P20068270074 Heading east from Grafton Lock.		P20068280142 Heading east from Newbridge.

Background

The Thames Path follows the River Thames from its source high up in the Cotswold Hills eastwards down to the London and the sea. On it's way the character of the river changes dramatically, from the smalest of streams to one of the mightiest rivers in Britain. The terrain also changes, with the rural source leading inexorably to the built-up metropolis of London.

The path is probably one of the best National Trails in Britain; although it is hardly a strenuous walk and the going is easy, the river is never the same in any two places, and there are many wonderful views to be had as it passes though settlements, both old and new.

The walk statistics:

 

Total duration of walk	2 days, 22 hours and 12 minutes
Stopped time	6 hours and 19 minutes
Shortest completed leg	Thames Source to Ashton Keynes at 6.9 miles
Longest completed leg	Oxford station to Papist Way (Cholsey) at 26.2 miles
Average distance per leg	20.73 miles

P2006A295577 The Temple on Temple Island.		P2006A295685 The Thames below Cliveden.

The walk in full:

	No.	From	To	Distance	Status
	1	Thames Source	Ashton Keynes	6.9	Completed
	2	Ashton Keynes	Rushey Lock	26	Completed
	3	Rushey Lock	Oxford station	21.4	Completed
	4	Oxford station	Papist Way (Cholsey)	26.2	Completed
	5	Papist Way (Cholsey)	Shiplake Lock	21.6	Completed
	6	Shiplake Lock	Maidenhead bridge	19.5	Completed
	7	Maidenhead bridge	Shepperton public gardens	21.5	Completed
	8	Shepperton public gardens	Putney Bridge station	23.3	Completed
	9	Putney Bridge station	Thames Barrier	20.2	Completed

Further information

The walk is also covered in detail in the Thames Path National Trail Guide, by David Sharp, ISBN 1-84513-062-6 published by Aurum Press Ltd. Click on the image to the right to go to the Amazon page for the book.

More Thames Path photos

P20068260098 The stone at the source of the Thames.		P20068260106 Looking back from Thames Head.

P20068260110 The path near Thames Head.		P20068260140 The path heading east towards Ashton Keynes.

P20068260144 A stream in Ashton Keynes.		P20068270102 My tent at Ashton Keynes.

P20068270115 The path past Manorbrook Lake.		P20068270120 The path past Manorbrook Lake.

P20068270127 The Thames to the northwest of Cricklade.		P20068270148 Canoeists negotiating a fallen tree.

P20068270156 An old tree on the riverbank.		P20068270003 Heading east from Hannington Bridge.

P20068270009 The River Thames in Inglesham.		P20068270023 Ha'penny Bridge, Lechlade.

P20068270038 Old Father Thames.		P20068270053 Heading east towards Eaton Weir.

P20068270061 Heading east from Eaton Weir.		P20068270090 Heading east towards Rushey Lock.

P20068270098 My tent at Rushey Lock.		P20068280101 My tent at Rushey Lock.

P20068280105 Rushey Lock.		P20068280121 Heading northeast from Tenfoot Bridge.

P20068280127 Heading northeast from Tenfoot Bridge.		P20068280003 Heading along the river towards Bablock Hythe.

P20068280021 Following the river from Pinkhill Lock to Swinford.		P20068280028 Swinford bridge.

P20068280054 Heading downstream from King's Lock.		P20068280073 Heading south from Godstow.

P20069094110 The view from Osney Bridge.		P20069094125 A bridge by Iffley Lock.

P20069094139 Heading south from Sandford Lock.		P20069094154 Heading west along the river towards Abingdon Lock.

P20069094176 Abingdon and the spire of St Helen's church.		P20069094189 A bridge at Culham.

P20069094200 Looking towards Clifton Hampden Bridge.		P20069094211 Boathouses by the river.

P20069094237 Benson Lock.		P20069094240 A pretty boathouse on the other side of the river.

P20069094252 A boathouse to the south of Wallingford.		P20069094256 The river between Wallingford and Cholsey.

P2006A295533 The Thames at Shiplake Lock.		P2006A295544 The weir at Marsh Lock.

P2006A295553 The view upstream towards Henley.		P2006A295606 Boats at Hurley Lock.

P2006A295627 A distant view of Marlow.		P2006A295650 The path heading northeastwards from Marlow.

P2006A295660 Looking down the river at Bourne End.		P2006A295681 The Thames opposite Cliveden.

P2006A295683 A boathouse below Clivden.		P2006B045718 Maidenhead Bridge.

P2006B045727 Brunel's Sounding Arch.		P2006B045738 Summerleaze Bridge.

P2006B045747 The path leading towards Windsor.		P2006B045754 The chapel of St Mary Magdalene.

P2006B045764 A footbridge to the west of Windsor.		P2006B045780 Heading past Home Park.

P2006B045793 The Albert Bridge.		P2006B045816 The River Thames in Runnymede.

P2006B045820 Attractive houses on the other side of the river.		P2006B045843 Heading south from Staines.

P2006B045852 A boat on the Thames near Laleham Park.		P2006B045864 Chertsey Bridge.

P2006B045878 The Thames at Shepperton Lock.		P2006B125897 Shepperton Manor House.

P2006B125907 A bird on a footbridge over the entrance to a marina.		P2006B125926 Sunbury New Lock.

P2006B125938 Hampton Church.		P2006B125960 Hampton Court Palace.

P2006B125968 The Barge Walk past Hampton Court Palace.		P2006B125978 Kingston Bridge.

P2006B125994 Boats on the river in Kingston.		P2006B125997 Following the towpath northwards.

P2006B126010 The tidal mudflats downstream of Teddington Lock.		P2006B126031 Richmond Bridge.

P2006B126056 Looking down the Thames towards Brentford.		P2006B126070 Kew Bridge.

P2006B126096 Hammersmith Bridge.		P2006B186131 A boat moored by Wandsworth Park.

P2006B186139 A view from near Wandsworth Bridge.		P2006B186151 Looking across the river towards Lots Road Power Station.

P2006B186163 The Albert Bridge.		P2006B186180 Battersea Power Station.

P2006B186191 The view back towards Battersea Power Station.		P2006B186205 The Houses of Parliament.

P2006B186221 Charing Cross station.		P2006B186238 The London Millennium Footbridge, with St Paul's Cathedral behind.

P2006B186260 Looking across the Thames to the Tower of London.		P2006B186262 Tower Bridge.

P2006B186275 Tower Bridge and the City of London skyline.		P2006B186288 A dolphin in the river.

P2006B186298 The view across the river towards Canary Wharf.		P2006B186330 The southern entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

P2006B186360 A factory site near to the Millennium Dome.		P2006B186371 The Millennium Dome.

P2006B186391 A distant view of the Millennium dome and Canry Wharf.		P2006B186398 The Thames Barrier.

P2006B186407 The Thames Barrier.