Category Archives: walk

Happy New Year 2022


‘Oyey Oyez Oyez! … God Bless the Queen and God Bless Abingdon.’ The start and the end of the Town Crier’s cry is always the same. It is just what goes in-between that changes. Today he said ‘Happy New Year and welcome to the walk of the ancient Abingdon bounds.’

The Abingdon Boundary Walk began on the Market Place at 11 am, just as the rain began. Minutes before, there had been sunshine from over the river and a grey sky everywhere else. The Town Crier accompanying the walk rang his bell and cried at a half dozen stops on the walk. At the Ock Valley, however, he said ‘I won’t ring the bell here. I’m just spending a moment listening to the birds as we can hear them over the sound of the traffic.’ He has a west country accent. More Bristol than the pure Berkshire once spoken by Abingdonians.

Information on the walk was provided by Councillor Helen Pighills who described the original boundaries and told us how a town official once swam over the River Thames from near St Helen’s Wharf because the boundary runs along the far bank. In another place we took the scenic route rather than sticking strictly to the route – in order to avoid a narrow pavement and the busy Drayton Road.

There was no group Christian Aid walk today. Instead walkers can make their own way round.

Evening Walk


I went for a walk as the lights were being turned on.

In front of Twitty’s Almshouses the bluebells are out. Bluebells usually flower from mid-April to late May, depending on the weather. If spring is mild they can bloom early. It was warm and sunny a week ago but very cold today.

Swans have the river more to themselves at this time of day. The noisy geese are back on land.

Later the scene looked peaceful but somebody was talking loudly on their mobile phone on the opposite bank, having an argument and not caring who heard.

In St Helen’s churchyard there are a smattering of gravestones. There could have been rows and rows of gravestones once – like other churchyards. These look ornamental.

The health benefits of walking, Tuesday 23rd March 2021 at 7 to 8 pm (zoom)


Healthy Abingdon are holding the next in the series of their health-related information evenings. This one, is about the health benefits of walking – whether to the shops, or as part of a group (when that is again within the regulations!).

All are welcome to attend. More details at
http://healthyabingdon.org.uk/events.htm#walking

The speakers are:

  • Viv Boorman – Abingdon Health Walks. Viv will give us an overview of Abingdon’s Health Walks; what they are and how they work, as well as describing a little about what participants particularly enjoy about this local group.
  • Steve Ellis – British Nordic Walking Association.  Steve will explain more about this increasingly popular activity, how it differs from basic walking and what additional benefits it can provide.
  • Frankie Chesterton – Chartered Physiotherapist. Frankie will describe the lesser-known physical benefits of these easy, cheap and accessible activities.

You have no need to register but it would help them to know who is expected. email healthyabingdon@aol.com.

Questions will be taken afterwards.

Marina Park almost accessible again

Marina Park
During the lockdown there continue to be more people out on most walking routes, that includes quite a few walking to and from the Marina Park. It had been out of bounds for a couple of weeks and is now just about accessible without wellington boots.
Marina Park
Instead of the group of five swans there were just two when we arrived. One of them, probably the adult male, was splashing about furiously.
Marina Park
Two other swans swam over, and instead of a family welcome the adult male chased one of them away. He did not seem to worry about the other youngster. So perhaps one was looking rather too adult, while the other still looked young enough not to worry about.
Marina Park
There is also a boat run aground off Marina Park.

If anybody gets the Cumnor Parish News then they will know a lot about the goings and comings at the Marina Park. There is a piece written by one of the boat owners about life on a boat in the marina. It is very well written.