Staying Safe on the Thames Path

As you approach Osney Bridge in a downstream direction, the towpath is closed about 150 yards from the bridge. A diversion sign takes you parallel to the river along Abbey Road. When you reach Botley Road, turn right and you will get back to Osney Bridge.

Oxfordshire County Council has announced the closure of the Path between these two bridges whilst major repairs are undertaken. This will start late June/early July and last until the end of September. Diversion notices will be put up - although we don't know what this will entail. It might be as simple/unimaginative as walking down Abingdon Road (A4144). Currently no notice on the National Trails website.

A bridge over a tributary is deemed unsafe and has been temporarily close whilst investigations are made. In the meantime, the Path has been diverted. After passing under the railway line, the Path goes left whilst the cycle bears right. Simply follow the cycle path which follows the side of the railway line. After a mile (20-30 minutes) the cycle path reaches a lane. Turn left here (cycle path goes right). Follow the lane until you reach the river. The Path goes to your right under the yellow barrier. The Kings Arms at Sandford is across the river via the gate and bridge to your left.

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 weir, above which the Thames Path crosses the river, was damaged in 2002 and is currently being repaired. A diversion is in place mostly using minor roads through Preston Crowmarsh and Howbery Business Park, crossing the river at Wallingford Bridge. A shuttle ferry service is available from Benson Marina to the lock. However, this is now only operating at weekends between 10am and 4pm and is subject to river conditions. If in doubt, call them on 07375 677823. Update 8/12/24: river is redboarded meaning no boats allowed on the river.

Immediately downstream of the bridge at Goring the Path is closed for about 1/4 mile with a small diversion. This takes you onto the parallel Manor Road and a footpath will take you back to the river

The boardwalk is closed upstream of the lock. The diversion previously in place has been removed. A new diversion has been put in place which includes some road walking but on quiet country lanes. It also involves an additional 1 mile of walking. Do not be tempted to walk down the A4155 which is busy, fast and has no pavement. If you don't want to follow the diversion, the next best alternative is to take the train between Shiplake and Henley which runs every 30 minutes.

The Environment Agency has deemed the bridge to be unsafe and is therefore closed for the foreseeable future. Follow path to Bisham Abbey and then minor roads to Marlow. Note: there are no signposts to the footpath. It's the first public footpath to the right before the (closed) bridge. Then take a left. When we checked this in early June the turning wasn't marked. Another option is to cross the river at Hambledon Lock and follow footpaths through Medmenham and Harleyford. Click on the map to take you to a review of this path.

Damage to a bridge 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 takes about 0.6 miles of the route with minimal added distance. The diversion was expected to last 6 months from February 2024 but has been extended and could be there until 2027 or even 2027. The signage for this diversion has improved but is less obvious walking upstream. Take a faint path to your right just before the M25 bridge. This leads out to the Egham roundabout. Walk to the roundabout and take a left to the underpass. Follow the A308 until you reach Homebase. Turn left down the road which leads you back to the river. Upstream walkers: watch out for the diversion sign and turn left at the retail park (Halfords and Homebase). If you miss it you might end up walking a half mile to the bridge to find you have to walk a half mile back! Finally, there has been a running battle between the council and some locals who have been pulling down the barricades to keep the path open. The council has replaced the barricades with an impregnable steel gate so there's no way through now!

No access to the island due to diseased trees. Thames Path unaffected.

The right bank Path is closed near the Old Deer Park, between Richmond Lock and Kew Gardens because a section of the embankment has collapsed into the river taking the towpath with it! Follow the left bank for this section.

If taking the left bank through Brentford you will find the Path blocked on the left bank of the Grand Union Canal (between the bridge over the River Brent and Brentford Marina). There's no official diversion in place. This area is being redeveloped and so disruption should be expected for quite some time. It might be best to avoid the walk along the canal completely and follow Brentord High Street instead. Update: Parts of the route are now open. It's possible to walk down The Ham, cross the canal, follow the canal to Thames Lock, cross back over the canal at the Lock and follow Dock Road back to the High Street. Turn right on the High Street and turn down Pump Alley (ignoring the TP signs taking you down Timber Wharf Walk). This will lead you to the marina and the river.