Princes Risborough to Goring

Ridgeway Path above Princes Risborough
Ridgeway Path above Princes Risborough

The famous Goring Gap which the River Thames has carved over centuries through the chalk hills marks the western boundary of the Chilterns.

Goring is an inspiring town to start or finish any walk from. Head west down to the stone circles at Avebury, north along the meandering Thames Path, or east along the Ridgeway escarpment towards Ivinghoe Beacon.

To get there we start at Princes Risborough. The Ridgeway Path skirts the southern edge of the town before climbing high up above Bledlow Ridge and down once more to the Vale below.

For several miles the Ridgeway follows the base of the Chilterns making the going flat and easy before rising toward Swyncombe. Here the Ridgeway is at its magnificent best through typical Chilterns scenery; rolling chalk hills and stately beech woods.

As the Ridgeway descends into the Thames Valley at Wallingford it follows the scheduled Grim’s Ditch, an exhilerating raised pathway with open equestrian and farmland to both sides.

The walk from Wallingford to Goring largely follows the Thames with some wonderful open river views. At North Stoke the Ridgeway crosses through a churchyard and weary pilgrims can stop for a moment here to admire this very peaceful chapel with its C14th paintings.

The Ridgeway at South Stoke
The Ridgeway at South Stoke

Arriving at Goring stop to admire the weir and the river boats, before a cup of tea in one of the town’s welcome cafes to consider the next Chilterns walk…