As with most years, we’ve had some beautiful days in October so far. Those who’ve decided to chance the possibility of rain have had some wonderful days. And with the sun spending more time at an angle rather than directly overhead, the colours look extra special.
But the number of walking days is definitely reducing which affords us an opportunity to spend some time on the Path. Most of our walkers are now in the lower stretches of the Thames which explains the bias that you will find in this newsletter.
Route News
The Path remains dry with the river being waterless until somewhere between Ashton Keynes and Cricklade.
Diversions:
The resurfacing work at Runnymede is drawing to an end. There’s only a small section still closed.
Other diversions currently in place:
There is a small diversion in October as the footbridge to the rear of St Leonard’s Church in Wallingford is replaced
Diversions remain in place around the closed boardwalk upstream from Marsh Lock, Henley. If walking downstream, there seems to be a sign missing: if you get to the fenced off boardwalk leading to Marsh Lock then you’ve missed the turn. There is a path leading to your left about 20 yards before the boardwalk. By the way, it is likely that this diversion will remain in place throughout all of next year.
If taking the left bank of the Thames between Isleworth and Brentford, the path along Brentford Creek is currently blocked due to redevelopment. From the bridge, you must carry on down the high street until you pick up the path opposite Morrison’s car park which will take you down to Brentford Marina.
We’ve had to sadly turn down a few people in October for bag transfers and we thought we should perhaps explain why it’s important to book ahead.
We move all the bags ourselves, picking up and dropping off throughout the length of the Thames. Obviously this assumes scale as it’s uneconomic if we only have one bag to move in a day. So we accept bookings a long way out and hope that we get enough to make to make it worthwhile. Usually it is but sometimes it isn’t. That’s the risk we take.
Short-term bookings, say in the next 2 weeks, are a different matter. If we get a request to move a bag that is out of the way, i,e, not near other bag drops, then we might say no as it’s unlikely that we will get other bookings in such a short space of time. Had the booking been made earlier, then we would have accepted it.
Of course, not every trip can be planned well in advance. And, to be fair, this really only happens in April and October, when the number of walkers drop off. And there are other companies that offer a similar service, although, as they subcontract to taxis, they will always be more expensive..
You may recall that, earlier this year, the Thames Path was extended from the Thames Barrier to Woolwich. The reason for this was to link the Thames Path to the English Coastal Path (“ECP”). The ECP will run around the coast of Kent, cross the Thames at Woolwich, and then follow the Essex coastline as it heads north. The ECP is a multi-year project, much of it not being in place. However, on the Kent side (south) the path is complete all the way from Woolwich to the Isle of Grain. This has led some to the erroneous conclusion that the Thames Path runs all the way to the Isle of Grain. It doesn’t. It stops at Woolwich.
To add further confusion, there is (or was) such a thing as the Thames Path Extension. This ran for about 10 miles from the Thames Barrier to Crayford Ness, where a path could be followed to Dartford. Whilst the signs may still be up, this has become effectively obsolete as it is superseded by the slightly longer Thames Path (as far as Woolwich) and then the ECP.
Now that the season is over, we will be updating our materials (website, planner and passport), to reflect this change. In the meantime, we had the chance to savour the extension this week. The shoreline immediately downstream (east) of the Thames Barrier is, regretfully, closed off. The Ordnance Survey shows the Thames Path as walking through the Thames Barrier industrial estate down to the busy A206, following it for a while, and then working back up, a journey of 1.5 miles to Woolwich. In fact, it is possible to walk though Bowater Road alongside what used to be Siemen’s Faraday Works, and rejoin the riverbank from the end of the road. From there, there is an uninterrupted path to Woolwich. Uninterrupted, that is, until about 100 metres from the Woolwich ferry where the path is blocked due to development.
This extension is not, of itself, impressive, aside from a nice view of the Tate & Lyle factory across the water in Silvertown. Woolwich is far less magnificent than the Thames Barrier. Still, Woolwich is a much more convenient place to travel from blessed, as it is, with a foot tunnel and ferry to the other side, a Thames Clipper stop, and a railway station which houses the new Elizabeth Line. More of the Elizabeth Line in a later newsletter..
The River and Rowing Museum at Henley is now closed for the winter. They will be renovating through the close season.
Reminders:
Kelmscott Manor, the former home of William Morris, has now re-opened. Opening times are Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. Last admission is 4pm. Pre-booking is advised.
Dorchester Abbey has announced their autumn series of concerts. These include Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev, Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.
An exhibition of Cezannes’ works will be held at the Tate Modern this October. The Thames Path passes directly in front of this free art gallery. Note special exhibitions usually require a fee.
The London Luminaries lecture series will be held this autumn. This will feature lectures about Hogarth’s House, Ham House, Orleans House, Garrick’s Temple, Marble Hill, Turner’s House, Pope’s Grotto, Fulham Palace, Chiswick House and a few more.
Here’s a rather unusual shot of the Thames Barrier that we caught this week. Look carefully.
That’s all folks. Mind how you go!
Ready to book?
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