Sue's Sunday Walk - Abingdon and River Thames

Abingdon was originally developed around its abbey, founded in AD700 and dissolved in the reign of Henry VIII. Sadly, the abbey was destroyed by the Danes in the 10^th century. Only a few of the abbey’s remains exist today.

The town has many old buildings and historic features: the Old County Hall in the Market Place (completed in 1682), the Old Gaol completed in 1811 (now converted into apartments, and the 13^th century church of St Helen’s and its alms houses (once visited by Samuel Pepys in 1668).

The walk is flat over fields and tracks with several gates and stiles. The walk starts heading out of Abbey Gardens, through Abbey Meadows to cross the River Thames at the weir and lock. It follows the Thames Path to Sutton Courtenay, a small village with many old buildings, including a 12^th century church where George Orwell and Herbert Asquith are buried.

From there the walk heads into countryside, across fields and tracks, back towards Abingdon by the marina and then to the original old town.

There are plenty of cafes and pubs for those who wish to have a drink at the end of the walk.