Eric's walks around Whitchurch
Background Eric Hartley arrived in the village in 1964 and published his first selection of walks in 1980. His popular booklet A Guide to the Walks around Whitchurch-on-Thames has passed through six editions. Now, editions of all the walks, updated in 2020, are available here online and can be downloaded individually from this page.
In addition to the updated information in the walk descriptions, individual coloured maps were created in 2020 for each walk, as well as the key map shown above.
The walks shown on the map all begin and end in Whitchurch-on-Thames and cover some of the most beautiful countryside in England. They were devised and described by Eric Hartley who chose them to give walkers the fullest opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of the area. There is also an introductory walk within the village of Whitchurch-on-Thames.
The walks are currently being revisited by Whitchurch resident Alexa Duckworth-Briggs, who came to the village in 2016, shortly afterwards getting a yellow Labrador. Yellow is Eric's favourtite type of labrador and it was not long before Alexa and Eric would start regularly seeing each other around the village whilst out dog-walking. Alexa will be walking each of the routes again over the next year or so, taking photos and providing a few thoughts on the wonderful views and nature to be found nearby.
Choose a walk on the map above and then select the pdf file, which contains descriptive text and a map, plus Alexa's notes from the links below. Eric's Walks
| Introductory walk | THE VILLAGE |
| Walk 1 | HARDWICK WOODS |
| Walk 2 | WHITCHURCH HILL AND THE SQUARE |
| Walk 3 | HARTSLOCK WOOD |
| Walk 4 | ON THE WAY TO MAPLEDURHAM |
| Walk 5 | COLD HARBOUR/GREAT CHALK WOOD |
| Walk 6 | THE SUN |
| Walk 7 | COLD HARBOUR/PENNY ROYAL |
| Walk 8 | MAPLEDURHAM |
| Walk 9 | GORING HEATH |
| Walk 10 | COLDHARBOUR FARM |
| Walk 11 | BEHIND QUERNS |
| Walk 12 | THE BOUNDARY WALK |
| The short walks | THE PERMISSIVE PATHS / TO THE BAULK AND BACK |
Alexa's Accompanying Notes
| Introductory walk | THE VILLAGE |
These will be added as Alexa walks each route.
Acknowledgements
Eric dedicates these walks to his Yellow Labradors. Lass (1974-1988) and Holly (1986-2000) - each walked over 15,000 miles with him on these and many other walks. He then added Molly, who joined him as a rescue dog in 2014 and covered more than 7,000 miles before passing in 2022, and then came Sindy another rescue dog.Eric would like to acknowledge the assistance he has received and to thank those who have helped in the updating and preparation of this new online edition of the walks. Especial thanks to the person with special mapping skills who wishes to be referred to as a Whitchurchian.
Page updated October 2026