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The beauty of The Chilterns |
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Thames Path. To celebrate, the National Trail’s team is organising a 30 day relay walk covering the entire Thames Path starting June 5 and ending on June 28. Details of each section of the walk can be found here. Richard will be co-leading the section from Newbridge to Eynsham Lock (stage 6) passing through Northmoor, Bablock Hythe and Pinkhill on June 10 so, if you’d like to come along and join, that would be great.
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The Thames Path at Pinkhill |
Thames Path Route News
The Environment Agency (EA) presented their plans for the rebuild of the boardwalk to Marsh Lock. Now, before you get all excited, let me be clear: the work has not been costed and there is no funding in place.
For the past four years there has been finger pointing as to who owns the bridge and who is responsible for replacing it. To quote from yesterday’s meeting: “The EA owns Marsh Lock Island however some of the land on which the bridge is constructed is unregistered. There is no registered owner of the bridge”. They then go on to say: “The EA does not have a statutory responsibility to maintain, repair or restore the Thames Path. Our legal powers relate to the navigation channel and our own operational assets such as locks, weirs and associated structures that support navigation, flood risk management and water regulation.Marsh Head Horsebridge provides a recreational benefit as part of the Thames Path”. So the EA have said they are not responsible but, as a concession, they will project manage a rebuild of the bridge – without providing funding. It also explains why Benson Weir was funded as this was an operational asset.
We spoke at length at the event to Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley, who has been vocal in trying to resolve this issue. He acknowledged that much time was lost in finger pointing but was pleased that the various parties are now working together to resolve the issue. He hoped the bridge would be in place by the time the next general election is held which, by the way, is August 29 at the latest.
In the meantime the diversion remains in place. And, on that note, we received feedback from some walkers who loved the walk through Harpsden Woods which forms part of the diversion.
Although Temple Bridge remains closed, a ferry service is now running close to the bridge, which is now missing it’s two front teeth! The ferry operates on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The boat is named Bryan Ferry and we’ve spent the last few weeks trying to think of a song to go with it but have failed miserably. There is a nominal charge to cross.
As always, all of these are listed our route alerts page on the website. as well as our flood alerts page.
Long-standing diversions:
Abingdon: As you approach Abingdon in a downstream direction, the Path switches from the right bank to the left bank via a walkway across the weir. Due to corrosion, this walkway has been closed and the Path re-routed via Abingdon town centre.
The diversion to avoid the closed boardwalk at Marsh Lock Henley now starts at Shiplake and takes you briefly into the Chilterns. The diversion adds an extra 1.0 miles to the walk although feedback that we’ve received is that it feels much longer! But, bear in mind that the distance from Shiplake to Henley is already 2.4 miles. So the diversion is therefore 3.4 miles in total.
The diversion at Temple Bridge is still in place following its closure. The diversion makes use of the lane running from Temple to Bisham and then a road with a pavement into Marlow
And damage to a bridge over a tributary has caused a diversion from just past the Runnymede Hotel to shortly before Staines. The diversion uses the A308 (pavements) returning the walker to the riverbank just before the bridge at Staines. The diversion replaces about 0.6 miles of the route with minimal added distance. The diversion is set to be in place until 2026. The signage for this diversion is not that obvious.
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The boardwalk at Marsh Lock, Henley which needs replacing and is currently closed. |
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Once again the St James’ Way was at the centre of the Reading Walks Festival with around 50 people taking their first steps along the Camino from Reading to Burghfield which happens to co-incide with the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Interest in this walk is growing exponentially with more than 40% of our walkers coming from overseas. The placement of Mouteiras in Reading, Winchester and, most recently, in Southampton has really helped to put this walk on the map.
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| Forbury Park, Reading and St James’ Church: the start of the St James’ Way |
Ridgeway News
In our last newsletter we reported on the demise of The Plough at Cadsden. Sadly we have another to report: The Swan at East Ilsley has closed down having only been open for about six months. That leaves just one accommodation and pub remaining: The Crown and Horns.
You may wonder why there were two pubs in this tiny village in the first place. But East Ilsley used to host the second largest sheep fair in the country, the largest being at Smithfield in London. At one time there were 80,000 sheep and nine pubs! The Sheep Fair lives on, albeit with fewer sheep, and this year will be held on June 9.
In talking to Ridgeway walkers we were pleased to hear their positive comments towards the frequency and quality of the signage on The Ridgeway. They were surprised to learn that the signs are made of recycled plastic which, presumably, explains why they stay up for so long. The photo below shows the trail as you approach the A40 where, incidentally, you will find a public water tap.
Finally we’re sad to announce that Ros, who ran Cheney Thatch, a bed and breakfast in Bishopstone, passed away a few weeks ago. She was a spirited woman who ran the establishment for many years. There are fewer of these places each year.
The Chilterns
The Chilterns contain the most beautiful countryside in the South of England – dare I say better than the Cotswolds? And yet we have fewer walkers coming here than on any other walk.
We have, however, had three parties venture into this lovely countryside. One was finishing the Thames Path from Cookham (he had walked with us last year from the source to there) but wanted his walk to reach 100 miles. As Cookham to Woolwich was 70, it made sense for him to do our Chiltern Ramble (30 miles from Marlow to Goring) in reverse.
Then there was a lady who walked the Thames Path upstream but detoured into the Chilterns from Marlow following the Chiltern Way to Hambleden, Nettlebed and back to Henley where she picked up the Thames Path again. She found the countryside quite stunning.
And we currently have two young ladies walking the Chiltern Ramble.
We have two walks in the Chilterns: our original Chiltern Ramble which is a 30 mile/3 day bespoke walk from Marlow to Goring. And we have our Chiltern Way South which is 50 miles from Marlow to Ipsden. As the name suggests it follows the Chiltern Way including the Southern Extension.
The cover photo shows how glorious and unspoilt the countryside here is. Note the Red Kite in the top right of the photo.
And finally....
You’re never too old to walk the Thames Path. We had two Octogenarians complete the Thames Path this month – coincidentally arriving in Greenwich on the same day. Tom, pictured below, set off on his 80th birthday.
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