The Thames Path
ISSUE 2 JUNE TO AUGUST 2016
Thames Path 20th Anniversary Walking Relay
In July 2016 the 184 mile along walkers who are ford Marshes. Thames Path Na onal walking the whole or part All walks are free. Dona‐ Trail will mark the 20th of the Trail. ons will be gratefully INSIDE THIS anniversary since its crea‐ accepted to support the on. To mark the anniver‐ A series of walks each ISSUE: Thames Path Na onal sary the Ramblers are or‐ day along the en re length of the Thames Trail. To donate visit Thames Path 1 ganising a trail long walk‐ ing baton relay ‐ a series Path Na onal Trail and www.na onaltrail.co.uk/ Anniversary of Rambler led walks Thames Path extension thames‐path/donate Thames Path 2 along the en re length of to Crayford Marshes in I see this anniversary relay Anniversary the Thames Path Na onal the London Borough of walk ‐ in partnership with Itinerary Trail passing along a ba‐ Bexley. Total distance The Ramblers‐ as provid‐ ton right along to the 185 + 9.75 miles Task Diary & 3 Thames Path Extension to ing a great opportunity to bring together organisa‐ Booking Crayford Marshes. The The relay will start on Sat‐ Relay walk is a free event urday 9 July at 9.45am in ons who value what the Volunteers at 4 and along the route there the Cotswolds with the trail brings to their area Work will be representa ves flag off walk at Kemble and those many individu‐ als who enjoy walking the Walkers 5 from the local parishes, sta on to Cricklade centre Feedback county councils, as well as and the finishing leg will Thames Path, in a celebra‐ trail volunteers, local his‐ be on Sunday 24 July at on of this unique Na on‐ torians and celebri es 10.30am star ng from the al Trail. joining in or cheering Thames Barrier to Cray‐ Steven Tabbitt Trail Manager
How to join in Places on the walk are limited (50 places a day outside London and 100 inside Lon‐ don , 200 for the final day) and those wishing to take part need to book through Event‐ brite.
Dick M‐W. making the wooden baton for the relay
E: nt.volunteers@oxfordshire.gov.uk PAGE 2 20th Anniversary Walk Schedule
How to join this free historic walk Places on the walk are limited (50 places a day outside London and
100 inside London, 200 for the final day)‐ and those wishing to take part need to book through Eventbrite.
You Day Date Start loca on/ me finish loca on mileage can 1 Sat 9/7 Kemble Railway Stn Cricklade 12.25 (09.45am) book 2 Sun 10/7 Cricklade (09.45am) Lechlade 11.00 onto TP opp Red Lion PH 3 Mon 11/7 Lechlade (09.45am) Newbridge 16.75 any TP The Riverside Park 4 Tues 12/7 Newbridge (10.00am) TP Oxford 14.00 part next to Rose Revived pub of the 5 Wed 13/7 Oxford Stn (10.30am) Abingdon 9.75 walk 6 Thur 14/7 Abingdon (10.15am) Wallingford 13.5 or... Market Place opp Old Town hall 7 Fri 15/7 Wallingford (10.30am) Pangbourne 11.75 for all Market Place of it! 8 Sat 16/7 Pangbourne (10.30am) Shiplake 13.00 TP South End Whitchurch Bridge
9 Sun 17/7 Shiplake Railway Stn Marlow 11.00
10 Mon 18/7 Marlow Railway Stn Windsor Bridge 14.25 (10.15am) 11 Tues 19/7 Windsor Bridge (10.35am) Shepperton 13.75
Thames Path 12 Wed 20/7 Shepperton Railway Stn Kingston Bridge 9.25 East side National Trails Office (10.40am) Signal Court 13 Thur 21/7 Kingston Bridge (10.20 am) Kew Bridge Stn 10.0 Old Station Way Eynsham 14 Fri 22/7 Kew Bridge Stn (10.35am) Vauxhall Bridge 13.5 Oxford OX29 4TL Tel: 01865 810211 [email protected] 15 Sat 23/7 Vauxhall Bridge (10.30am) Thames Barrier 12.0 TP riverside by St George’s wharf
16 Sun 24/7 Thames Barrier (10.30am) Crayford Marshes 11.25 Finish Slade Green Stn THE THAMES PATH ISSUE 2 PAGE 3 Task Diary
KEY TBC=to be confirmed To book onto a task please C = Clearance Email: [email protected] M= Mowing S = Strimming Call: 01865 810211
June July August
1st Monkton M 1 2nd Princes Risborough M 12 2nd Uffington M 2 4th Newbridge M 10 3rd Snap M 3 6th Shiplake S 6 5th Marlow S 11 4th South Stoke M 6 7th Watlington M + S 4 6th Swinford M 7 10th TBC 8th Blowingstone M 2 7th TBC 11th Uffington M 2 9th Lechlade + Kelmsco M 5 25th Idstone M 2 15th Watlington M 4 20th Ogbourne M 3 26th Ashbury M 2 16th Blowingstone M 2 21st Kempsford M 9 27th Workshop 7 17th lechlade M 5 22nd Workshop M 10 28th TBC 22nd Monkton M 1 23rd Osney M 8 23rd Shiplake S 6 27th Cricklade S 9 24th Workshop 7 28th Chimney C + M 5 25th TBC 29th Fiddlers M 8 29th Chimney M 5 30th Workshop 7 30th TBC 31st TBC
12 7 8 10
9 5 4
2 6
3 1 11
Task Bookings The task locations are shown as numbers on the map so that you can see which locations suit you. Please ensure that you book early as the practical tasks are becoming very popular. Occasionally we may have to change a task location or date as issues of a higher priority may occur or if the weather conditions are not suitable. If this happens, we will try to keep you as up-to-date as we can. Oxford Osney— Grass cut PAGE 4 Volunteers at Work Surfacing at Marsh Lock, Henley The ac ve link between our monitors’ reports and the volunteer tasks com‐ pleted can be seen below. This pre y stretch at Marsh Lock has beau ful views across the Thames resul ng in it being a very heavily used sec on. A monitor’s report came in about bad condi on of the surface. The result? Volunteers had a task day and laid a new surface down. Brilliant work all round! Thank you!
Mark R. and Rodger P. Mark R. and Mar n B. Boardwalk Repairs at Cholsey Barbara O. and Mick F. Monitor this sec on and reported the damaged boardwalk. They then came out on a task to clean and repair it! Hopefully they will have a chance to enjoy walking it now.
Mar n B., Michael C. and Barbara O.
THE THAMES PATH ISSUE 2 PAGE 5 Walkers Feedback
Walkers send in feedback via email and on our website, here are a few comments received this past few weeks: Anniversary Badge I walked the Thames Path from the Source to the Thames Barrier. It was a fantas c 15 days and not only did I find the We’re having a Thames Path route marked accurately 99% of the me, but the official badge made to commemorate na onal trail guides covering the 'country' and 'London' the 20th Anniversary. were absolutely invaluable.
A big 'thank you' to everyone for their work in maintaining such a wonderful route and providing such helpful literature. Rosie E. We have completed a number of long distance walks in recent years and found the Thames Path to be one of the best. On both occasions we were mostly blessed with good weather but there are some real‐ ly magnificent sec ons with Spring burs ng into life. It really is Eng‐ land at its best and can match anywhere else in the world.
We found the path on the whole well marked and maintained and the official guide books most helpful. Our accommoda on along the The badge will be blue and route, mostly sourced from the Na onal Trail Companion book was great. So very well done, keep up the good work. nickel and have a brooch back.
Alan J. It will be for sale on the The Thames Na onal Trail is a tapestry of English history. I've just Thames Path website and at finished walking between Oxford and London in 13 easy stages, using public transport to access each end of my walk. I've seen in‐ the start of each day on the teres ng flora and fauna and passed through several important anniversary walk. historical towns icluding Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Windsor, Hampton Court, Kingston, Richmond, Kew, Chelsea, Westminster and the City of London. For 95% of the way the route follows the river. At Whitchurch on Thames there is the only steep climb. There are pubs and facili es at regular inter‐ vals of no more than 6 miles.
I par cularly enjoy the Thames towpath from close to the rail sta‐ on in Oxford, through to Donnington Bridge. You can see wildlife, Running short? lots of plants, pick blackberries, see ac vity at Osney lock, have a quiet drink in The Punter nearby, then stroll along watching rowing If you’re running short of envelopes, eights, and scullers from the University College Boathouses in the report forms or bin bags please stretch from Folly Bridge to Donnington Bridge, as well as admiring email us ‐ and many thanks again for the moored launches and houseboats. All this is a stone's throw from the city, but you could be in the midst of the country ‐ quiet being our eyes & ears along the and peaceful. For those with mobility issues, there are plenty of Trails. benches to relax on, and get your breath if necessary. Well worth finding, and will add immeasurably to your Oxford visit. Watch out E: [email protected] for me, though.....I'm the one pan ng past on my regular run!
Thames Path Na onal Trails Office Signal Court, Old Sta on Way, Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TL Informa on: [email protected] Volunteering: [email protected] or Tel: 01865 810211 Email: [email protected]