Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, most of Surrey and all of London will be in Tier 3 by the weekend. But where do these feature on the Thames Path? Earlier this year we wrote a blog about the historical counties on the Thames Path. Unfortunately local government is no longer organised on these historical lines. But, simply, Tier 3 starts as you enter West Berkshire from Oxfordshire on the right bank of the river at Moulsford. From there, it’s Tier 3 all the way to the Thames Barrier except for two stretches: between Goring and Pangbourne; and between Sonning and Henley, both stretches being in Oxfordshire. Check out our updated route alert page.
Practically it means that, unless you are local, you should not be visiting a Tier 3 area. And all hospitality venues are closed except for takeaways.
Although we haven’t had any persistent rain this autumn/winter, it is beginning to get a little damp towards the source. We have identified 2 problem areas: the first is as you approach Cricklade (heading downstream) just before the North Meadow nature reserve. The river has broken its banks and overspilled across the Path with running water at a depth of about 4 feet. As you can imagine it is clearly impassable. An alternative route via cycle route 45 can be used.
The second is around Waterhay, just past Ashton Keynes. Here there is standing water on the path which is between 1 and 2 feet deep. It can be waded through with wellies.
Hammersmith Bridge remains closed and is likely to remain so for a long time. There is talk of getting a ferry operating by the spring. In the meantime we have heard reports that access to the towpath has been restricted whilst stabilisation works are undergoing. This should be just a few days.
Our route alerts page has been updated for these. We will try and keep this as current as possible.
Advent is, of course, the season for Handel’s Messiah. And what better place to hear this marvellous work than at Dorchester Abbey on Saturday December 19 with the Orchestra of St John. As Dorchester is in Oxfordshire, this is a live performance but will also be streamed on YouTube. Further details here.
An online event worth checking out is the Thames Luminaries series of nine lectures coming up in the New Year. It opens with Hogarth’s House on January 27 and concludes with Ham House Garden on February 12. The lectures are being co-ordinated by the Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust. A donation of £5 per lecture is suggested. More details here.
With just 3 days to go to the shortest day, winter is definitely upon us. BBOWT (Bucks, Berks and Oxon Wildlife Trust) have published a list of things to look out for in winter including wildlife, birds, and nuts & berries.
Plans to build a crossing of the Lower Thames are to be resubmitted in April 2021. This project will link Kent with Essex . The Lower Thames Crossing has been dubbed Britain’s most ambitious roads project in a generation and would see 16-metre wide tunnels bored under the river between Gravesend and Medway, well downstream from the Thames Barrier.
We will be closed from December 21 to December 31. The next newsletter will be issued on January 8. Any orders made at our online shop will be shipped on January 2.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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