Douai know the way back to Woolhampton?

Please meet at 10:45 in the car park of Woolhampton’s Rowbarge pub, for this 9.2 mile circular walk.

We’ll start by traversing a section of the Kennet and Avon canal towpath, before heading gently uphill away from the canal, along roads, footpaths and small sections of woodland towards the grounds of Douai Abbey. We'll have our lunch stop in the grounds of this striking Roman Catholic monastery,  which boasts two pipe organs [I can’t guarantee the abbey will be open to view but I’ve been inside in the past, free of charge]. 

In the second half of the walk we’ll head east across rolling fields and down lanes, paying a short visit to Beenham. After this, we'll drop in on a church – St Peters in Upper Woolhampton - which features  a large, colourful stained glass window. 

The final section of the walk takes us back along another scenic stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal, before ending back at the Rowbarge, where those who’d like can enjoy a drink. 

Thanks to Karen and Steve M for inspiring / leading this route originally!