The Thames Walk
The Thames Paths (plus) - Approximately 231 miles, started in September 2002.
Some years ago, I decided to walk the entire length of the River Thames, "because it is there", and a reasonably local long-distance walk opportunity. In addition to walking the whole 'official' path from the Source to the Thames Barrier, and the 'extension' path from the Thames Barrier to the river Darent, I went further along the river to a point close to The Nore, where the River Thames officially meets the sea. The stages undertaken are recorded here:
| Date |
Stage 1 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 16 Sept 2002 |
The source to Lechlade |
23 miles |
8:10 |
via Cricklade |
| 18 Sept 2002 |
Lechlade to Bablock Hythe |
20 miles |
7:10 |
Stopping at The Ferryman Inn |
| 19 Sept 2002 |
Bablock Hythe to Oxford |
11 miles |
4:45 |
Stopping at Folly Bridge |
Go to the Stage 1 Gallery
| Date |
Stage 2 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 26 Aug 2003 |
Oxford to Shillingford |
19 miles |
7:00 |
via Culham |
| 27 Aug 2003 |
Shillingford to Pangbourne |
15 miles |
5:00 |
via Cholsey |
| 28 Aug 2003 |
Pangbourne to Henley |
16 miles |
5:15 |
Stopping at Henley Bridge |
Go to the Stage 2 Gallery
| Date |
Stage 3 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 8 Sept 2004 |
Henley to Maidenhead |
17 miles |
5:45 |
via Marlow |
| 9 Sept 2004 |
Maidenhead to Staines |
15 miles |
5:00 |
via Windsor and Eton |
| 10 Sept 2004 |
Staines to Teddington Lock |
17 miles |
6:00 |
via Hampton Court |
Go to the Stage 3 Gallery
| Date |
Stage 4 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 30 Apr 2005 |
Teddington Lock to Wandsworth Bridge |
13 miles |
4:30 |
via Kew Bridge |
| 1 May 2005 |
Wandsworth Bridge to the Thames Barrier |
19 miles |
5:30 |
To the 'official' end of the Thames Path |
Go to the Stage 4 Gallery
| Date |
Stage 5 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 2 June 2009 |
The Thames Barrier to the Darent Flood Barrier |
10 miles |
4:00 |
via the Thames Path Eastern Extension |
Go to the Stage 5 Gallery
| |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| Total so far |
195 miles |
68:05 |
(Stages 1 to 5 - The source to The Darent Flood Barrier) |
The next stages cover a distance of approximately 36 miles to Warden Point - near to The Nore. This required some planning as it is beyond the end of the official Thames paths and involved careful study of O/S maps to determine a route.
| Date |
Stage 6 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 3 Aug 2009 |
The Darent Flood Barrier to Gravesend |
8 miles |
3:30 |
via a south bank footpath to Greenhithe, then main roads to Gravesend |
| 4 Aug 2009 |
Gravesend to Grain |
20 miles |
8:15 |
via the 'Saxon Shore' route to Cliffe Fort. Then following the flood defence path via Allhallows |
Go to the Stage 6 Gallery
Grain is as far east as you can go on the 'mainland'. It is necessary to cross the mouth of the river Medway (about a mile wide at this point) and resume at Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey - for the final stage.
| Date |
Stage 7 |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| 5 July 2010 |
Sheerness to Warden Point |
8 miles |
3:20 |
via Minster waterfront |
Go to the Stage 7 Gallery
| |
Distance |
Time |
Comments |
| Grand Total |
231 miles |
83:10 |
Approximately (=2.75mph overall) |
Job done!
