Section 3 of 4, St Frideswide's Way
Benson to Lower Basildon
9.9 miles (16 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: SU 614 915. Finish: SU 609 795. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
Almost flat: about 40 m of climbing and 47 m of descent; highest point 58 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Benson.
- Bus stops
- Church Road, 60 m from the start. Directions SU 614 915Benson Marina, 70 m from the start. Directions SU 613 915
- Car parks
- Waterfront Café, 110 m from the start. Directions SU 613 916Car park, 130 m from the start. Directions SU 613 916Car park, 510 m from the start. Directions SU 613 920
Getting back
The section finishes at Lower Basildon. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Bus stop, 720 m from the finish. Directions SU 603 792Bus stop, 730 m from the finish. Directions SU 603 792
Planning St Frideswide's Way
- Planning the whole trail: csj.org.uk.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: A Pilgrim's Companion to Saint Frideswide's Way (The Confraternity of Saint James).
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 21%, grass 13%, earth, rock and mud 13%, gravel and tracks 8%; the rest (45%) isn't recorded.
About 18% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 8 kissing gates, 26 gates, 3 flights of steps.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 16 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- The Boathouse, Wallingford: 1.5 miles in.Town Arms, Wallingford: 1.5 miles in.Wallingford Rowing Club Bar: 1.8 miles in.The Beetle & Wedge, Moulsford: 6.1 miles in. Seats outside, step-free.The Swan at Streatley: 8.1 miles in.George Hotel, Wallingford: 1.6 miles in, about 150 m off the way. Real ale.The Dolphin, Wallingford: 1.6 miles in, about 150 m off the way. Food.Coach and Horses, Wallingford: 1.7 miles in, about 350 m off the way.The Green Tree, Wallingford: 1.8 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Coachmakers Arms, Wallingford: 1.8 miles in, about 150 m off the way.And 4 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Cafés
- Boat House Pub, Streatley: 8.2 miles in.Pierreponts, Goring-on-Thames: 8.4 miles in.The Cart Shed, Preston Crowmarsh: 0.8 miles in, about 150 m off the way.Catherine's Cafe, Wallingford: 1.6 miles in, about 150 m off the way.Bean & Brew, Wallingford: 1.6 miles in, about 150 m off the way.Mollie's, Wallingford: 1.6 miles in, about 200 m off the way.Mollie's Carnival, Wallingford: 1.7 miles in, about 200 m off the way.Coffee#1, Wallingford: 1.7 miles in, about 200 m off the way.Costa, Wallingford: 1.7 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Old Post Office, Wallingford: 1.7 miles in, about 200 m off the way.And 2 more within a quarter of a mile.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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