To celebrate the success of local campaigners, with support from the society, in winning two village greens and widened paths in the beautiful Dorchester on Thames, we invite members to join us there.
Come for coffee, talks, and lunch, and an afternoon walk around the village greens and up to the ancient Wittenham Clumps. There may also be the chance to look around the historic Dorchester Abbey.
Getting to the venue
Venue:Dorchester village hall, 7 Queen Street, Dorchester OX10 7HR.
Car parking is provided about 0.5km away. The venue can be reached by public transport as follows.
Bus X40 runs between Oxford and Reading Station via Wallingford every half hour, stopping at Dorchester bypass (adjacent to Drayton Road). Don’t miss the stop: there is only one! Use the Drayton Road bridge to cross the bypass if using the Reading-bound bus stop.
Despite the unpromising location, it’s a pleasant eight- to ten-minute walk mainly on surfaced paths to the village hall. From the Oxford-bound stop, follow the path behind the stop to Drayton Road; from the Reading-bound stop, follow the path to cross Drayton Road bridge.
Then, almost immediately, Drayton Road bears right at a village information board, where instead fork left along a footpath, then after 250m fork right, then shortly right into Martins Lane, then left into Queen Street. The hall is 160m on the right.
Outline of the day
11.00 Meet at the hall for coffee
11.30 Introduction from Kate Ashbrook
11.45 A brief history of Dorchester and its surrounding landscape, by Professor Malcolm Airs OBE
12.30 The campaign for Dorchester’s greens and paths, by members of the Friends of Dorchester on Thames and Little Wittenham Open Spaces
13.00 Lunch
13.45 Set off on foot for circular walk across the Thames to Wittenham Clumps, with a steepish climb (but worth it for the view, and we’ll take it slowly)
15.30 Return to hall for tea and depart.
Confirming your attendance
We need to ask for a donation towards the costs of room and car-park hire, and food. The suggested sum is £20 per person.
If you wish to come, please send us a cheque or pay online here (reference Dorchester), and inform Lucy McKean office2@oss.org.uk, 01491 573535, or 25a Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BA.
Closing date for bookings: Monday 31 August 2026.
We look forward to seeing you.
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