Trek Notes - England

The Thames Path- West


General Information
The Thames Path National Trail follows England 's most famous river from its source in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier where the River Thames meets the sea. The western section of the trail offered here follows the river from its source near Cirencester to Pangbourne near Reading, where the Thames changes from a rural river to a major urban waterway. As it traces the development of the Thames from a tree-shaded hollow in a remote Cotswold meadow to a stream and then a navigable river, the route passes through a tranquil landscape of river banks bordered by willow and alder, water meadows grazed by cattle and sheep, fields planted with crops, hedgerows, woodland, and attractive unspoilt villages. The trail also passes through several historic market towns and cities including Lechlade, a beautiful Cotswold town whose wealth, derived from trade on the Thames, is reflected in its magnificent 'wool church'; Abingdon, one of England's most beautiful towns with its magnificent County Hall; Dorchester dominated by its great abbey church; and Oxford, all gothic towers, echoing quadrangles, wide streets and beautiful buildings of honey-colored stone.

Ancient riverside inns, imposing country houses, a wealth of churches and the amazing variety of bridges dating from the 14th century to the present day add to the charm of this wonderful walk.


Travel Information
Total Distance: 88 miles (140km)
Duration: 9 nights, 8 walking days
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 8 miles (13km)/13 miles (21km)
Waymarking: The Thames Path National Trail is clearly waymarked and is very easy to follow
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Kemble
End of holiday: Pangbourne
Most convenient railway station (start of trail): Kemble
Most convenient railway station (end of trail): Pangbourne


Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Kemble

Day 2: Kemble to Cricklade 121/2 miles (20km)

Day 3: Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles (17.5km)

Day 4: Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge 8 miles (13km)

Day 5: Tadpole Bridge to Bablock Hythe 101/2 miles (17km)

Day 6: Bablock Hythe to Oxford 12 miles (19km)

Day 7: Oxford to Abingdon 10 miles (16km)

Day 8: Abingdon to Wallingford 13 miles (21km)

Day 9: Wallingford to Pangbourne 11 miles (17.5km)

Day 10: Depart Pangbourne


Accommodation & Meals
9 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail.
Traditional cooked breakfast

What’s Included
Door to door luggage transfer.
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail
An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.
Emergency assistance.

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