Sunday Walk: Cookham to Maidenhead

17.0km (10.6 miles) Toughness 3 out of 10.
In an area that inspired Kenneth Grahame to write The Wind in the Willows, this figure-of-9 walk passes artist Stanley Spencer’s former home then ventures into the hills, with views over the Thames Valley. Later it drops down to the Thames and returns to Cookham for lunch. The afternoon follows a pretty stretch of the Thames Path to Maidenhead. En route, you could, if you’d rather, cross the river and finish in Taplow. Nothing to stop you dropping out at  Cookham either - maybe after a visit to the Stanley Spencer Gallery.
Trains   
Take the 9:41 Elizabeth line train from Paddington (Ealing Broadway 09:49). Change at Maidenhead (arr. 10:18, dep 10:29) onto the Marlow train, reaching Cookham at 10:36. Get a return to Cookham.
Return from Maidenhead at xx:17and xx:47 (both Elizabeth line) or xx:30(Great Western).
Return from Taplow at xx:20 and xx:50 (it's also on the Elizabeth line)
Return from Cookham at xx:16
Freedom Pass holders can travel free on the Elizabeth line as far as Maidenhead but would need a ticket (either single or return) from there to Cookham.
Lunch: Before Cookham, the Bounty pub (tel 01628 520 056), by the river, serves basic pub grub.
The suggested place for lunch in Cookham is the Kings Arms (tel 01628 530 667) in the High Street. Alternatives include The Ferry (tel 01628 525 123), and the Bel and the Dragon (tel 01628 521 263),
Tea On the way into Maidenhead, there's the terrace bar at Boulter’s Lock (tel 01628 621 291), which serves cream teas (this would also suit defectors to Taplow) or later, Jenners Café. .
Directions here
T=1.24