in the park in my local area.

Walk in Berkshire: Goring & Streatley circular featured picture showing the valley from the top of a hill with yellow and green fields

Located in the North Wessex Downs, this walk takes you around the beautiful ancient villages of Goring & Streatley, through steep hills, lush green meadows and woodlands. All of this is located just over an hour away from London Paddington.

Disclaimer: Some London-based hiking groups may offer the same or similar walks around Goring & Streatley. Please check here for more information.

Logistics for the Walk in Berkshire

Distance: 12.06 miles (19.40km)
Ascent: 450m
Walking estimate: 5 hours 45 minutes
How to get there: Trains from Paddington, direct to Goring and Streatley. It takes 1.15 hour.
What to pack: Comfortable clothing, comfortable footwear as you will be climbing hills, sunglasses and sunscreen if you are going on a nice day, water (2 litres recommended, snack and packed lunch)
Additional information: There are no public toilets on this walk. I would strongly recommend that you stop at the public toilets in Goring before starting the hike

Highlights of the Berkshire walk

Goring Village
St Thomas of Canterbury Church
Streatley village
Aldworth village

Goring & Streatley Circular

The villages

The walk takes place in the North Wessex Downs. This area of 1730 km²stretches from Dorset to Kent. It is designed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We start our walk in the twin villages of Goring and Streatley. We arrive at the station, located in the village of Goring, on the left bank of the River Thames. One notable resident is George Micheal who lived there, in his residence called Mill Cottage, towards the end of his life.

In front of St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring Village, Oxfordshire — Goring Village

We wander around Goring, going up the High Street and looking at the closed pubs and restaurants with envy. In just a day from now, they will be reopening. At the end of the High Street, we come face to face with St Thomas of Canterbury Church. The Church was built in the 1100s and extensions were built over the years.

St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring — St Thomas of Canterbury Church

We admire the wooded hills in the background as we cross over the bridge linking the two villages.

View of the Thames river when crossing the bridge in between Goring and Streatley villages — View of the Thames river when crossing the bridge

On the opposite bank is the village of Streatley. Its history traces back to the Neolithic as shown by the tools found in the village. The village is famous for its failed IRA attack in 1979, where a bomb targeted at a retired judge went off as the bicycle of the postman who was carrying the deadly parcel, fell off from its stand. Luckily no one was hurt. As we turn at the end of the High Street, we pass by an old red phone box repurposed in a book exchange.

Old red phone box repurposed in an exchange book, Streatley village, Berkshire — Book exchange phone box

Towards Aldworth village

We continue our walk to the end of the village and along the road surrounded by the Golf Club on the left and endless green fields on the right.

View of the fields opposite Goring & Streatley Golf Club — View of the fields

Following the trail encircled by hills and green meadows, we encounter cows grazing as we pass by a farm on our way. We continue on that trail until we reach Town Copse where we stop for a 10-minute snack.

Cows grazing in the meadows near Goring and Steatley villages — Cows grazing in the background

We then turn around and start walking in the direction of Aldworth village. It starts hailing and we are completely exposed on this path. This does not stop us from taking pictures of the outstanding beauty of the landscape unfolding before us.

View of the ridge on the way to Aldworth village, Berkshire — View of the fields

We arrive at the farmland village of Aldworth. It is commonly believed that the famous Battle of Ashdown, during which Alfred defeated the Danes in AD 817, was fought where the village now stands.

View of the path leading to the Church of Aldworth village, Berkshire — Aldworth Village

The way back: woodlands and hills

We leave the village and enter the woods located in between Aldworth and Ashampstead. We stop there, on a log, for lunch.

View of the woodland in between Aldworth village and Ashampstead village, Berkshire — View of the woods

We restart after a break and follow the trail, going in and out of woodlands, until we reach Hartridge Lye Wood. From there, we turn and start walking back towards Goring and Streatley.

We passed by the Royal Berkshire Shooting School, walk alongside straw fields and arrive at the bottom of Common Wood. In front of us is our last, but the steepest hill of this walk. After one last push, we arrive at the top and we are rewarded by the view.

View from Common Wood hill, Streatley, Berkshire — View from the top of the hill

We enter the woods at the top and quickly discover the perfect viewpoint over the River Thames and the two villages.

View of the Thames River an Goring & Streatly village, the end of a walk in Bershire — View over the river Thames and Goring & Streatley villages

We go down the hill via a narrow and steep path, trying not to fall. We arrive back in Streatley, crossed the bridge in the opposite direction and make our way back to the station. No meal for us in either of the villages as the pubs are still closed due to lockdown restrictions. We eat another snack on the platform waiting for the train instead. Bon appetit!