Goring Gap Cycling

Goring to Wallingford Greenway

The idea of a traffic-free cycle route linking Goring, South Stoke, and North Stoke to Wallingford is more than just a new path – it is a way to reconnect communities using the historic Tuddingway.

By transforming this ancient route into a modern Greenway, we can provide a safe, flat, and accessible corridor for commuters, families, and tourists alike.

🚲 Why we need the Greenway

Despite being a popular hub for experienced cyclists (see the National Trails page), Goring lacks accessible routes for beginners and nervous riders.

• Growing Population: Oxfordshire’s population grew by 10.9% between 2011 and 2021, leading to increased traffic on rural roads like the B4009. It’s forecast to grow a further 11% by 201.
• Safety Concerns: Fear of traffic is the primary reason locals avoid cycling, particularly on the B4009.
• Challenging Terrain: Most roads out of Goring are too steep for young children or those returning to cycling.
• Infrastructure Gaps: While most of the route is a relatively flat bridleway, the section between South Stoke and Little Stoke is currently designated as a footpath, and stiles impassable to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and bicycles.

🌟 Key Benefits

🛠️ Commuting & Utility

A Greenway built to modern standards will make Wallingford, Crowmarsh, and Benson easily reachable by bike.

• Employment Hubs: Over 1,200 people work at Howbery Park and CABI; many more could commute by bike if a safe route existed.
• Rail Connectivity: Goring & Streatley station features lifts that accommodate two bikes at a time (Cholsey station does not have lifts). This makes Goring an ideal railhead for commuters on the east side of the Thames, and for tourists visiting the area.
• Local Commerce: Residents could easily access Wallingford’s supermarkets, independent shops, and professional services without a car.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Young Travellers

🏰 Tourism

Wallingford is a historic Saxon burgh and has strong cultural ties to Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. The Greenway would link King Alfred’s Way cycle route directly to the town he founded, boosting local tourism.

📜 A Path Through History

The route is based on the Tuddingway, an ancient trackway that ran from Crowmarsh to Caversham. Dating back to at least 1222, the name could derive from the Saxon Tuda or Toda combined with Inga, meaning a tribe. Alternatively, it could derive from tod, an archaic weight of wool. Historically, it was used by packhorses carrying wool and was probably never a through-route for vehicles traffic.

🛤️ Strategic Vision