Length: 13.5 km (8.4 miles) or 15.2 km (9.4 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Either
London Paddington: 09-56 hrs Great Western service to Reading Ealing Broadway: 10-05 hrs
Arrive Maidenhead: 10-30 hrs Change trains
Leave Maidenhead: 10-34 hrs Great Western service from Maidenhead to Marlow
Arrive Marlow: 10-57 hrs
Or
London Paddington: 09-43 hrs TFL Rail service to Reading Ealing Broadway: 09-51 hrs
Arrive Maidenhead: 10-24 hrs Change trains
Leave Maidenhead: 10-34 hrs Great Western service from Maidenhead to Marlow (as above)
Arrive Marlow: 10-57 hrs
Return: Henley-on-Thames to Paddington - changing at Twyford: 15-57, 16-27, 16-59, 17-36 and 18-07
Rail ticket: Seniors possessing London Councils Freedom Passes can travel on TFL Rail trains to Maidenhead using their "free" travel passes. You will then just require a day return from Maidenhead to - suggest - Henley-on-Thames (being the further of the two destination railway stations). For the rest of you, try a day return from London (or the edge of your travel card) to Henley-on-Thames - although if you are very unlucky and encounter and over zealous ticket inspector, you might be asked to purchase a single ticket from Maidenhead to Marlow.
Today's walk starts with a 2.3 km relaxing walk along the River Thames riverside path once we have left the centre of Marlow. At Temple lock we cross the river to continue along its southern side, in a westerly direction, to Hurley lock before heading inland to Hurley. We continue over a series of fields and water meadows to the village of Aston where we stop for lunch at the Flower Pot Hotel a homely pub.
After lunch we have a choice of routes from Aston to take us to Henley: either via Remenham Hill or via the river path (1 mile longer). We can decide which to take on the day.
T=2.8.a
Walk Directions are here: L=2.8.a
1 comment:
13 met outside Marlow railway station, most having travelled from Paddington on the TFL Rail service to Maidenhead. Unfortunately, 3 on the posted Great Western service from Paddington were delayed at Slough and missed the connection at Maidenhead for the Marlow service, and so continued on to Henley via Twyford and did the Henley via Hambleden walk. The walk author was one of the 3 and he took the opportunity to do a walk check. The 3 met up with us at the lunch pub in Aston. Finally, 1 walker was an hour behind us: she met us on the platform of Henley railway station at walk-end. So, if I've got my sums right, that makes n=17.
We were more than lucky with the weather today. We enjoyed a w=glorious-sunny-late-autumn-day, in mild temperatures, with little if any breeze. The sun enhanced the last of this year's lovely leaf colour all day. The morning leg along the river then over river meadows was particularly pleasant.
On arriving at the Flower Pot Hotel just after 1 pm, 4 of us opted to have lunch, to be joined later by the 3 from the Henley walk. The food was mediocre - and a far cry from earlier times when the pub specialised in game dishes and Sunday roasts, The fare on offer is now egg and chips, bangers and mash etc. No matter, what we had filled us up for the afternoon leg of the walk. Meanwhile, our sandwichers - having been told they could not eat their picnics in the large, empty rear garden of the pub, despite offering to buy drinks from the pub's bar - decided to move on. They picnicked at Hambleden Lock, before continuing their walk - some back to Marlow, and some along the river to Henley.
The 4 "early" diners at the Flower Pot set out after lunch on the Remenham Hill route to Henley - and very enjoyable, too. More leaf colour, and some fine views along the way.
On reaching Henley, 3 of us called in at the Chocolate Cafe to indulge in tea and cakes, to be joined by 2 sandwichers and the 3 Henley walkers later. 5 of us - plus the late walker - took the 15-57 service from Henley, and the 3 Henley walkers probably caught the 16-27 service.
It was a lovely day's walking in glorious late autumn sunshine and in very good SWC company. I got home earlier than expected and in time to attend a church PCC meeting : part of me was hoping I would miss it !
Post a Comment