Bourne End to Marlow, around Reading

An energetic walk with splendid views, through a picturesque village and ancient woodland.

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

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.49 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 131 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 134 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 103 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 27 m

Description de la randonnée

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

(S) From Bourne End station cross the car park into a narrow path alongside the railway.

(1) Turn right under Railway Bridge and climb the steps on the Thames Path to cross the river. Turn right at the bottom of the steps, right and right again under the railway, into Cock Marsh, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

(2) Bear left across the marsh then along raised boards and climb steeply on a public footpath up the hill. The retrospective view is well worth a pause for breath and rare plants may be seen on this chalk escarpment. Keep ahead until reaching the junction with the Chiltern Way.

If the path up the hill looks too steep, turn right along the bottom and continue to climb more gently to meet the Chiltern Way.

Turn left along it and turn right to the gate in the hedge.

(3) Turn left on the Chiltern Way through the gate in the hedge alongside the golf course.

(4) At the path junction bear right to reach a lane. Cross through the gate opposite along the field edge then bear right by a hedge to the road.

(5) Cross into Alleyns Lane and descend past allotments and attractive properties to Deane Lane opposite the farriery.

(6) Turn right and soon left up Warners Hill. A path to the right re-joins the road further up. Continue
to Uncle Tom's Cabin.

(7) Turn right across Hills Lane on the green and re-join the road at the corner. Just past Popes Lane cross the green towards the pub sign.

(8) Join the Chiltern Way again and bear to the right of the Karm, a Sanctum on the Green between trees. Pass the path to the Jolly Farmer pub. Emerging from trees turn right along the fence through the turkey farm and descend to the crossing track.

(9) Go up the grass strip and through swing-gate to the road. Turn left and then right on bridle-way into Quarry Wood, ancient woodland managed by the Woodland Trust. Keep ahead as the path descends steeply between high banks. (A)

(10) At the next junction leave the sunken track to turn sharp right back uphill on a bridleway marked by blue-topped posts. After a short climb the path contours the hill through Quarry Wood. A seat at an open area affords extensive views across the Thames to Marlow and the Chiltern Hills beyond. Keep ahead past a second seat and continue ahead to the crossing path.

(11) Turn left and negotiate steep bank down to the road. Cross carefully to the footpath that descends steeply to the road. Cross and continue along the path opposite.

(12) Turn right across the bridge on the footpath that goes under the A404 and across two fields to the road.

(13) Turn right to enter the historic town of Marlow over the suspension bridge with views of church, river and weir. Turn right through the churchyard then left into St Peter's Street.

Here there are interesting older properties, notably the Two Brewers pub and the medieval parsonage hidden behind high walls.

Turn right into Station Rd, pass the Marlow Donkey and bear right for the station. (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 30 m - Bourne End Railway Station
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 28 m - Under Railway Bridge - Thames Path
  3. 2 : km 0.42 - alt. 28 m - Cock Marsh
  4. 3 : km 1.33 - alt. 77 m - Hedge - Chiltern Way
  5. 4 : km 1.74 - alt. 75 m - Golf course - Path junction
  6. 5 : km 2.11 - alt. 73 m - Alleyns Lane
  7. 6 : km 2.62 - alt. 50 m - Deane Lane
  8. 7 : km 2.98 - alt. 77 m - Uncle Tom's Cabin - Hills lane
  9. 8 : km 3.59 - alt. 88 m - Chiltern Way
  10. 9 : km 3.92 - alt. 70 m - Path junction - Grass strip
  11. 10 : km 4.82 - alt. 85 m - Junction - Sharp turn
  12. 11 : km 5.78 - alt. 103 m - Path junction - Steep bank
  13. 12 : km 6.43 - alt. 38 m - Bridge
  14. 13 : km 7.25 - alt. 30 m - Road - Suspension bridge
  15. E : km 8.49 - alt. 31 m - Marlow Railway Station

Practical information

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

Map : Map OS Explorer 172

Refreshment Higginson Park in Marlow.

Find more information and walks at Round Reading Walks website here.

In the nearby area

(A) This is thought to be part of an ancient route "the Wool Track" once used to transport the quality Berkshire wool to London for export to Flanders to be made into fine cloth. There was a Thames crossing of sorts at Cookham before the bridge was built at Maidenhead.

"Oh Bisham Banks are fresh and fair And Quarry Woods are Green
And pure and sparkinous the air
Enchanting is the scene"
The Lazy Minstrel

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.