Walk 2 - West Side Story

A Slightly longer walk (1.5 miles) taking in the more rural parts of the village.

Start at the Horse and Jockey in Gosditch, and turn right, away from the main road. ! Half-way down Gosditch, just past Pebble Lodge on the left of the road, there is a passageway which leads into Mill Field. The two-step stile is not at all friendly to the elderly or dogs. Take the path straight on which runs parallel to the school boundary fence; there is a small stile to traverse; this brings you out onto the Thames Path by means of another rather clumsy stile just above Brook End Cottage. Turning right, a short passage between it and the wall of Mill House brings you out at the top of Church Walk. Turning left over the river you can rest on the seat in front of Mill House, and take in one of the most picturesque scenes in the village.

To continue with this walk, carry on along the left-hand riverbank, past the drive-way of Glebe House and past the bridge under which frequently lurk sizeable roach, perch or trout. Walk down Church Lane, on your left the doorsteps of the terrace, all of interest, and plankstones on your right. Cross the High Road to a passage-way under lime trees to the left of the Long House. You now enter Richmond Court. When the road forks turn to the right and go through the passage-way at the dead end which takes you through Cove House Gardens to Fore Street. You can detour here by turning left which will take you to the village store where you can stock up on provisions to keep you going for the second half of the walk!

However, our walk continues straight on which brings you to Park Place which you cross, then enter a passageway, forbidden to cyclists; on the left attractive old cottages rise directly from the pathside. Dormer Cottage is the first of these; on the right in the undeveloped area is a large ceanothus which is a glorious sight in May. The path leads you out opposite the exit from Thames View. Turn right and walk down another branch of Park Place into High Road. Cross the road and turn left. Pass Grove Farm (set well back from the road) and cross the first footbridge you reach after the pavement has finished (it is marked with a "no fouling" sign).

The passageway leads you to a big field, where there are nearly always race-horses; keep to the left hand side until you reach a stile and a gate that lead you into the corner of the next field. Then turn left and walk up the side of the field to the stile, that is wire-meshed to make it dog-proof. However, the barred gate alongside opens and shuts easily enough. This leads you out into the Derry. Turn right and carry on up the Deny.

After passing some varied and attractive cottages turn right over a stile onto a footpath at the bottom of The Derry, just past the driveway to Deny Farm House; crossing the stile into the next field. Carrying straight on, you come to a post-and-rail enclosed area entered and left by a simple step-stile; here you may meet donkeys who show friendly interest. This brings you to the imposing poplar-lined driveway to Derryfields Farm; a V-shaped gate leads you into the Tunbury enclave of white-washed buildings, and there the path runs straight past Derryfield Cottage (which contains some interesting trees, e.g. turkey-oak and balsam poplars); the gateway of the cottage is flanked by two protective plank-stones, which even with a step are awkward to cross. The conifers protecting the garden also narrow the path more than they should. This is not a path for push- or wheel-chairs. The path emerges onto the driveway of a group of cottages behind the Horse & Jockey and into Gosditch by the pub.

Variations.

1. As you emerge into Mill Field from Gosditch, take the path diagonally left which
traverses the field to a stile in the hedge surrounding the Thames Wafer pumping-station;
you can cross this area to the riverside gate onto the main road by Sheepwash Bridge, and
then continue up the road to the church. Turn right through the churchyard, where you
may see coal tits and goldcrests. At the beginning of the year the snowdrops in the moat of
Church Farm are a lovely sight. You return along a pathway lined with chestnut trees and,
in the Spring, daffodils, to Mill House.

2. Instead of taking the footbridge over the Thames into the field with horses, you can
continue down the High Road alongside the river and turn right at The Derry, rejoining
the walk where the footpath emerges.