Section 4 of 4, St Frideswide's Way
Lower Basildon to Church of S James
10.1 miles (16.2 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: SU 609 795. Finish: SU 719 736. 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
About 121 m of climbing and 119 m of descent; highest point 78 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Lower Basildon.
- Bus stops
- Bus stop, 720 m from the start. Directions SU 603 792Bus stop, 730 m from the start. Directions SU 603 792
- Car park
- Car park, 450 m from the start. Directions SU 611 791
Getting back
The section finishes at Church of S James. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Station
- Reading, 530 m from the finish. Directions SU 714 738
- Bus stops
- Huntley and Palmers, 260 m from the finish. Directions SU 721 734Kings Meadow Road, 290 m from the finish. Directions SU 718 738
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 43%, gravel and tracks 21%, earth, rock and mud 13%; the rest (23%) isn't recorded.
About 26% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 10 gates, 5 flights of steps.
Steepest climb: about 32 m in a kilometre (1 in 31), starting 5.4 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- The Greyhound, Whitchurch-on-Thames: 2.4 miles in.Ferry Boat, Whitchurch-on-Thames: 2.5 miles in.Vino Vita, Reading: at the finish.The Swan, Pangbourne: 2.6 miles in, about 300 m off the way. Seats outside.George Hotel, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 200 m off the way.Pangbourne Working Men's Club: 2.8 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Cross Keys, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 300 m off the way.The Griffin, Caversham: 9.1 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Crown, Caversham: 9.2 miles in, about 150 m off the way. Seats outside.Spill, Caversham: 9.2 miles in, about 300 m off the way. Seats outside.And 21 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Cafés
- Waitrose Cafe, Norcot: 7.2 miles in.The Tea Kiosk, Caversham: 9 miles in.The Gorge Cafe, Caversham: 9.2 miles in.Honesty, Reading: 9.8 miles in.Forbury Kitchen, Reading: at the finish.Baxters, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 250 m off the way.Costa, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 250 m off the way.The Garden Cafe, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 150 m off the way.The Loose Larder, Pangbourne: 2.8 miles in, about 200 m off the way.The Mad Duck Cafe, Mapledurham: 5.2 miles in, about 350 m off the way.And 34 more within a quarter of a mile.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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