Happy 100!
Welcome to our 100th newsletter. We hope you have been enjoying them and that they have been useful. Do please give us feedback – good and bad!
Route Planner Changes
We have made a couple of changes to our route planner. Most of these are quite cosmetic, such as clarifying that transfers refer to people and not bags! We’ve also added a box that allows you to specify whether your dates are flexible.
But there’s one change that we really wanted to alert you to. On the previous version of the route planner, there was no way for you to start walking on the first day. We’ve changed that – but it might throw you a little.
If staying the night before you walk, e.g. at the Thames Head Inn, you need to select “Source” for both start and end break points. You can then select accommodation for the source from the drop-down box.
If, however, you plan to travel to the source and walk to Cricklade on your first day, then enter “source” for the start and “Cricklade” for the end break points. You can then select accommodation for Cricklade from the drop-down box.
You might have to log in a couple of times so that all the changes get refreshed. If you have any problems or questions, do please email us. We’re not too busy at the moment so we’ve plenty time to look at any issues that arise.
Route News
November brought heavy rain. So much so that Thames Water has lifted their hosepipe ban, despite previously saying it would not be lifted until 2023 at the earliest. Since the start of December, the temperature has dropped, as has the rainfall. Nonetheless the Path remains quite muddy and is even waterlogged as you approach Cricklade.
An interesting feature of the landscape has been how late the leaves remained on the trees. The autumn colours lasted most of November, on account of the warm weather.
We have revamped our Route Alerts page. Previously we used a schematic picture to show problems along the Path. This proved challenging to maintain. The new page should be quicker to maintain and allows us more flexibility for descriptions and links. We also put more information on our Thames Path Walkers facebook page. Why not join us?
Around 240 trees have been planted on Round Hill, one of the two Wittenham Clumps near Dorchester. This is part of the Oxfordshire Citizenship Ceremony where new citizens are presented with a sapling.
And volunteers have been busy putting up new fingerposts near Abingdon and between Henley and Hambledon. If you see any volunteers, do please stop to thank them for the work they do.
Diversions currently in place:
The weir at Benson Lock has been temporarily closed due to strong currents and debris creating a risk of damage. We don’t know whether this has since been lifted. If still closed, you will need to follow side roads through Crowmarsh Gifford.
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. This diversion will probably remain in place throughout all of next year.
The 5 London bridges that were illuminated in 2021 are now the subject of a walking tour which takes place every Friday at 6.30pm. The bridges are Blackfriars, Waterloo, Golden Jubilee, Westminster and Lambeth. Tickets can be purchased here.
Carols can be heard at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on the following days: December 8,9,12,and 15. There are two to three performances on each of these days, all featuring local schools. Admission is included within the cost of a normal day ticket.
Here’s a recap of Christmas events at Dorchester Abbey:
The premiere of “Time and Tide: The Thames, Greenwich and its forgotten past” will be held on February 2 at the National Maritime Museum. The film, made by Paul Wyatt, explores the relationship between people, forgotten histories, a changing landscape, and the environment along the river Thames at Greenwich. Tickets can be purchased here.
There’s been another victim to the present economic woes: the Talbot at Eynsham has closed. But, on a happier note, it seems the Baskerville in Shiplake will be re-opening shortly. We do hope this is true. They’ve been closed for about five months.
The new team at the Flower Pot at Aston will be in place from February 1. That’s according to Brakspear, the brewery. Unfortunately they can’t take bookings until the team are in place.
The Comptoir Bakery has opened up at Southwark Cathedral. They are open daily from 9am (10am on Sunday’s) to 5pm
With bookings coming in thick and fast for 2023 we’re looking to expand our team of “sherpas”: car owners who are willing to move bags between hotels, collect bags from walkers at train stations, and potentially check new hotels and paths for diversions. We pay mileage plus time. And there’s no commitment to be available. We just get help when we need it and when you’re available. Currently our particular pain-point is London, essentially from Brentford to Woolwich.
If interested, please email us at info@walkthethames.co.uk.
And finally…
A rather unusual animal was spotted on Wittenham Clumps the other week. It was a Maine Coon, the largest breed of cat for which you do not need a license. The things you see on the Thames Path!.
That’s all folks. Keep warm!
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