The Path remains closed at Shifford Lock due to fallen trees. We’ve been advised (today) by the National Trails Office that contractors working for the Environment Agency will remove the trees this week The alternative route is to cross the river at Tenfoot Bridge and follow the path to Duxford and then follow the “natural Thames” rather than Shifford Cut. Full details on our Facebook Group
Elsewhere conditions remain relatively dry. Storm Arwen, which has wreaked havoc in northern England this weekend, brought only some heavy winds to the Thames valley; so there may be some further path closures announced next week. We were reminded by the farmer at Waterhay that this time last year the ground was under a foot of water. It’s been an exceptionally dry autumn and river levels continue to be below normal for this time of year.
Thames Path walkers will be familiar with the work of Earth Trust who manage lands at Clifton Hampden, Wittenham Clumps and Wallingford. Sadly the founder and patron of Earth Trust, Sir Martin Wood, died this week. You can read a statement about his life and work on Earth Trust’s website here.
If you are aware of any issues with the Path do join our Facebook Group and let us know.
Earth Trust is holding wreath-making workshops at their visitors centre close to the Thames Path at Long Wittenham. Available dates are November 30, December 2 and December 6. Click here to book.
Tony Robinson’s back with another take on the Thames. This time it’s called the Thames at Night and is showing on Channel 5. These are being aired on Friday evenings and are available on catch-up. It’s a convenient reminder that the Illuminated River project, that we reported on 18 months ago, is now complete. From the majestical Albert Bridge at Chelsea through to the iconic Tower Bridge, these have all been illuminated. It’s just a 6 mile walk between these bridges, easily managed in evening. With the shortened days, there’s never been a better time to walk the “via illuminati“.
On 6 January 2022 an interactive digital reconstruction of Alexander Pope‘s villa and grotto will be held at The Exchange, Twickenham. A Virtual Arcadia has been created by Paul Richens of the University of Westminster and commissioned by Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust. You can see a trailer on Youtube. Tickets available here.
Reminders:
Goring Gap Wildlife are hosting a series of owl photography workshops throughout November and December. The workshops are held in a private garden near Didcot, Oxfordshire and feature Barn, Tawny, Long-Earred and Little Owls.
A new exhibition at the Stanley Spencer Gallery opened on November 4 entitled “Mind and Mortality, Stanley Spencer’s Final Portraits”. It focuses on some of his work as the artist approached the end of his life in 1959.
Danesfield House is laying on some Christmas opera followed by a 2 course supper. Expect music from Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute and the Mikado. This takes place on December 11 and 12. Tickets available here.
Henley Choral Society will be hosting a Christmas Concert on December 11 at St Mary’s Church. The concert will feature carols and a performance of Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Tickets available here.
Christmas has started at Kew Gardens where a series of illuminated trails will lead you to food and drink stalls. The gardens are open from 4pm to 10pm.
Hogarth’s House at Chiswick has re-opened. It closed temporarily due to a power supply issue. The celebrated artist’s home, which lies a few minutes from the Thames Path, is open from noon until 5pm Tuesday to Sunday. An exhibition of Hogarth’s work has opened at Tate Britain. The gallery is passed if walking on the left bank of the Thames just past Chelsea.
The Museum of London Docklands, part of the Museum of London, has a new exhibition entitled London: Port City, exploring how the port shaped the city, its people, places and language. The exhibition is free and runs until May 2022. The museum can be found close to Canary Wharf on the left bank of the Thames.
Website News
If you’ve been onto our website lately you may have noticed some changes to our menu. We’ve restructured the menu which, we think, is more logical.
We’ve also added a couple of new books to our shop: Trailblazer’s Thames Path guide by Joel Newton and Henry Steadman; and the Thames Path AZ for walkers. This latter publication shows the entire route on OS 1:25,000 map form in one book. As it’s a perfect complement to the Trailblazer guide, you can buy both books together at a reduced price. Remember, our prices are always inclusive of shipping.
Hospitality News
We’ve made more updates to our route planner:
We welcome back the Flowerpot at Aston. This pub, which the Thames Path runs right past, used to offer rooms. They stopped during Covid but are now back offering rooms. The hotel is ranked silver. Other hotels we’ve added include the Crown at Cookham (bronze), the Thames Hotel at Maidenhead (bronze). the Christopher at Eton (silver), the Richmond Hill (gold), and Chiswick Palace (silver),
Finally, in Greenwich the hotel choice was severely curtailed when Devenport House was sold. We have been using Admiral Hardy as a substitute since. However, its prices really push this into gold category. So we’ve listed the Ibis as a silver hotel. We used this hotel twice in 2021 and, although above the price range of a bronze, at silver it’s still cheaper than the Admiral Hardy. Good central location and a Cafe Rouge downstairs.
That pretty much concludes our updates on hotels to our planner. If you know of a hotel that you think we’ve missed, do please let us know.
In other hospitality news, this week we paid a visit to Bourne End where we discovered a Spanish restaurant, Corazon del Rio, in the marina. More fascinating is the Bounty pub which lies across the marina. Thames Path walkers can access it by turning (temporarily) right, having crossed the river on the footbridge, and walking 200m in the wrong direction. This isolated (no road access) pub is quite renowned. Unfortunately in winter (i.e. now), it only opens at weekends.
Mind how you go.
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