Length: 13.2 km (8.2 miles). Toughness: 1/10
Take a non-stop GWR train from Paddington to Reading no later than the 10:50 to Oxford, arriving Reading at 11:13. There are slightly earlier fast trains to Paignton and Swansea, but I'm guessing these two might be more crowded. Another possibility is a semi-fast Didcot train leaving at 10:38 which gets in just two minutes later at 11:15.
Freedom Pass holders can of course take advantage of free travel on the Elizabeth line service from Abbey Wood (Liverpool Street 10:02…Paddington 10:15, Ealing Broadway 10:26 etc), arriving Reading at 11:10.
As there are a multitude of trains arriving on different platforms I suggest meeting on the overhead concourse, near the escalator leading to the northern exit.
Trains back from Shiplake are half-hourly at xx:04 & xx:34, but only the xx:34 connects at Twyford with a GWR service to Paddington. On both there's a 20-minute wait for an Elizabeth line train.
If you need to buy a ticket from London the best option is a return to Shiplake via Reading (or to Henley-on-Thames: same fare), which covers both the outward and return journeys. If you have an Oyster 60+ or Travelcard it's cheaper to buy a return from Boundary Zone 6 to Reading, then use contactless for the short hop from Shiplake to Twyford. Freedom Pass holders will also need to pay this small extra fare, and wait at Twyford for the Elizabeth line train.
Each Saturday The Times features “a good walk” and on June 6th it picked out the Thames Path from Reading to Shiplake. This reminded me of the rather neglected SWC Walk 61, which tends to get an occasional winter posting followed by tales of woe from walkers encountering excessively muddy or flooded stretches. There was no hint of any such calamity in the newspaper article so let's hope that the weather gods are in a better mood for this summer outing.
The two walks start differently: Walk 61 goes straight to the Thames from the station's northern exit, whereas the article describes a route from the southern exit via Forbury Gardens, the Abbey ruins and the River Kennet (will any map-reader be tempted to try this?). The routes merge at the confluence of the two rivers and a stretch on the southern bank of the Thames leads to Sonning, where you can choose between the popular Bull Inn and Coppa Club “an all-day restaurant and social hub” for lunch.
The Thames Path then switches to the ‘quieter and more remote’ northern bank. When you reach Shiplake Lock you can either continue on the Thames Path around a loop of the river or take a short cut across farmland to Shiplake. The full version of Walk 61 carries on to Henley-on-Thames but regular walkers will know all too well that a vital footbridge on the approach to Henley has been closed since 2022. There's a published diversion via Harpsden but it takes you a long way from the river, so unless you have a strong craving for tea'n'cake at one of the town's fine tearooms I suggest using the Baskerville Arms as a watering-hole and returning from the station at Shiplake.
Please bring the directions from the L=swc.61.a page. #2026-06-28T11:15
9 comments:
Look like the Lizzie line from Ealing Broadway leaves at 10:23, a few minutes earlier than the posted time.
traintimes.org.uk is still showing 10:26, but times might be subject to last-minute adjustments after this week's heatwave. No harm in getting there a bit early.
Interested in the walk. Anyone else going ??
My info comes from TFL website.
https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/results?InputFrom=Ealing+Broadway&FromId=1000062&InputTo=Reading+Rail+Station&ToId=1000972&TimeIs=departing&Date=20260628&Time=1000
The TfL Journey Planner is a bit odd. The detailed journey view shows that it gives you 3 minutes to get down to the platform for the 10:26 train (and 3 minutes to get out of Reading station at the other end). It's much the same for all journeys.
Thanks for the clarification, Sean.
Should be a v pleasant walk along the Thames
N=16 at the station . Rather worryingly, there was confusion about which side of the station was north (this despite signs clearly indicating).
Anyway we all got going and it wasn’t long before poor Mr Tiger was at the back.
The day w=started-cloudy-ended-sunny-with-a-refreshing-breeze
On and on we went. Past ducks, past geese, past swans, eventually reaching Sonning.
A sprinkling of people sandwiched in the graveyard. Most headed for the Bull, a pleasant pub with pleasant beer (HSB) and posh looking food, like peas on toast. (Posh, but no chips, just saying).
Others went to the Coppa Club nearer the river (food there was also said to be excellent).Walker n=17 caught us up there. (11am obviously too early a start).
The group had segmented after lunch and those segments vied for the back position. In the race to reach Shiplake, most failed to notice a statuesque Caucasian Wingnut in a nearby field ( it’s a tree innit). There was also a magnificent ancient plane tree. Nearing Shiplake, a shortcut was suggested but, you know what readers, no one took it. That’s the kind of stuff we’re made of. One or two investigated a re-opened footpath through back gardens (still there). Finally, another pleasant stop ensued, this time in the Baskerville Arms where a kindly benefactor topped up Mr Tiger’s glass with yet more cider. Most finished in Shiplake. Two hardnuts pressed on to Henley.
Everyone agreed it was a good choice of walk. There were suggestions that, maybe next time, it could incorporate a little loop through Reading ( like the big lion and the gaol).
The two ‘hardnuts’, or, as I would call it, intrepid and energetic walkers, walked to Henley using the official diversion of the Thames Path (which, shall it not be forgotten, celebrated its 30th official birthday that very day).
The diversion is well signposted and full information is available on a board near the pub In Shiplake and a dedicated website (https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/thames-path-marsh-lock-footbridge-closure-and-diversion/).
This added roughly 4.8km to the walk, including a short diversion through the centre of Henley to sample one of the modern matcha concoctions.
We caught 17:00 from Henley and in Shiplake we reconnected with three walkers who reached it at a more relaxed pace. We all got back on Elizabeth Line after a bit of a wait at Twyford.
Great outing overall.
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