Marlow Circular via Spade Oak Nature Reserve

Start : Marlow Railway Station (SL7 1NT) Grif ref. SU 855 865

(S/E) From the station go along Station Approach towards the Marlow Donkey. Turn right and right again at the crossroads. Keep ahead on the opposite pavement to a road junction.

(1) Cross into Quarrydale Drive and take the public footpath on the right. Keep ahead across side roads. Reaching the busy A404 turn left beside it then climb the steep steps to cross the road.

(2) Keep ahead on the public footpath to the lakeside where there is the option of taking the path along the edge of the lake. Re-join the main path and continue ahead to cross the drives leading to Westhorpe House and Westhorpe Park.

(3) Keep ahead across the lane on a surfaced track soon between trees. Entering the pretty village of Little Marlow, pass the Queen's Head and at the road junction turn right.

(4) Pass the manor House and John the Baptist Church then continue ahead on the footpath. Cross the waterway and take the public footpath on the left. Cross a couple of footbridges then follow the path round to the right along the edge of the field.

(5) Cross the service road and keep ahead on the footpath along the field boundary.

(6) At the path junction in the next field turn right and follow the path round the Spade Oak Lake Nature Reserve.

(7) Reaching the footbridge on the left cross it on the public footpath which joins the lane opposite the Spade Oak. Turn right along the lane. Soon bear left along Upper Thames Way.

(8) Bear right on a public footpath and carefully cross the railway line to reach the junction with the Thames Path.

For the shorter walk to Bourne End, turn left past the Upper Thames Sailing Club and the marina. Go under the railway bridge then turn left up the bank on the footpath beside the railway which leads to the station. Hourly services to Marlow and Maidenhead.

Otherwise, to complete the circular walk back to Marlow, turn right along the Thames Path, soon along the river bank through fields.

(9) Keep to the river bank at the path junction. Go through the gate with a telephone mast by the railway on the right. Go through four more gates and across a footbridge into a small copse then through parkland with picnic benches.

(10) Opposite a private jetty and just past properties, take a narrow footpath on the right which leads to Riverswood Drive. Marlow Rugby Club is on the right.

(11) At the road junction turn left under the A404 and follow the road round to the left. Pass cul-de-sac then turn right up Riverpark Drive. Follow it round to reach Lock Rd.

(12) Turn right and opposite the Marlow Donkey turn right along Station Approach for the station. (S/E)

Start : Marlow Railway Station (SL7 1NT) Grif ref. SU 855 865

Alternative shorter route : You can shorter the route and take the train from Bourne End railway station at Waypoint (8) For the shorter walk to Bourne End, turn left past the Upper Thames Sailing Club and the marina. Go under the railway bridge then turn left up the bank on the footpath beside the railway which leads to the station. Hourly services to Marlow and Maidenhead.

Terrain : A level walk on good paths apart from steep steps to bridge across the A404