Short Description:

This is a straightforward level walk along the Thames and the , with a return section through Bray. It is a round trip of about 7½ miles, starting at . It is a companion walk to “ and the Jubilee River “(7921) which is a little further south, but their routes overlap. It can be shortened.

Long Description:

First you walk along the , downstream from Maidenhead for about a mile and a half. Then you make your way east to the Jubilee River and walk along a cycle-way, for half a mile. Then you head towards the Thames, via Dorney Court. Crossing the Thames, you then head north via Bray and back to the start. There are a few gates and stiles, but overall the route is very level, with no hills. All the route is along pavements, good footpaths or very minor roads. There is quite a contrast between the two rivers: the Jubilee is very quiet, with nature reserves - the Thames is naturally busier, with boats, a lock and several buildings of interest. There is a short cut, which saves about 1½ miles (if you want to skip my favourite lunch stop!).

Access info:

The starting point is the car park at the Guards Club Park, in Maidenhead. This has room for a dozen cars. Grid reference: SU 900 811 Nearest postcode: SL1 1XH Take note that access to the carpark is not from the A4 down Guards Club Road (which is a dead-end) but via Oldfield Road and Oldacres.

Additional info:

Food/drink: there is a pub about half way round, The Pineapple at Lake End, which needs a short detour. There is also the Palmer Arms in Dorney – and similarly a short detour is needed. Our route intentionally takes you past the Dorney Court Garden Centre, which does refreshments all day – their chocolate cake is amazing!

Places of interest:

A few places or things of interest are included in the text below. However, since I researched this route for the Wokingham U3A “Historic Walks” project, I have recorded a lot of historical detail and this is on a “Related downloads” page. The numbered sections of this document are referenced in the text below as POI-xx.

1)

Facing the river, your exit from Guards Club Park (POI-01) is to the left, through some gates at the far end near a big house (there is no explicit footpath). However, I suggest you first go ahead to the river bank, and just to your left take the decorative footbridge across to explore the little island (Guards Club Eyot). Then return to the park, walk further along the river bank towards the road bridge and across to the gates. Walk up Guards Club Road, past the hotel on the right (the River Arts Club – POI-02) and then past the Thames Riviera Hotel on the corner, to the A4 at the top of the road. Turn right, cross the bridge POI-03), and take the next right down River Road.

2)

Now there’s quite a long (but interesting) walk, for about 1½ miles down the bank of the Thames. Almost as soon as you start, look up at the roofs of the older houses on the left – spot something interesting? (POI-04) They were made locally at the old Maidenhead Tile & Brick Works, at Pinkneys Green. Pass the rowing club and go under Brunel’s famous Sounding Arch railway bridge POI-05). As you walk along, look at the variety of properties on the opposite bank. It is said that this stretch of river, between Maidenhead and Bray, has some of the most expensive houses in this part of the country. As you reach the last property on the left (Harefield, a 6-7 bedroomed house, last sold for 1½ million) the private road bears left – the route along the river switches to a footpath – keep going ahead. You will shortly see on the left the buildings of Barge Farm (POI-06), which owns about 300 acres of the land on this bank of the river. Then you come to Bray Lock.

3)

A short distance beyond the lock the tarmac footpath turns to the left, at Amerden Bank (POI-07). [For a short cut, saving about 1½ miles, continue along the Thames Path until you reach the footbridge at point 9, below]. Follow this path which soon becomes a lane (incorrectly known as Amerden Lane), keep ahead past a few houses on the right and then between some fields, until you reach a T-junction. Here turn right down the road (Old Marsh Lane - this was the original road south, before the M4 was built). Just before the end, with one house remaining on the left, and the M4 very close in front of you, take the minor road (signposted as a footpath) to the left.

4)

At the end of this road you see a high grassy bank ahead. This is the embankment of a minor road, which crosses the M4. This is Marsh Lane – replacing Old Marsh Lane. There is a signed footpath up a slope – take this and then cross the road – and then a similar path to go down the other side. Turn right along the road (Glebe Close). At the end, just before the driveway to a property blocks your way, take a narrow footpath ahead and on the right, under the trees.

5)

This takes you out quite soon to an open space and the bank of the Jubilee River (POI-08). There is a modern cycle track along this bank: take this to the right – but watch out for bikes! Pass under the M4. Then after a long gentle curve to the left, the river straightens out and there is a footbridge on your left. Opposite this, on your right, is a stile into a footpath across the edge of a field. [To visit The Pineapple, carry on and turn left up Lane End Road and over the Jubilee River – about ½ a mile. OR – cross the footbridge, turn right along the tree-lined track which becomes Ashford Lane, and so join Lane End Road further north. Return by either route].

6)

At the end of the footpath you reach Court Lane. [To visit The Palmer Arms, cross the lane, take the footpath which crosses the main road and keep ahead alongside this road into Dorney village– about 5 minutes’ walk. Return by the same route]. Keep on this side of the road, where there is a pavement, and turn right. In a very short while you will see the entrance to Dorney Court Kitchen Garden on the other side of the road - a good place for a coffee or lunch stop. If you choose this, afterwards cross back over the road and continue. Dorney Court (POI- 09) is only open during August and a few other days in the year. You pass the Church of St James (usually only open when the house is open). Where the road turns right, continue ahead into the entrance drive for Eton College Rowing Centre and Dorney Lake (POI-10). This is open to the public. Walk down the drive – there is a footpath on the left-hand side. When the footpath ends, it directs you across the road to a wide tree-lined footpath on the opposite side.

7)

Follow this path, which skirts the north-west end of the rowing lakes. There is a small bridge but there's no need to use it! Just after the bridge you will see a grassy embankment to your left.

8)

If you wish, take a detour briefly up the slope and you get an impressive view of the rowing lakes. Return and continue along the path, which comes out to the Thames Path. Here turn right – to a footbridge. This is Summerleaze Bridge, named after the company responsible for excavating Dorney Lake. The bridge was opened in 1997 and designed to take away part of the 4 million tonnes of sand and gravel from the area, for onward distribution and sale.

9)

Cross the footbridge but when halfway across look to your right, to get a glimpse of Monkey Island (POI- 11) and its famous hotel. After the bridge, continue up the footpath, to a lane at the end. On your left you will have seen a narrow channel flowing back to the Thames – this is “The Cut” (POI-12). This was designed to help alleviate flooding in Maidenhead and surrounding villages. Turn right up Monkey Island Lane. There’s now a fairly uneventful section. You pass Weir Bank Stud Farm and the lodge and entrance to the hotel. Next you cross the M4 and on descending the slope reach the very southernmost outskirts of Bray. Eventually the road does a sharp left turn – you go straight ahead along a footpath past a black and white terrace – Bettoney Vere. These buildings look old but were built in 1906.

10)

At the end of this path, you reach a narrow road (Ferry Road). A few yards ahead to the left is another footpath – leading to St Michael’s Church (POI-13, POI-14). [Down the road to the right is The Waterside Inn – owned by French chefs Michel and Alain Roux]. Turn left past the church – visiting it if you wish (and if it’s open) – and exit through the main gateway on the left. You reach the main High Street through Bray. If you wish, take a short detour to the left and visit the Jesus Hospital almshouses. (POI- 15). Otherwise, cross carefully, turn right and immediately take the next wide treelined road on the left – The Causeway (POI-16).

11)

After a while the housing stops and you continue along a narrower footpath, until you cross The Cut and then continue, passing a pretty terrace on your right and reaching a road. Turn sharp right down this road for about 50 yards (there’s a lack of pavement just here) until you can cross and enter the woods through the gate opposite.

12)

This is Braywick Park Nature Reserve. There are three possible routes to the other end of the park. To start with, turn right at the first crossing of paths. Option 1 – first left, signed Green Lane which is part of the Green Way (POI-16). Option 2 – second left, up the steps and across the top. Option 3 – keep right along the path, which soon reaches the banks of The Cut. In all cases you end up at the gate at the exit.

13)

Continue along the lane ahead (Green Lane), over The Cut – again – to the roundabout at the end. Cross to the road ahead (Oldfield Road) where you’ll see Brunel’s bridge in the distance. (Crossing on the right, over Bray Road seems safest). Keep on right hand pavement, go under the railway bridge and take the first right down Oldacres to the carpark.