Start : Marlow High St and church. Grid ref. SU 850 863
(S) From the High St turn left on the Thames Path by the church and follow it through the back streets of Marlow until it reaches the banks of the Thames by the recreation ground and Lock Island.
(1) The path now follows the river bank for about three miles under and quickly away from the noisy A404, with views of Quarry Woods and Winter Hill on the right. Approaching Bourne End where the railway is close to
the Thames Path a footpath crosses the tracks and leads to the Spade Oak pub.
(2) Cross the river on the railway bridge footpath. This flat, wetlands area below Winter Hill is Cock Marsh, owned by the National Trust. (A) Continue along the Thames Path until after the picnic area and just before the road bridge at Cookham (B).
(3) Here turn right and go through the churchyard of Holy Trinity where Stanley Spencer is buried. The church is mostly 13th century with many of the original features. Leave the churchyard and pass between the pretty 17th and 18th century cottages at Churchgate to the main A4155 through Cookham.
(4) Turn right down the main road in Cookham, passing the Stanley Spencer Gallery on the corner.
(5) At School Lane cross into Mill Lane and follow the Thames Path signs to re-join the river bank with the steep slopes of the Clivedon Estate (C) ahead.
(6) Turn right to the towpath along this quieter stretch of the river, enjoying the peace and tranquillity. As the path passes elegant riverside properties the new, artificial Jubilee River quietly leaves the Thames to re-join it near Datchet. Built to ease flooding at Maidenhead some people think it causes problems further downstream.
(7) The path soon passes Boulter's Lock (D) and Ray Mill Island. Continue along the road at first then behind property and through riverside gardens to the main A4.
(8) Turn left across the attractive 18th century road bridge. To cross the road safely, __ignore the Thames Path
sign__ and turn left and left again under the bridge. Pass the rowing club.
(9) Go under Brunel's famous railway bridge. About 300yds on there is a good retrospective view of the two bridges. Further along the tree-lined path the grand riverside properties of Bray come into view on the far bank. Before long the path passes Bray lock then goes under the noisy M4.
(10) As the noise from the motorway starts to recede, pass Monkey Island (E) and continue under the footbridge by The Cut.
(11) At the elaborate new milepost, turn left along the surfaced cycleway no.4 and continue to the access road of the Eton College Olympic (F) standard rowing lake.
(12) Continue along the cycleway or take the path slightly to the right along the boundary through the arboretum. Bear right to the monolith and avenue of lime trees that lead to the larger pond where there are convenient seats. Continue to the gate on the left to re-join the cycleway and go across the cattle grid to a lane.
(13) Turn right along lane. Pass the ramblers' car park and turn right at the footpath sign to join the towpath by the church of St Mary Magdalene. This little church has been restored by the Friends of Friendless Churches.
(14) Turn left along the towpath past Boveney lock and follow the Thames all the way to Eton. Towards the end of the walk there are impressive views of Windsor Castle (G) across the river. Go up Brocas St.
(15) Turn right over the bridge into Windsor. Cross the road at traffic lights into Thames St to the finish of the walk. (E)