walk the Thames Path

Walk

THE THAMES

£0.00 0 Basket
walk the Thames Path
logo walk the thames

Walk

THE THAMES

£0.00 0 Basket
logo walk the thames

Walk

THE THAMES

£0.00 0 Basket
logo walk the thames
  • Walk the Thames Path
  • About
    • The Thames Path
    • The River Thames
    • About Us
    • Work with Us
  • Services
    • What We Do
    • Packages
      • Source to Oxford – Easy
      • Source to Oxford – Moderate
      • Oxford to Reading – Easy
      • Oxford to Reading – Moderate
      • Reading to Staines – Easy
      • Reading to Staines – Moderate
      • Staines to Woolwich – Easy
      • Staines to Woolwich – Moderate
      • Oxford to Windsor – Easy
      • Source to Woolwich – Easy
      • Source to Woolwich – Budget Option for Solo Walkers
    • Baggage Service
    • Thames Path Passport
    • Online Events
  • Plan
    • Planning your Thames Path walk
      • When to Go
      • How Long to Take
      • How to Get There
    • Route Planner
    • Map (topological)
    • Distances
    • Suggested Itineraries
    • Suggested Detours
    • Events
    • Further Resources
  • Shop
  • News
    • Route Alerts
    • Weather
    • Newsletters
    • Other blogs
      • About The Thames Path
      • Suggested detours
      • About Walk The Thames
      • Architecture and History
      • Arts and Entertainment
      • Nature
      • Sport and Leisure
      • Transport
  • Other walks
    • Camino Ingles
    • Chiltern Ramble: Deep Woods & Rolling Hills
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk
    • The Ridgeway
  • Contact
  • Walk the Thames Path
  • About
    • The Thames Path
    • The River Thames
    • About Us
    • Work with Us
  • Services
    • What We Do
    • Packages
      • Source to Oxford – Easy
      • Source to Oxford – Moderate
      • Oxford to Reading – Easy
      • Oxford to Reading – Moderate
      • Reading to Staines – Easy
      • Reading to Staines – Moderate
      • Staines to Woolwich – Easy
      • Staines to Woolwich – Moderate
      • Oxford to Windsor – Easy
      • Source to Woolwich – Easy
      • Source to Woolwich – Budget Option for Solo Walkers
    • Baggage Service
    • Thames Path Passport
    • Online Events
  • Plan
    • Planning your Thames Path walk
      • When to Go
      • How Long to Take
      • How to Get There
    • Route Planner
    • Map (topological)
    • Distances
    • Suggested Itineraries
    • Suggested Detours
    • Events
    • Further Resources
  • Shop
  • News
    • Route Alerts
    • Weather
    • Newsletters
    • Other blogs
      • About The Thames Path
      • Suggested detours
      • About Walk The Thames
      • Architecture and History
      • Arts and Entertainment
      • Nature
      • Sport and Leisure
      • Transport
  • Other walks
    • Camino Ingles
    • Chiltern Ramble: Deep Woods & Rolling Hills
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk
    • The Ridgeway
  • Contact

Thames Path News Round-Up

July 10, 2021

The headlines this week that people coming from amber countries who had received two vaccinations would not have to self-isolate brought us momentary hope that walkers from outside the UK would soon be able to make their way here. Unfortunately, as so often happens, the devil is in the detail: the vaccines have to have been administered in the UK! So, for now, it remains very difficult for our overseas friends to join us on the trail. Sorry; you’re going to have to wait a little longer.

Route News

The Path remains mostly dry. However, brambles are starting to take a hold of some of the Path. A stick is very handy.

Optional diversions are now in place past Waterhay in the Cotswold Water Park as work on the Path takes place. The diversions make no appreciable difference to the mileage. Further details available on our Facebook group.

The footbridge in Oxford before you reach Folly Bridge (when walking downstream) is temporarily closed. However you can still cross at gasworks bridge located a few meters upstream.

There is tall vegetation obscuring the path at Datchet between the King Edward VII and Albert bridges.

And some of the signs marking the Battersea Power Station diversions have been vandalised making route finding very difficult there. Missing signs, signs in the wrong direction and dead ends combine to make what has been described as an Alice in Wonderland experience! 

Finally, when leaving Greenwich heading for the Thames Barrier, the Path in front of the Trinity Almshouses is severely overgrown. Whilst not an obstacle it is quite an eyesore. Quite a shame because the gardens there were previously maintained by guerilla gardeners. They appear to have given up. 

Thanks to our Facebook group members for pointing some of these out.

The new path between Waterhay and Hailstone Photo: John Clewer from Thames Path Walkers Facebook Group

Events

If in Goring on a Saturday evening, check out what’s happening at Goring Hall. The Best of Pink Floyd will be showing on July 24th, and a week later there will be a trip through the history of electric blues from BB King to Eric Clapton. 

Also in Goring, a reminder that the Goring and Streatley Regatta will be held on July 17. 

Guided walking tours of Reading Abbey are now being held every Saturday at 11am. Booking details are here.

If in Henley next weekend, July 17-18, look out for some dirty folks. A “Tough Mudder” event is being held at Fawley.  For the uninitiated, Tough Mudder Classic is a 10-mile mud-soaked challenge loaded with 25 of the “world’s craziest obstacles”.

The Garden at Buckingham Palace is now open. Although tickets are in hot demand, we are advised that last minute tickets do become available. Did we tell you that we managed to get into the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford without booking ahead? 
 
The Brunel Museum is hosting a walking tour of Rotherhithe. It will take place on July 23 at noon. Tickets available here.

For a list of scheduled events and festivals, see our events page. 

Picturesque Goring

Hospitality

A couple of “shout outs” to hotels that served our package customers in the week: The Red Lion at Cricklade and the Buttery at Oxford. Both hotels received excellent feedback. No surprise for the Red Lion as they came joint first in our most popular Thames Path hotels announced last week. The Buttery sits in Broad Street, right across from Balliol College and two minutes from the Bodleian Library. Whilst not offering food, there are cafes and restaurants on your doorstep.

The Buttery, Oxford

Arts, History and Architecture

Historic England have awarded a £283,200 grant to help repair important medieval remains at Wallingford Castle. One of the most powerful royal castles of the 12th and 13th centuries, there is little left now. It was occupied by supporters of Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, who was challenging for the English throne against her brother, Stephen. Stephen frequently lay siege to Wallingford Castle until, at the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153, it was agreed that Stephen would rule as King of England but, on his death, Matilda’s son, Henry, would ascend to the throne. The remains can be walked around just above the high street.

Wallingford Castle

Nature

Not nice news but you should be aware that Southern Water has been fined a record £90 million for the illegal discharge of sewage. In a 5 year period they dumped 21 billion liters of raw sewage into the sea. It’s the largest fine ever levied on a water company. Whilst Southern Water has no bearing on the Thames, Thames Water is not without blemish, having had a number of fines placed on it recently. Perhaps this is the dawning of a new era on water company practices. 

It’s interesting seeing how the colours of the landscape have changed over the last few weeks. Passing Shiplake this morning we took a photo of this flax field. Compare it to one taken exactly a month ago.

Flax field 10 July 2021
Flax field 10 June 2021

Snippets

We’re increasingly convinced that walkers move in packs! This week we had 3 groups that all ended up at the Old Bear in Cricklade. So most of this week has been spent between the source and Abingdon which gave us the opportunity to spend some time revisiting the Path downstream from Osney Bridge in Oxford. Photos (order varies depending on device used): Industrial units near Osney Bridge; rail bridge; Folly Island; Christchurch meadows

Near Osney Bridge
Between Osney Bridge and Folly Bridge
Folly Island
Christchurch Meadows

And finally….

If you’ve been on the Thames Path in the last few days you might have seen the Barbers’ Cutter crew rowing the Thames from Lechlade (the start of the navigable Thames) through to Richmond whilst raising funds for the Barbers Company General Charities and for the Teddington branch of the RNLI.  The Worshipful Company of Barbers is one of 110 livery companies in the City of London. If you see them, give them a wave. Or better still, some funds. Here’s a link to their fundraising page. 

The Barbers Cutter, somewhere between Lechlade and Richmond

Bye for now and mind how you go!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...
  • About Walk The Thames (4)
  • Architecture and History (3)
  • Arts and Entertainment (11)
  • Nature (3)
  • Sport and Leisure (4)
  • Suggested detours (9)
  • Thames Path News (135)
  • Uncategorized (1)
  • Weather (5)
July 2021
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Jun   Aug »
Tags
Andy Warhol

Contact Us

For More details

Questions? Need more details? 

Get in touch

Ready to book?

Bookings

Create your walking holiday itinerary by booking hotels, transport and events throughout your Thames Path walking holiday.

We do not charge for using the route planner. And, to maintain our impartiality, we do not take any paid advertising from hotels or other establishments marked on the planner. If you feel the planner has been of benefit to you and you would like to contribute to the maintenance and further development of the system, you can contribute here.

Navigation

  • Home
  • Packages
  • Passport
  • Route Planner
  • Baggage Service
  • About Us
  • Contact
Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter

Newsletter

Worldpay

Payment currencies accepted: GBP(£)

© 2025 All rights reserved​

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Web design and SEO Reading

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
%d