Sunday Walk: Cookham to Maidenhead

17.0km (10.6 miles)
Toughness 3 out of 10.
This figure-of-9 walk , through Wind in the Willows country, passes artist Stanley Spencer’s former house, 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.  Adm £7 closes 4:30.
Trains
Take the 9:18 Elizabeth line train from Paddington (Ealing Broadway 9:26). Change at Maidenhead onto the Marlow train,(arrive 9:56, depart 10:03 platform 5) reaching Cookham at 10:10 .
(Slugabeds who are quick at changing platforms could catch the 9:38 GWR from Paddington, arriving Maidenhead at 9:59).
Return from Maidenhead at xx:11, xx:30, and 41 (all  Elizabeth line) or xx:55 (Great Western).
Return from Taplow at xx:14, and 44 (it's on the Elizabeth line)
Return from Cookham at xx:44
Get a return to Cookham.
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: 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). Before Cookham, the Bounty pub (tel 01628 520 056), by the river, serves basic pub grub.
There  are teashops as well, notably the Teapot, open till 5
Tea On the way into Maidenhead an attractive place to stop for tea is 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. Open till 5.
Directions here
T=1.24