Thames Path Walks to Enjoy

Walking the Thames Path with Janet 

I came across Janet’s blog Musings of the Puppet Lady and discovered that Janet and her husband had walked the length of the Thames in easy sections. 

Janet knits puppets for the charity Operation Christmas Child. Her blog is a wonderful mix of the things she enjoys including walking the Thames Path National Trail.

‘Between 31/12/2011 and 31/12/2014 we walked the Thames Path National Trail. Living close to the Thames, our nearest point being Dorney, we enjoyed walking many stretches between Windsor and Henley. At the end of 2011 we decided to walk a new stretch every month, in order, to get to see other parts of the countryside that we had not visited. To anyone wanting to walk the Thames Path, or just wanting a nice day out walking by the river, I hope you find these posts useful. The Thames Path is an easily accessible trail for the most part. I have given some logistical information like where to park, or transport used, in each entry.

I hope you enjoy reading about the Thames Path walks as much as we have enjoyed walking them!.

The walks took us from the Source of the Thames in Gloucestershire...

 ...to the Thames Barrier in London. 

Choose from one of the following walks, or why not do what Janet did and walk the length in easy sections:

Ewen to the Source – 5 miles (8 km) return. From the village of Ewen, The Thames passes through fields and disappears at times, although the path is still visible until the stones ‘the source’ are reached. 

 

Waterhay to Ewen – 5 miles (8km) one way. The Path passes through the Cotswold Water Park and the villages of Ashton Keynes and Neigh Bridge Country Park.

 

Cricklade North Meadow to Waterhay 5 miles (8km) return. Here the Thames is narrow but on one side is North Meadow (Elm Lea Meadows National Nature Reserve), full of wild flowers. The Thames Path diverts through the Cotswold Water Park where wild birds and fowl nest to the Waterhay Car Park. 

 

Water Eaton to Cricklade 5 miles (8km) return.

This part of the river can feel lonely and remote, just wildlife. The Thames Path crosses a little wooden bridge and further on the Eysey Bridge to continue each side.

 

Castle Eaton to Water Eaton – 4.5 miles (7km) circular. Starting at the Red Lion pub in Castle Eaton, the path, specially created for Thames Path walkers, follows a river that is shallow, with bridges to span water channels entering the river. A remote stretch mainly along the side of fields and the return leg along the road from Water Eaton to Castle Eaton.

 

Castle Eaton to Lechlade – 6.25 miles (10km) one way. This stretch of the Thames Path can be well away from the river, passing across farmland, fields and along country lanes and even at one point a busy road. Eventually reaching historic 13th century church of St John the Baptist (Inglesham), now owned by the Churches Conservation Trust, the Path joins the river again to Lechlade.
 

See here more walks along the Thames Path.