Henley-on-Thames circular via Rotherfield Greys and Pack and Prime Lane

Start : Henley-on-Thames Town Hall (RG9 2AQ‍) Grid ref. SU 759 826

(S/E) From the Town Hall and Market Place walk up Gravel Hill and opposite the entrance to Friar Park, turn left and walk along Paradise Road. Take the first right still on Paradise Road (signposted to Henley College Rotherfield Building). Walk along the road for approximately 150m and where the road bends to the right, leave the road and bear left on to the footpath. After about 250m, the path crosses an access drive to Henley College then splits.

(1) Take the right hand fork and continue on this footpath alongside Henley College playing fields.

(2) Cross over another footpath, (called Pack and Prime Lane), and carry on straight ahead into the bottom of a dry tranquil valley. Cross a stile and pass Lower Hernes, a lovely isolated red brick cottage, then soon afterwards go through a five bar gate. Follow the access track and the yellow arrows for about 500m, until the track turns to the right up a steep slope. Leave the track and keep straight on along the valley bottom to the right of the hedge line.

(3) Ignore a path on the right, cross over a stile and shortly afterwards turn left over stile (in the hedge line) and follow the footpath uphill towards Rotherfield Greys.

(4) Go through a kissing gate to emerge on a road opposite St Nicholas’ Church, cross the road and walk past the church and up to the Maltsters Pub. Time to take a break for refreshments and a look round the church. To return to Henley take the footpath between the church and the pub (beside Williams Cottage) and follow the yellow arrow through two gates and across a field. Pass through another gate, stopping to read the notice about the Natural Burial Ground and then walk diagonally across the field.

(5) Pass through a kissing gate and turn left on to a broad track (This is the Chiltern Way). After a short distance, pass through a gate and turn left on to Dog Lane and continue walking along Dog Lane for just over 500m.

(6) After passing a house on the right, leave Dog Lane and take the footpath on the right indicated by a yellow arrow. Pass through two kissing gates in quick succession and walk across a field to the Greys to Henley road. Cross over the road on to a footpath quaintly named Pack and Prime Lane. Follow this path through the woods with a little valley to the left, continuing on for just under a 1km. Ignore the broad track that crosses the footpath and continue on the footpath following the blue arrow.

(2) You will cross a footpath that you might recognise as part of the outgoing leg of the walk. Keep going straight and the footpath becomes a narrow lane finally emerging on to the main road between Henley and Greys Green.

(7) Turn right on to the main road and walk down the hill back into Henley Town centre. (S/E)

Start : Henley-on-Thames Town Hall (RG9 2AQ‍) Grid ref. SU 759 826

Find out more on The Brakspear Pub Trails here.

Friar Park was the home of George Harrison of the Beatles, his widow and family still live there.

St Nicholas’ Church Rotherfield Greys is Norman in origin and was restored in 1865. It includes the 16th century Knollys Chapel and the Knollys family tomb. Sir Francis Knollys’ wife was a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth I.

Pack & Prime Lane is part of the ancient track linking Henley to Goring and Wallingford, cutting across the top of a long loop in the River Thames. Local legend has it that the name derives from the time of pack-horses and highway man – pack your horse and prime your pistol.