Marlow to Henley

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This is the ninth stage of the multi-day route "Railways and Waterways, between Oxford and London".

After a diversion, the walk joins the River Thames at peaceful Hurley Lock, then meanders through water meadows and a deer park, passes a popular traditional pub and Hambleden Lock before following the course of the world-famous Henley Regatta into the town.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Railways and Waterways, between Oxford and London

Details

n°100347638
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.93 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 69 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 72 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 171 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 89 ft
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Photos

Bridge to Lock Hurley
Slipway at Ferry Lane
Paddling along
Hambleden Lock

Description of the walk

Start: Marlow Station (SU 855 865)

(S) From the station entrance, go along Station Road, passing the Marlow Donkey on the left.

(1) Turn left down Mill Road, and near the end, turn right into the alleyway at the Thames Path sign.

(2) Go through the churchyard of All Saints and turn left on the diverted Thames Path, crossing to the other side of the bridge.

(3) Keep right at the road junction and continue into Bisham, passing the Bull Inn.

(4) At the junction, keep ahead into Temple Lane.

(5) When the lane bears left, keep ahead on the footpath and go under the tunnel. Continue to a path junction.

(6) Turn right to join the original Thames Path just past the defunct Temple Bridge. Turn left, keep to the riverside and cross the bridge to the picnic area just before Hurley Lock.

(7) Keep ahead to the next bridge, cross and turn right along the river through the water meadows.
After about half a mile, the chalk cliffs below Danesfield Hotel come into view across the river.

(8) Pass through the small community of Frogmill, take the shortcut (or not) across a field and keep ahead at the next path junction.

(9) At the path junction just the footbridge, leave the riverside on the Thames Path to go through Culham Deer Park. Turn right at the next junction and follow the Thames Path signs, passing to the right of Culham Court and to the left of Holme Farm. At the lane, turn right to the Flower Pot.

(10)Continue down Ferry Lane to the slipway and turn left on the Thames Path to Hambleden Lock.
The next impressive building is Greenlands, now home to Henley Business School. A little further on is Temple Island, the start of the straight mile of the Henley Regatta course. Further on, a lane to the left leads to the 13th Century Remenham Church.

(11) After another half mile, the Thames Path leaves the river, passes the Leander Club and joins the main road. Turn right over the bridge, then left across the road at the traffic lights and keep ahead along the river frontage.

(12) After the road junction, follow the road round to the right and take the second left for the station.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 102 ft - Marlow Station
  2. 1 : mi 0.23 - alt. 102 ft - Mill Road - Turn left
  3. 2 : mi 0.45 - alt. 105 ft - All Saints Church - Cross churchyard
  4. 3 : mi 0.71 - alt. 95 ft - Road junction - Turn right towards Bisham
  5. 4 : mi 1.47 - alt. 102 ft - Temple Lane - Keep ahead
  6. 5 : mi 2.17 - alt. 98 ft - Footpath - Keep ahead
  7. 6 : mi 2.71 - alt. 95 ft - Turn right to rejoin the Thames
  8. 7 : mi 3.24 - alt. 102 ft - Hurley Lock
  9. 8 : mi 4.26 - alt. 102 ft - Frogmill
  10. 9 : mi 5.48 - alt. 98 ft - Turn left to leave the riverside
  11. 10 : mi 6.46 - alt. 131 ft - The Flower Pot
  12. 11 : mi 9.51 - alt. 108 ft - Leander Club
  13. 12 : mi 9.78 - alt. 112 ft - Follow the road to the right
  14. E : mi 9.93 - alt. 115 ft - Henley Station

Notes

Travel Information:

  • Start - From the Reading to London main line, change at Maidenhead for Marlow Station.
  • Finish - Carousel 850 buses run between Marlow and Henley.
  • The branch line from Henley connects to the main line at Twyford.

OS Explorer Maps

171 and 172

Grid References

  • Start SU 855 865
  • Finish SU 763 822

Refreshments and facilities

(7) Public toilets are further on.

Worth a visit

Other walks in the area

Walking Marlow Circular via Spade Oak Nature Reserve

Visorando Member
↔5.57 mi ↗+23 ft ↘-26 ft ◔2h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
A level walk on good paths apart from steep steps to bridge across the A404. There are three pubs en route. A wide variety of waterfowl may be seen in the Spade Oak Nature Reserve and on the River Thames.

Walking Marlow to Henley, around Reading

Visorando Member
↔8.61 mi ↗+102 ft ↘-89 ft ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
A mainly level walk along the scenic Thames Path then rising to overlook the famous regatta course before descending to the much-photographed river bridge and church in Henley-on-Thames.

Walking Marlow to Windsor, Thames Valley

Visorando Member
↔14.07 mi ↗+30 ft ↘-52 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
This walk follows the Thames Path to Windsor with a detour along the Eton College Olympic Rowing Lake. You will find boating on the Thames, an ancient wetlands area, an historic village with artistic connections, beautiful Clivedon, Reach and Boulter's lock, the famous railway bridge, Monkey Island, Eton's impressive rowing lake, arboretum and the nature reserve Windsor Castle.

Walking Marlow Circular, Chilterns

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.35 mi ↗+256 ft ↘-246 ft ◔3h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
A walk along the Thames Path to Temple Lock and through the picturesque Harleyford Estate to the woods of Marlow Common and the new Chiltern Society Local Nature Reserve.

Walking Marlow Common, Chilterns

Association / Club / Walk leader
Marlow Common, Chilterns
↔5.56 mi ↗+459 ft ↘-440 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Medmenham (Buckinghamshire)
A beautiful walk through the beech woods of Marlow Common. Look out for bluebells in the spring, orchids in early summer, and deer and red kites all year round. There is a diversion after Waypoint 3 - the walk instructions have been updated, but not the route on the map.

Walking Cookham Circular

Visorando Member
↔4.45 mi ↗+33 ft ↘-39 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Cookham (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
A mostly level walk on good paths, much of it on the Green Way. No stiles. Refreshment is available in picturesque Cookham village, once home to the artist Stanley Spencer. The village dates back to prehistoric times and has many fine old buildings.

Walking Bourne End to West Wycombe

Visorando Member
↔10.70 mi ↗+1,083 ft ↘-879 ft ◔5h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Wooburn (Buckinghamshire)
First 2 miles are flat, along the Thames Path & Spade Oak Nature Reserve to Little Marlow. The rest of the stage is tough and very hilly with many steep climbs and mostly off-road thru'the Chiltern Hills. The route goes up around the back of High Wycombe to finish just past the National Trust owned village of West Wycombe at Pedestal Roundabout at junction of A40 and A4010.

Walking Bourne End to High Wycombe

Visorando Member
↔5.52 mi ↗+420 ft ↘-292 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Wooburn (Buckinghamshire)
The second stage continues on the Thames Path from Bourne End for a short distance, then climbs up through the Chiltern woodlands to descend into High Wycombe. At this point, continue on stage three to Chequers.Alternatively, there are regular bus services back to Bourne End (36/37) or Windsor (37/104). You can also take the Chiltern Railways train to London, Oxford or Birmingham.

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