Geocaching involves looking at maps. A lot. Sometimes while perusing a map you notice features that just beg to be investigated further. The public footpath which starts north of Wargrave and comes to an abrupt end at the northern tip of the island formed by the Thames and the Hennerton Backwater is just such a feature.
The island - labelled only as Wargrave Marsh on maps - was intensively farmed until the 18th century, the greatest product being eels. The island is now a tranquil place with much wildlife living in the river, water meadows and woods.
Hennerton Backwater is Thames water and therefore there's a right of way for all vessels, though as the clearance at Fidler's Bridge at the southern end of the backwater is about 3 feet your choice of craft is limited.
An excellent article on the area can be seen at http://www.wargrave.net/history/nov03.html
Willow Lane, where the footpath starts, is a private road: please do not drive or park on it. The closest parking is at N51°30.302 W000°52.152; a little further away there's a layby at N51°30.186 W000°52.149.
Those arriving by boat can park closer: there's a public mooring - free for 24 hours - between N51°30.724 W000°52.801 and N51°30.681 W000°52.749.
The name of the cache is a question yelled - several times and very loudly - by a canoeist to his fellow canoeists behind him. This made me laugh. It's a river: surely you can go only forwards or back the way you came? A bit like this footpath.
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