Summer has ended and we are now, most definitely, in autumn. The weather has turned colder, the days are getting shorter and, this weekend, we have had some heavy rain accompanied by strong winds. Our route status page, which has largely remained untouched throughout the summer, is likely to require more frequent updates.
We still have some walkers on the trail. These are mostly made up of those taking the Thames Path in stages, which is the most common way of tackling the walk. Completing the trail this way is still a mighty achievement. I am reminded of Alfred Wainwright’s personal notes on the Pennine Way: “There was a satisfaction in ticking off the miles and in closing the untrodden gaps. I followed no sequence getting parts done as and when I was given an opportunity of transport. I switched about between the Peak and the Border in a most erratic fashion, collecting the miles jealously as a schoolboy collects train numbers. The Pennine Way became a mammoth jigsaw into which I fitted pieces as and when I could”. Sound familiar?
The Path, though firm and dry up until yesterday, might soon be a little damp.
The Cotswold Water Park has, this week, been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. You might have thought it already was. In fact, Natural England have extended the SSSI designation to cover more than 170 lakes. The SSSI designation means the park and its wildlife have legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, so that Natural England must be consulted on any new proposals that could significantly affect the wildlife interest.
Should you be walking past Mapledurham Lock you might notice a marquee in the grounds of the house. Apparently “Wonka”, the latest version of the Roald Dahl story, is being filmed there. It stars Olivia Colman and Rowan Atkinson. By the way, Rowan Atkinson only lives a few miles up the road in the Chilterns between Whitchurch and Goring, so not much of a commute for him.
It’s not the first time that Mapledurham House has been used as a set. It is famous for The Eagle Has Landed with Michael Caine and Donald Sutherland. Remember the watermill scene?
Last weekend we ran into some difficulties delivering bags in Bankside near Southwark. There were some road closures which turned out to be the City of London’s annual Sheep Drive and Livery Fair. The sheep were driven by Yorkshire’s very own shepherdess, Amanda Owen. Some of the sheep, if not all, came from Surrey Docks Farm, found on the right bank between Tower Bridge and Greenwich.
We understand that, finally, the path in front of the Tower of London has been opened up! Since Covid started, this has been closed and anyone walking the left bank of the Thames Path has been forced to walk around the back of the Tower.
Fulham Palace has partnered with National Opera Studio for an evening of, well, opera. A three course meal is an optional extra. This is on Friday October 8 from 7.30pm (dinner served from 6pm). Tickets available here. The Palace, found on the left bank of the Thames, was once the home of the Bishops of London.
Oakley Court Hotel will be hosting a Film and Memorabilia Fair on October 31. The hotel, seen across the water from the Thames Path between Maidenhead and Windsor, is situated next to Bray Studios which was responsible for the Hammer Horror movies. Oakley Court was, itself, used for a number of horror films as well as the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Marble Hill will host an online talk by London Luminaries on November 11 at 7.30pm. Speakers will include Ricky Pound, House Director of Turner’s House, as well as speakers from Orleans House and Pope’s Grotto. All of these can be found on the left bank of the Thames Path between Teddington and Richmond.
As reported previously:
Abingdon Michaelmas Fair is being held on the weekend of October 4 and 5.
Southwark Cathedral has put on an exhibition about mudlarking. The exhibition is on display until October 30.
For a list of scheduled events and festivals, see our events page.
Hospitality
The folks that brought you Tipi Tapa at the Vale in Cricklade have now branched out to sleeping accommodation, La Siesta, meaning that the Vale Hotel is, once again, a hotel. They face some stiff competition with the Red Lion, the White Hart and the Old Bear all in the same street.
On a less happy note, we’ve decided to remove the Osney Arms Guest House in Oxford from our platform.
Speaking of our platform, we will be making a number of updates to the hotels during the off season.
Nature
Earth Trust recently posted a picture of a Great Crested Newt in Little Wittenham woods. This newt, growing up to 17cm long, is commonly referred to as a mini-dinosaur. Although widespread across lowland England and Wales, it is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. They breed in ponds during the spring, feed through the summer on insects, before hibernating through the winter. Little Wittenham woods can be found on the other side of the Thames past Days Lock. If you cross the river at Days Lock you can walk through the woods and then along a path to the Shillingford Bridge Hotel.
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And finally….
If you’re walking the Thames Path, watch out for Three Men and a Boat. The three men are John Dwan and brothers Paul and Bobby Prentice : raising money to fund specialist equipment to save babies’ lives. They started on September 28 and were due to finish today. Here is a link to their crowdfunding page.
That’s all folks. See you on the trail!
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