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Wantage to Goring Night Walk

Friday 13th August (finish on Saturday 14th)

We will meet for a leisurely pub/restaurant meal in Wantage, before starting this walk. After about 5km we will reach the Ridgeway National Trail, which we will then follow for most of the walk, as far as Streatley-on-Thames, before catching a return train from nearby Goring.

The first train to Oxford on Saturday morning leaves Goring at about 6am, but if we finish too early then we have the option of extending the walk along the river to Pangbourne, adding another 6km.

If you opt to do this walk, you should be confident of being able to complete it, as likely your only option for dropping out would be a very expensive taxi ride, and you would be responsible both for the cost of the taxi and for finding your way at night to a suitable road, possibly several kilometres away from the route. You must wear walking boots with good ankle support, not trainers. You must also bring extra warm clothing, waterproof jacket and overtrousers, a torch, and food and drink. (There is a water tap after about 15.5km.)

Particularly if you are unsure about walking this distance at night, you may wish to consider first going on the less demanding night hike being held on 24th July.

To start the walk, you catch the 20:00 bus to Wantage, route 31, from stop H4 on St Aldate's. It is up to you to catch this bus, as the leader will be travelling separately to Wantage, where he will arrive in time to meet you at Wantage Market Place where the bus terminates at about 20:45.

COSTS:

outward bus: £3.80
return train: £5.90 (probably £4.00 with rail card)
food: variable, but for one place where we might eat, see: Gigi's Italian Restaurant

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This walk will only happen if at least 4 people commit to it (3 plus the leader) by Sunday 8th August at the latest. To commit to join this walk, please go to:

     OUWC Ridgeway page on Pledgebank

     using pin number: 6892

and sign the pledge. The pledgebank website will show in due course whether the pledge succeeded (i.e. whether enough people signed up) or not - and hopefully it should also email you. If the pledge succeeds, then the walk will happen - so then if you've pledged to come then please actually do so, and the leader will meet you at Wantage. But if the pledge fails, then the walk will not happen. (If the walk does go ahead, then even those who haven't pledged to come will still be welcome to come along as well.)

Please note that as this walk visits moderately remote locations at night, for the personal safety of participants it is open only to those who are club members or who are known to club members. If you are not a club member yourself, then please get in touch with the trip and safety co-ordinator, Jaya John John (trip.safety(a)ouwc.org)