Thames Path from Oxford to Windsor
7 walking days
8 nights accommodation
Walking distance 78.3 miles
Arguably the Thames Path from Oxford to Windsor takes you through the most attractive sections of the Thames whilst linking two of the great historic towns and cities in England. The itinerary starts at the university city of Oxford and works its way down through farmlands between the Downs and the Chilterns to the town of Reading. The walk then takes you through “rowing country” where teams from around the world compete at Henley. The section between Henley and Marlow is as pretty as anywhere on the Thames. You will also see some of the finest country houses along the Thames and enjoy many historical sites including Dorchester on Thames, Wallingford Castle and the former Reading Abbey.
Towns and villages are encountered frequently.
The walk is completely flat except between Goring and Pangbourne where the Path rises steeply (100 feet) above the riverbank to reach its highest point.
The Path is well signposted and, apart from two section of about 1 mile each where the Path follows a road and goes through a housing estate, it follows the riverbank all the time.
Itinerary
Day 0 Arrive at Bath Place, Oxford
Arrive at your leisure in Oxford and stay at Bath Place Hotel, once frequented by Elisabeth Taylor, and situated in the heart of the old University and handy for sightseeing and restaurants.
Oxford is the oldest and most celebrated university town in Europe. It is also home to J R Tolkien, Cardinal (now Saint) John Neumann and Harry Potter!
If you arrive early you can spend the afternoon exploring this magical city. And you don’t need to dig deep to enjoy. Highlights are Christ Church cathedral, Christ Church college founded by Cardinal Wolsey, the Bodleian Library which houses every single book ever published in the UK, Magdalen College, the Radcliffe Camera, and the Ashmolean Museum (free admission).
Day 1 Oxford to Abingdon 10.8 miles
The Journey
The Thames Path from Oxford to Windsor starts a mile from your hotel so you will walk back through the town, past the railway station to Osney Bridge where you pick up the Thames Path.
After a mile on the Thames you pass the lovely Folly Bridge with Christ Church meadow behind.
After four miles of pleasant river walking, where you will inevitably see rowing crews exercising, you will arrive at Sandford Lock where, if it’s not too early, you can have lunch at the Kings Arms.
Beyond Sandford the suburbs of Oxford are now far behind and the Path becomes very quiet. You will pass the boat house of Radley College, the famous school, and, across the river is Nuneham House, the grounds designed by Capability Brown.
Trees line the river giving you welcome shade as you make your final stretch to the market town of Abingdon.
The Destination
Abingdon is a historic market town. A Benedictine abbey was founded here as far back as the 7th century although there’s little left of it now. There are numerous shops, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes. It also marks the end point of “Swan Upping” where new-born swans of the River Thames are divided and marked between ancient companies. Abingdon’s more recent claim to fame is as home to MG cars.
You will stay at Cosener’s House which sits in the beautiful grounds of the Abbey on the right bank of the Thames a few metres upstream from the bridge. The house takes its name from Cuisinier, the person responsible for feeding the Abbey’s monks.
Dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel or, alternatively, in one of the many restaurants in the town.
Day 2 Abingdon to Wallingford 13.6 miles
The Journey
You are soon out of Abingdon keeping to the left bank of the Thames past Culham until, after 5.4 miles, you reach the lovely village of Clifton Hampden where there is a shop and a pub, The Barley Mow.
The Roman town of Dorchester soon appears across the fields to your left which you may want to visit. Alternatively you can strike right across the footbridge at Little Wittenham to make a detour to the top of Wittenham Clumps, a modest hill of almost 400 feet and the highest land around.
The Path diverts from the river to take you through the village of Shillingford and down its lovely bridge, a perfect opportunity to stop for coffee. You will soon be at Benson where you will see plenty of boats as the marina. From there it’s a short walk to Wallingford.
The Destination
Wallingford is an ancient town with the ruins of a castle, once an important stronghold during the wars between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. The castle is located close to the town and is completely free. So take a walk in around the gardens. Or why not stop at the museum? There is a permanent exhibition to the author Agatha Christie who lived in the town for many years. She is buried in nearby Cholsey.
Aside from the history the town is buzzing with antique bazaars, coffee shops and restaurants. So a lovely place to relax after a walk.
You will be staying at The George, an ancient coaching inn situated in the heart of the town.
Day 3 Wallingford to Pangbourne 11.4 miles
The Journey
From Wallingford you follow the right bank of the Thames, diverting from the river for a mile to go through Moulsford. A further 2.5 miles along the river, and under Brunel’s magnificent Moulsford Railway Bridge, and you will arrive at Goring and Streatley.
After a hearty lunch at one of the handful of pubs or cafes in the village, the afternoon starts with one of the prettiest sections of the Thames as you briefly climb 100 feet out of the woods into the Chiltern hills and look across the “Goring Gap” to the Berkshire Downs. You will catch a glimpse of Basildon Park opposite, a Palladian style mansion that gave its name to the writing paper. A steep descent takes you down to Whitchurch Bridge and into Pangbourne.
The Destination
As you cross the bridge into Pangbourne you cannot but admire the idyllic scene upstream. Pangbourne has just about everything you need with restaurants, cafes, pubs, a pharmacist, an award-wining cheese shop and even a place where you can float in salted waters.
Pangbourne was home to Kenneth Grahame who wrote Wind in the Willows. He lived at Church Cottage next door but one to your home for the night, The Elephant. You can eat in the hotel’s restaurant, The Herd, or try one of the many independent restaurants in the village.
Day 4 Pangbourne to Sonning 10.3 miles
The Journey
Today marks the half-way point on your Thames Path from Oxford to Windsor. On leaving Pangbourne you will pass Hardwick and Mapledurham Houses, both of which are contenders for Toad Hall.
At Mapledurham Lock you leave the Thames briefly and walk through Purley on Thames rejoining the river at Tilehurst. Admire the grand houses across the river as you walk through fields and then parkland towards Caversham Bridge.
At Reading Bridge you have the chance to walk into the town and past the ruins of the Abbey where King Henry I’s remains are believed to lie and the start of the Camino Ingles from Reading to Southampton. The prison next door was home to Oscar Wilde and you can see Banksy’s image of him escaping with a typewriter. Follow the Kennet Canal and you will find yourself back on the Thames and a short walk takes you to Sonning.
The Destination
Sonning is an exceptionally pretty village is so beautiful that it’s become attractive to a number of famous people including former Prime Minister, Theresa May.
If you have the chance, you can visit the Mill, a small intimate theatre where you can also have dinner. Enquire when you book and we’ll let you know what’s on. The mill sits on an island in the Thames and is shared with George Clooney.
Not that you’ll go hungry at The Bull, your home for the night, where the food is renowned. It’s a Grade II listed timber-framed pub with a few rooms and is featured in Jerome K Jerome’s “Three Men in a Boat”.
Day 5 Sonning to Hurley 12.3 miles
The Journey
On leaving Sonning you cross the river and follow the left bank for 3.3 miles to Shiplake, a small village that makes a suitable lunch spot with a pub and shop.
It’s an easy 2.5 miles to Henley. At Marsh Lock the path takes you on boardwalks across the river to the lock on the other side. As you approach Henley you will pass the River and Rowing Museum, a great place to stop and learn. Note: the boardwalk is currently closed and a temporary diversion is in place passing through Harpsden Woods. This adds an extra mile to your walk.
You start by walking along the riverbank outside the hotel past the site of Henley Regatta. Across the river is Fawley Court, believed by some to be the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame’s Toad Hall.
You keep following the river, past the beautiful Temple Island with its folly and Hambledon Lock until, three miles into your walk, you leave the river briefly at Aston and walk through the estate of Culham Court, another beautiful mansion complete with a park full of white deer.
The Destination
A further 3 miles takes you to the lovely village of Hurley, considered to be one of the prettiest villages in Berkshire. It’s a popular spot for picnics. Facilities are limited to a church, two pubs and a shop.
You will stay at The Olde Bell, another coaching inn which also serves evening meals. Or you can try the neighbouring Rising Sun.
Day 6 Hurley to Maidenhead 12.5 miles
The Journey
On leaving Hurley, you will see Bisham Abbey across the river. It’s home to the National Sports Centre. Note: there is a diversion currently in place which means you will pass on the same side of the river as Bisham Abbey allowing you to visit.
Marlow, with its magnificent suspension bridge, is two miles away. Past Marlow you will cross the river at Bourne End and it’s a short hop through Cookham Marsh where you should see plenty of sailing dinghies.
Just past Cookham you will see, in the distance, one of the greatest country houses in England: Cliveden, home to the Astor family and the infamous site of the Profumo affair. The walk down to Maidenhead is firm underfoot and you will pass between the river and the gardens of many a grand house.
The Destination
The Thames skirts the edge of Maidenhead town centre so you won’t see much of it. But the bridge is to be much admired.
You will be staying at Norfolk House – a charming family run bed and breakfast. There are no evening meals but there are restaurants within easy walking distance. Or you could take a taxi and sample either of the two “Michelin three star” restaurants in the village of Bray: the Roux’s Waterside or Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck
Day 7 Maidenhead to Windsor 7.1 miles
The Journey
This is the final day of the Thames Path from Oxford to Windsor and we have kept this day short to allow you plenty time for sightseeing at your destination.
The stretch of the Thames to Dorney is through wooded glades and you will see Bray Film Studios and Oakley Court (where many Hammer Horror films were made). At Dorney Lake, site of the rowing events in the London Olympics, the vista opens up and you will see Windsor Castle calling you in the distance.
The Destination
Having hopefully arrived in the early afternoon you should have time to explore this wonderful town. Or, as you will not be walking tomorrow, you could postpone some until then.
You will be staying at The Christopher, a boutique hotel on Eton High Street. After a short rest, take a walk across the bridge and up the high street and admire the castle on your left. It’s the longest-serving royal residence in Europe. It’s open until 5.15pm so you should have a chance to visit.
At the end of the high street is Park Street. Go to the end and you will step onto the Long Walk, a carriageway that leads straight from Windsor Castle, through Windsor Great Park, to a statue of George III just visible three miles away. This is the route that the monarch takes every year when they visit Royal Ascot.
Back at your hotel, you can wander in the other direction towards Eton College, the most famous school in the world. The school is not a campus. Its buildings straddle the high street so you can quite easily get a glimpse of school life as boys rush between buildings dressed in their morning coats. Tours are offered on Friday afternoons between April and August.
Prices
Prices inclusive of bed and breakfast plus baggage transfer between hotels. A map and guide book is also included. You will have unlimited access to our local team in the event of difficulties.
Price per person assuming shared occupancy: £1,075
Price per person assuming single occupancy: £1,705
Rest days can be purchased but prices vary depending on category of hotel.