Bourne End to Maidenhead via the Thames Path, around Reading

Follow the Thames Path through the lovely scenery of Cliveden Reach. Visit Boulter's lock, enjoy the wildlife on the newly-created Jubilee River and pass close to Eton College.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Around Reading

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.97 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 8 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 7 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 33 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 24 m

Description de la randonnée

Start : Bourne End Railway Station (SL8 5QH) Grid ref. SU 894 872

(S) From the Railway Station, go round the Bourne End Auction Rooms and through the station car park that leads to narrow path alongside railway.

(1) At the bottom of steps turn right under the railway bridge and cross the River Thames on the Thames Path.

(2) Pass through the open area of Cock Marsh and Marsh Meadow and follow the river bank to the picnic area at Cookham Reach.

(3) At the end of the picnic area and before the road bridge, turn right on the Thames Path and go through the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, thought to date from Saxon times. To the right of the path Stanley Spencer is buried amongst others of his family. Pass betweenthe 17th and 18th century cottages at Churchgate to come to the main road in historic Cookham. A market town mentioned in the Doomsday book and an important river crossing before a bridge was built at Maidenhead in the 13th century.

(4) Turn right at the main road (A4094) and soon cross the road in front of the Stanley Spencer Gallery. Opposite is the 14th century Bel and the Dragon pub, with wattle and daub walls.

(5) On reaching School Lane cross into Mill Lane at the Thames Path sign.

(6) On reaching houses turn right at the Thames Path sign and continue on the tree-lined path to eventually re-join the riverside with the steep banks of the Cliveden Estate opposite.

(7) Turn right along this beautiful stretch of river and after about a mile, before an avenue of trees, there is a retrospective view of the clock tower and roof of Cliveden Court above the trees. Once the home of the Astor family and infamous for political intrigue in the 1930s and for the Christine Keeler-Profum o scandal in the 1960s, the grounds are now owned by the National Trust.

(8) Just before the weir at Boulter's Lock the Jubilee River, built to ease the flooding at Maidenhead, flows away from the Thames.

The bridge across Boulter's Lock leads to Boulter's Inn, once the Old Ray Flour Mill, built in 1726. Ray Mill Island is worth a visit with pleasant gardens and picnic areas with refreshments available in summer.

(9) Continue along the road then behind properties and through a garden area before reaching the main road (A4).

(10) If not completing the second part of this walk, carefully cross the A4 and turn right. Cross the B3028 and continue ahead into Moor Bridge Rd where A4 bears right.

(11) Cross the brook and continue ahead into Bridge St and the High St. Follow signs to Maidenhead station. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Bourne End Railway Station
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 30 m - Steps - Railway bridge
  3. 2 : km 0.41 - alt. 27 m - Cock Marsh and Marsh Meadow - Thames Path
  4. 3 : km 1.99 - alt. 30 m - Picnic area at Cookham Reach
  5. 4 : km 2.22 - alt. 30 m - Main road (A4094)
  6. 5 : km 2.45 - alt. 28 m - School Lane
  7. 6 : km 3.23 - alt. 27 m - Houses - Thames Path sign
  8. 7 : km 3.63 - alt. 31 m - Riverside
  9. 8 : km 5.5 - alt. 26 m - Boulter's Lock
  10. 9 : km 5.93 - alt. 28 m - Road - Behind properties
  11. 10 : km 7.27 - alt. 26 m - Main road (A4)
  12. 11 : km 7.87 - alt. 25 m - Brook
  13. E : km 8.97 - alt. 32 m - Maidenhead Railway Station

Practical information

In the nearby area

"Old Father Thames goes gliding by;
As ripples run he winks his eye
At Cotswold cows and Oxford Dons; Nodding to Windsor's Royal Swans, He bears our Nation's liquid crown
By lock and weir to London Town.
May all that know and love his banks
Pause here awhile to offer thanks."
Plaque near Boulter's Lock

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