Eton Dorney to Windsor and Eton Station Starts at Lock Path, Eton Dorney 1 hours 13 minutes | 2.4miles 3.9km | Easy ID: 248.1 | Developed by: Justin Bend | Checked by: Rachel Jenkins | http://www.ramblers2012ledwalks.org.uk A particularly pleasant, short walk following the Thames Path into Windsor and taking in some great views of Windsor Castle across the Thames River. © Crown Copyright 2012 500 m Scale = 1 : 27K 2000 ft Main Route Alternative Route Point of Interest Waypoint 2012 Led Walks is run by the Ramblers, Britain’s walking charity. We are leading walks to and from selected Games venues across London, Lee Valley, Hadleigh Farm, Eton Dorney and Weymouth. The walks provide a healthy and sustainable way to get to events Starts at End of Lock Path, Dorney SL4 6QQ (SU 939778) Ends at Windsor and Eton Central station (SU 967769) Getting there Bus Redline 63 and 68 (www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk for more info) runs an infrequent service between Eton and Dorney (The Palmers Arms) on weekdays. Starting from The Palmers Arms, stand with your back to the pub and walk left along the B3026 towards Eton. Go past the end of the village into the common and take the first road on the right, Boveney Road. This goes straight ahead and then bends left into Lock Path. The start of the walk is at the end of Lock Path by a cattle grid next to a red bricked cottage. Regular trains run from Eton & Windsor Central station to Slough and from Windsor and Eton Riverside station to London Waterloo. From Eton Dorney 2012 Olympic venue follow signs to Eton and Windsor. At the exit take the path to the right towards Windsor. The walk starts by the cattle grid where the road becomes a path. There is a red bricked cottage to the left. Parking is available off Lock Path. Route instructions From the exit follow Lock Path to the right. The walk starts by the cattle grid where the road becomes a path. You will see a red bricked cottage to the left. [1] ?From the start point follow the path through the gate and take the path almost immediately right towards Mary Magdelene Chapel. (A). If using the pushchair or wheelchair you can opt to follow the path straight running parallel to the Thames Path. (A) Built of chalk rubble and flint and standing on a site which has been a place of worship since before the Norman conquest, the origins of this church are obscure but the earliest recorded reference to it was made in 1266. Originally serving the the village of Boveney, the church was more than likely also used by people that live and worked on the river. The existence of the church today is a result of the actions of the local residents who fought to save the chapel when it was declared redundant in 1975 and was at risk of demolition or sold for conversion to residential use. A further 300m along the path brings one to perhaps one of River Thames' busiest, most attractive and photographed lock, Boveney Lock. If you are following the alternate route, there is a distinct path leading down to the lock. (B) The original timber lock was built in 1838 but was eventually replaced with the existing steel and concrete one in 1898 to cope with the increase in river traffic. Once past the lock continue to follow the clearly marked Thames Path. (C) Across the river, on your right-hand side is one of only two figure-of-eight racecourse in the UK, The Royal Windsor Racecourse. Whilst the local area has links to horse racing that date back to the time of Henry VIII, the first race meeting at Royal Windsor did not take place until 1866. There are a series of wooden benches en route, donated by Eton College in celebration of the Queen's jubilee, where you rest your legs and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the river views. Approximately 400 meters past Boveney Lock, the alternative route meets up with the gravel Thames Path. [2] Continue eastwards along the Thames Path. After about 300 meters, on the right-hand side of the path, you will come across The Bathing Place of Athens. (D) Swimming in the River Thames was once a commonplace activity and Eton College constructed four bathing places in the area. The memorial stone at the site of the Athens bathing area dedicates the place to an ex-member of Eton College who, having bathed at this spot as a child, died in flying accident in 1917. Take the time to read the inscriptions on both side of the stone. The inscription on the rear sets out the bathing regulations and well worth the read. 100 meters on from the Bathing Place of Athens, the path crosses Cuckoo Weir via a small wooden footbridge bringing one onto the Cuckoo Weir Island - home of Swan Lifeline. (E) Originally know as Save our Swans, Swan Lifeline is registered charity devoted to the care of sick and injured swans in Thames valley and surrounding area. To date they have rescued and treated over 20,000 swans. Once over the bridge, follow the clearly marked path across the island in the direction of the A355 bridge that crosses the river. Follow the path under the bridge and continue along the path. 50 meters on from the A355 bridge you will come across the world's oldest wrought iron bridge still in regular service, Brunel's Windsor Railway Bridge. (F) Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who achieved many engineering firsts, including the building of the first tunnel under a navigable river and the first propeller-driven ocean-going iron ship, the bridge was opened in 1849. The bridge was a forerunner of Brunel's final masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge and was Grade II listed in 1975. The final section of this leg of the route offers stunning views of Windsor Castle with the bustling River Thames in the foreground. This is also a really nice picnic spot if the weather is kind. [3] The route now enters the town of Windsor with the path leading past the Eton College Boathouse on the right and private residences on the left. Founded in Windsor in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton College has a long list of distinguished former pupils including nineteen British Prime Minister of which David Cameron is one. The Eton Boathouse, a Grade II Listed property, was built in the early 18th century and, as the name suggests, is where Eton College Boat Club store their boats. Continue on past the boathouse to Brocas Street, keeping the pub, The Watermans Arms, on your left. (G) The building was built in 1542 and, prior to becoming a pub, was originally a workhouse and was made into a makeshift mortuary in 1665 during the Great Plague. Follow Brocas Street through to the High Street before turning right onto Windsor Bridge. There are a wide range of pubs and cafes catering for all sorts of tastes on both sides of the bridge plus a chance to do a bit of shopping. Upon crossing the bridge and reaching the far side, turn immediately right down a relatively steep set of stairs to the riverside following the riverside walk through to River Street on your left. Turn left into River Street and follow this for about 100 meters to the intersection with Thames Street. For those wishing to avoid the stairs, continue straight on down Thames Street, turning right at the intersection into Thames Ave and following this through to River Street where you will turn left. Thames Ave & Street are particularly busy thoroughfares, so please take extra care when crossing these road. From here simply follow Thames Street for about 200m, keeping Windsor Castle on your left, to the entrance to Windsor & Eton Central Station. Additional 'Point of Interest' information (H) Eton College. Former pupils of Eton College are known as Old Etonians. Eton has produced nineteen British Prime Ministers (including the current Prime Minister, David Cameron) and many writers (including Henry Fielding, Thomas Gray, Horace Walpole, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Robert Bridges, George Orwell and Ian Fleming). Other notable Old Etonians include scientists Robert Boyle, John Maynard Smith, and J. B. S. Haldane, the dandy Beau Brummell, economists John Maynard Keynes and Richard Layard, Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, adventurer Bear Grylls, and musicians Hubert Parry, Frank Turner and Humphrey Lyttelton. Notable Old Etonian actors include Eddie Redmayne, Damian Lewis, Dominic West, Jeremy Brett, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston and Patrick Macnee. Eton College also has a strong connection with wildlife. Joseph Banks, the botanist on Captain Cook’s first expedition, went to Eton. In recent years, the school has become popular with the British Royal Family; Princes William and Harry are Old Etonians. A rising number of pupils come to Eton from overseas, including members of royal families from Africa and Asia, some of whom have been sending their sons to Eton for generations. One of them, King Prajadhipok or Rama VII (1893–1941) of Siam, donated a garden to Eton. (Sources: Wikipedia, 2012; Natural England) Notes 1. Please note that there are two stations in very close proximity to one another in Windsor, namely: Windsor & Eton Central & Windsor & Eton Riverside. 2. There are a number of Carparks to be found in Windsor which are all extortionately priced and particularly busy. It is recommended, if at all possible, to rather park outside of Windsor at one of the Park & Ride centres.