walking the thames path in one go

[smmudge]

So my brother and I are planning to walk the Thames path in July. Well actually I planned it all, he is coming along to carry the tent. Got all the accommodation booked out, some campsites and some hostels and some b&b s. Averaging about 18 miles a day, am well excited

 

[8115]

Oh nice, how long will it take? I love walking. That's a lot of miles a day, hope you have comfy shoes

 

[newbie]

It's a great walk, but that may be a bit ambitious and won't give time to poke about looking at stuff. It took us years to do it, bit by bit.

There are bragging rights available- someone or other issues a certificate if you tell them you've done it. Conservators maybe?

I'd suggest that you go back to the very top end in the winter though, it's so different that seeing it in a (dry) summer is very misleading.

 

[tim]

I was read ,"Three Men in a Boat" as a small child and have consequently always wanted to to row/row up the Thames. Walking also sounds fun although given the places to visit and the tempting pubs tea shops and second hand bookshops that.you'll encounter on the way 18 miles,a day seems a tad excessive. Not too sure why I associate Thames side towns with second hand books

 

[smmudge]

I think it will be fine, there aren't really any hills, we do the longer days at the beginning in the more remote parts. I will do some training and make sure I get good shoes. It's more of a hiking holiday than a nice casual stroll. My bro is military man, he loves shit like that. And I can't book that long off work, and I don't wanna only do part of it!

We managed to time the start with the Royal International Air Tattoo, so for the first night we're staying in a campsite that's meant to be for people going to the air show.

We're gonna take 10 and a half days, half day for the bit beyond the Thames barrier.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

That sounds brilliant. I would like to do something like that but do not have any friends who are hardy enough!

 

[toblerone3]

I walked the Thames path with various groups of people including a couple of Urbanites. We walked upstream completing the 205 miles in 29 weekends averaging 7 miles each time. It took three years to complete.

Really enjoyable, we had dinner and drinks in nearly every pub along the way. There is a fantastic walk around the source of the Thames which very few people know about which takes you via the Thames and Severn canal over the watershed into the Golden Valley. Also did the Thames path extension as far as Crayfordness and the section between Greenwich and Tower Bridge on both sides of the river as seperate trips.

 

[Pickman's model]

some of it not so easy

 

[craigxcraig]

We walked ti Btistol late last year following the thames then avon canal. We were wild camping along the way averaging 12/15 miles a day - we were bolloxed! Had a thoroughly good time though

 

[Voley]

Sounds ace, smmudge. Can you report back on how it went? I'd like to do this too.

 

[twentythreedom]

Sounds excellent, smmudge

 

[newbie]

there's a lot of loops in the upper reaches, so plenty of opportunity to cheat.

btw look out for the names of the fords starting, I think, with Duxford and moving on towards Oxford.

There is a fantastic walk around the source of the Thames which very few people know about which takes you via the Thames and Severn canal over the watershed into the Golden Valley.

Done the route of the Sapperton tunnel (and quite a lot of the rest of that canal), but I've just found a cross-country footpath on the map which may be where you walked. I'll try to remember that...

Also did the Thames path extension as far as Crayfordness and the section between Greenwich and Tower Bridge on both sides of the river as seperate trips.

we're some of the way to Southend on the north and well beyond Gravesend to the south, but tbf we've mixed walking with cycling for different bits, as a semi-random patchwork, with no particular order or direction. Or objective really, other than that it's there so we'd better go and peer at it.

 

[chilango]

I've done few small bits. Was (am?) planning on doing the rest over the next year or so.

However, my first trip this year (Reading to Henley) back in January was just a slog through mud and knee deep waterlogged fields.

In previous years whole sections have been under water for weeks on end.

Give me steep hills and ice and snow over the endless quagmire any day!

 

[toblerone3]

Thames does flood a bit in winter, but should be absolutely fine in July. Even March is ok.

 

[alsoknownas]

I've got this in mind sometime. Sounds excellent. Do update us.

 

[alsoknownas]

Still planning this smmudge?

 

[smmudge]

Still planning this smmudge?

Yep everything is booked. Mum is going to come and meet us about halfway to take tents and dirty clothes back home, as we finish camping about half way through when the campsites get fewer and further between

I need to buy some shoes and start training!

 

[hash tag]

when? and give us a wave

 

[Miss-Shelf]

So exciting

 

[smmudge]

We start this on Friday. I haven't done any walking training really which isn't good, bought good shoes though and been walking around in them lots to break them in. I'm looking forward to long walks in the countryside, and if it ever gets too difficult I can always get a bus/train to the next place instead! lol

 

[craigxcraig]

smmudge good luck, hope it's a great walk and don't be too hard on yourself should you need a bus or train - we had to take one for about fifteen miles to get our timings back on track! Enjoy

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Give us regular updates and good luck

 

[hash tag]

Enjoy. Weather is looking fine for those few days. As for countryside, you won't see much until you get past the rowing places at Putney, you will see lots f building sites between Vauxhall and Wandsworth, will that count.
Ps giveus a wave when you walk past.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Good luck with this, should be a cracking walk. If you can be bothered, at Penton Hook Lock you are allowed to cross over and you can walk around Penton Hook Island. Very few, if any others at all allow you to do this. And there's beaches on that island, so you can dip your weary toes in the water.

 

[hash tag]

A little warning, I guess you are out of town. Either side of Wandsworth Bridge are two Youngs pubs, heres one http://www.watersidelondon.com/
you are looking at £5.00+ for a pint. There are plenty more places like this through Battersea, Wandsworth, Putney, Barnes Etc. A little way back, here's a spoons. 5 mins away from the Thames Path and about £8.00 for large full English and a pint! http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-asparagus

Friday is still looking warm and sunny, mind if we join you?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Sage advice hash tag

 

[hash tag]

Thank you. Continuing on a theme, of the many caffs in battersea area, DONT use brew. On battersea bridge road, 2 mins from bridge, continue past pizza express to Chelsea bun: possibly best working gaff n area. Further along by Wandsworth recycling centre is a van, Monday to friday, for bacon rolls and similar...

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

As you stroll past Walton-on-Thames you may be tempted in by the Swan or its neighbour, the Anglers. A 30 seconds walk up the road next to the Swan will see you at the Old Manor Inn where lager is £1 a pint cheaper than the two riverside places. Plus the garden overlooks a 600 year old manor house.

As a double bonus, should the Swan be doing a BBQ, by going to the Old manor you'll avoid paying £3.50 for a punnet of 8 chips.

 

[hash tag]

Weather is not as bright as forecast earlier in the week but at least it's calm and dry. Hope you are enjoying it.

 

[chilango]

When you're aporoaching Reading you've got nice pubs at Shiplake (Yhe Baskerville), Sonning (The Bull) plus a nice cafe on the lock there and again on the other side past Reading in Pangbourne, Goring and beyond. But in Reading itself theres nowhere worth stopping at on the river imo. Though if you take a ten minute detour down the River Kennet the Fishermans Cottage is lovely.