The late May Bank Holiday is an opportunity to join some free organised walks round Abingdon.

MORNING WALKS ~ leave the Market Place at 10:30 am

The Boundary Walk follows the Town Boundary as it was when the Royal Charter was granted to Abingdon-on-Thames by Queen Mary in 1556. You will be accompanied by a Town Crier. (About 4 miles and 2 hrs).

A member of the Twin Towns Society will tell you about the history of Abingdon, the Great Abbey Church which once dominated the town, and its associated centuries old medieval buildings, today owned and cared for by the Friends of Abingdon. (About 1½ hrs).

Have you noticed vegetables growing in flowerbeds in Abbey Meadow and Abbey Gardens? Or the beautiful pollinator-friendly beds near the play-park? Or the wildflower maze on the Meadow? A child-friendly, accessible stroll round some of the projects run by Abingdon Carbon Cutters. (About 1hr).

Enjoy a tour around the centre of the town to places connected with St Edmund of Abingdon who became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1233. Hear from an enthusiast about Abingdon`s most famous son. (About 1½ hrs)

AFTERNOON WALKS ~ leave the Market Place at 2pm

Join the Abingdon Naturalists on a nature walk to Radley Lakes where you can enjoy tea and cakes organised by the Friends of Radley Lakes and follow the trail round the main lake before returning to the town centre. (About 5 miles)

Do you know how many Rivers and Streams flow in and around the town? Hear from an enthusiast about well-known and lesser-known waterways starting in the town centre then out to the countryside and the Swift Ditch. (About 4½mls, 2½hrs. Shorten to 3 miles, 1½ hours by returning on your own from the lock)

Another opportunity to hear about the history of the town and the Lost Abbey from a member of The Friends of Abingdon (About 1½hrs)

From the 17th to the 20th century the centre of Abingdon became a Hive of Industry. Join the town archivist on a visit to places producing a variety of goods from beer and books to carpets and scientific instruments. (About 1½hrs)

For the latest news see: www.friendsofabingdon.org.uk

The annual January 1st Christian Aid Sponsored Walk met at St Helen’s church centre. For the first time the eight mile walk was entirely in Abingdon. It began by going round South Abingdon, and then went round part of North Abingdon.

Cliff Marshall, the co-ordinator, gave instructions and reminded people that the government would double all the sponsorship money they raised for Christian Aid.

An hour later, at 11 am, on the Market Place, participants of the Boundary Walk were photographed for the Oxford Mail / Abingdon Herald before leaving on the 4 mile walk round the 1556 Abingdon Borough boundary.

Councillor Helen Pighills, a former Mayor of Abingdon, led the walk, helped by Patrick Bird, of the Guild of Abingdon Town Criers.

Because the Ock Valley walk is still closed the Boundary Walk had to be diverted down Caldecott Road, along the route of the former canal. There they met the Christian Aid walk coming the other way.

Soon after that it rained heavily on both walks for about twenty minutes. But spirits were not dampened. Patrick Bird invited anybody listening to come and join the boundary walk, despite the rain.

Happy New Year!

Yesterday we visited the original Annie’s Tearooms at  the Canal in Thrupp (near Kidlington) and enjoyed Sweet potatoe soup  (featured on the Not Abingdon Blog).

Today we started a walk at Annie’s at the Boathouse in Abingdon. We split the sudoku and  crossword so we both had a puzzle to do, then enjoyed some warming Leek and potato soup. We noticed that other Thames walkers had also stopped off here for refreshments.

We left Annie’s behind and walked along the far bank of the River Thames. For anybody driving along the A34, Abingdon might just look like a place of business parks, and out of town shopping.

but Abingdon is a river town with all its buildings on one bank of the River Thames.

The walk in the direction of Culham is muddy in places so boots are a good idea at this time of year. The walk passes close to the old Culham Bridge, built in the reign of Henry V, and no longer used for traffic. So you can head back to Abingdon from there along the causeway or…

take the route via Sutton Courtney (next Thames crossing) and back to Abingdon – a seven mile walk. The spire of St Helen’s Church can be seen for miles around, and the bright lights of the Old Anchor are there to welcome visitors on winter evenings.

The splendid Old County Hall was completed in 1682 by Christopher Kempster, one of Wren’s master masons during the building of St Paul’s Cathedral. The County Hall houses the town’s museum, and is well lit up at this time of year.

We went for a cycle ride and walk near Radley College on Sunday. We left the bikes near the Lodge Hill garage, then walked through the avenue of trees and then down towards the Radley College golf course. Most people we saw had dogs with them. This chap had a lot more than most.

Looking down towards Didcot Power Station there were also a lot of geese at Peachcroft Farm.

Our destination was the Womping Oak. It could have made an appearance in the Harry Potter books if Harry had gone to Radley College.

We walked back up through the avenues of trees,

down Lodge Hill

passing the sign for quality Turkeys and Geese. Then back to Abingdon and a beautiful sunset looking down the Vineyard.