Lifetime of Walks by Derek Harwood

Parked in Swan Hotel overflow car park at Radcot Bridge and walked downstream, east, towards London.Gorgeous autumn scenery in warm sunshine to almost Radcot Lock where the sky turned cloudy for almost the remainder of the walk. Radcot Lock is very similar to other locks on the Upper Thames except for its topiary, which includes two huge faces, of a man and a woman, each approx 3 metres high. A flood mark stone dated March 1947, symbolises the possible floods for future global warming effects. Onwards past Old Man's Bridge and fields of grazing cows to Rushey Lock, another well kept lock with a delightful cottage, wonderful trees and a charming topiary frog. Official path overgrown from the lock, so we diverted along the tarmac lane, on top of the river defence mound. As we approached Tadpole Bridge, two pleasure boats passed underneath, a lovely moment for a picturesque setting. Forever eastwards to Chimney Meadows, where we passed a pillbox, especially adapted to function as bat hibernaculum. Close by, a moorhen was reluctant to jump off the high bank into the river near Tenfoot Bridge, where we had some lunch. Two passing small dogs found the chicken leg I had thrown into the undergrowth. The owner had to hurry them along. After lunch we soon arrived at the weir by the west end of 'Shifford Lock Cut', where a pair of swans were feeding from the river bed with their tails in the air. Crossed bridge half way along the 'Cut' to a wooded area with bird feeder boxes installed high up the trunk of a tree. Kicked the autumn leaves to another wooden footbridge by the weir of Shifford Lock, which crosses the original river course to the last stretch of the walk on the south bank before Newbridge. Very memorable section of the walk, with the cows naturally herded to one corner of the field, making an unearthly noise. Milking time perhaps. Finished the walk and enjoyed a pint and Sunday Roast in the 'Rose Revived' public house. Waited an undue length of time for the meals to be served, only to find that the restaurant was a carvery. How embarrassing. Another section of the Thames Path enjoyed with Sally. Looking forward to many more through the seasons.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Radcot Bridge 428545/199492, - Finish: at Newbridge 440367/200434, - via: Tadpole Bridge 433470/199275. (Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons).

Hazards:
Always take care when walking along or over a river. Many accidents occur in the vicinity of rivers. Statistics show that the most dangerous parts of the River Thames are around weirs and locks. If possible, do not walk the Thames Path without a companion and always carry some form of communication. Take special care at Rushey Lock, the path changes from the south bank to the north bank. Unfortunately there is no footbridge, the downstream lock gate has to be used to cross the river. The downstream lock gate always has a big drop on the downstream river side and either a big drop or deep water on the lock side, so I say again that great care is required at all times. Please do not disturb the bats at the pillbox on the western end of Chimney Meadows. (Click here for location of pillbox - 434870/200012)

Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 4'
Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 6'
Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage

	LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD Derek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

	THAMES PATH CHIMNEY MEADOWS NATURE RESERVE
	Radcot Bridge to Newbridge - Oxfordshire Sunday 18th October 2009 ....................................Walk No. 775
	THAMES PATH No. 5 Total 42.5 miles Time Taken: 6 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Cloudy 10:45 am - 16:40 pm 10.5 miles 95% Mainly Bright Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: Geese 14^oC 90% None Good Excellent Ducks, Moorhens Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 1043.5 mls 931.5 mls 2190 mls 162 mls 1251 mls 5578 miles Companions: (Derek) Sally Points of Interest and LINKS: Thames Path River Thames Radcot Bridge Radcot Bridge Old Man's Bridge Rushey Lock Tadpole Bridge Tadpole Bridge to Lechlade Chimney Meadows Tenfoot Bridge Shifford Lock Cut Newbridge Description: Parked in Swan Hotel overflow car park at Radcot Bridge and walked downstream, east, towards London.Gorgeous autumn scenery in warm sunshine to almost Radcot Lock where the sky turned cloudy for almost the remainder of the walk. Radcot Lock is very similar to other locks on the Upper Thames except for its topiary, which includes two huge faces, of a man and a woman, each approx 3 metres high. A flood mark stone dated March 1947, symbolises the possible floods for future global warming effects. Onwards past Old Man's Bridge and fields of grazing cows to Rushey Lock, another well kept lock with a delightful cottage, wonderful trees and a charming topiary frog. Official path overgrown from the lock, so we diverted along the tarmac lane, on top of the river defence mound. As we approached Tadpole Bridge, two pleasure boats passed underneath, a lovely moment for a picturesque setting. Forever eastwards to Chimney Meadows, where we passed a pillbox, especially adapted to function as bat hibernaculum. Close by, a moorhen was reluctant to jump off the high bank into the river near Tenfoot Bridge, where we had some lunch. Two passing small dogs found the chicken leg I had thrown into the undergrowth. The owner had to hurry them along. After lunch we soon arrived at the weir by the west end of 'Shifford Lock Cut', where a pair of swans were feeding from the river bed with their tails in the air. Crossed bridge half way along the 'Cut' to a wooded area with bird feeder boxes installed high up the trunk of a tree. Kicked the autumn leaves to another wooden footbridge by the weir of Shifford Lock, which crosses the original river course to the last stretch of the walk on the south bank before Newbridge. Very memorable section of the walk, with the cows naturally herded to one corner of the field, making an unearthly noise. Milking time perhaps. Finished the walk and enjoyed a pint and Sunday Roast in the 'Rose Revived' public house. Waited an undue length of time for the meals to be served, only to find that the restaurant was a carvery. How embarrassing. Another section of the Thames Path enjoyed with Sally. Looking forward to many more through the seasons. Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Radcot Bridge 428545/199492, - Finish: at Newbridge 440367/200434, - via: Tadpole Bridge 433470/199275. (Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons). Hazards: Always take care when walking along or over a river. Many accidents occur in the vicinity of rivers. Statistics show that the most dangerous parts of the River Thames are around weirs and locks. If possible, do not walk the Thames Path without a companion and always carry some form of communication. Take special care at Rushey Lock, the path changes from the south bank to the north bank. Unfortunately there is no footbridge, the downstream lock gate has to be used to cross the river. The downstream lock gate always has a big drop on the downstream river side and either a big drop or deep water on the lock side, so I say again that great care is required at all times. Please do not disturb the bats at the pillbox on the western end of Chimney Meadows. (Click here for location of pillbox - 434870/200012) Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 4' Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 6' Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage



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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2009 Devised: October 2009