Start & Finish: Chorleywood Station, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5ND
Alternative Start and Finish: Parking at Chorleywood Common, WD3 5NZ
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 85 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Black Horse Pub (WD3 5EG), several in Chorleywood Village Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Chorleywood, Chorleywood Station, River Chess, Chenies, Chenies Manor

This a lovely circular walk in the eastern Chilterns. I thought I’d invented it myself but I’ve been doing some research on Google and it seems that others have had pretty much the same idea. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

We parked at one of a few free parking spots at Chorleywood Common. It’s also very accessible by train & Underground as Chorleywood Station is on the route and very close to where we started. Start by taking a north easterly route across the Common to the A404 Rickmansworth Road and cross over to the petrol station. Continue north east along Solesbridge Lane. Be careful here as its a country lane with no pavement. Its fairly quiet but you’ll probably need to duck into some of the driveways a cars pass. Shortly after passing Wyatt’s Road on the right, take a left onto the Chess Valley Walk.

From Solesbridge Lane continue in a North-Westerly direction with the Chess on your right until you reach the Chiltern Way. There’s an option about half way along to cross over the Chess and follow the Chess Valley Walk on the northern side, crossing back over via the Chiltern Way. Follow the Chiltern Way south West for ~2.5km until you cross under the railway line at Carpenter’s Wood. You’ll have passed the southern edge of Chenies village and over the A404 again on the way.

Leave the Chiltern Way immediately after the railway underpass by taking the footpath on the left. You’ll follow a wooded trail parallel to the rail line for just over 1 km taking you into Chorleywood Village Centre. Take a left onto Shire Lane, cross under the rail line again then first right onto Station Approach. If you arrived by tube or train you’ll be back to the start at Chorleywood station. Continue along Station Approach a bit further to reach the parking on Chorleywood Common.

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower27 June 2020Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Cycling The Windsor to Staines Railway

Start & Finish: Windsor & Eton Riverside Railway Station, Windsor SL4 1NA, United Kingdom
Distance: 26.3 km (16.3 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 78 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in both Windsor and Staines Town Centres. A good half-way stop is The Swan Hotel, Staines
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Staines-Windsor Line, Windsor & Eton Riverside Station, Datchet Station, Sunnymeads Station, Wraysbury Station, Staines West Station (closed), Staines Station

Hot on the heels of the Slough to Windsor Railway cycle ride, next up was Windsor to Staines. This one started at Windsor & Eton Riverside station which is a short walk from Windsor & Eton Central but on a completely different line. The Riverside Station is the terminus for a branch line that connects to the Waterloo to Reading line at Staines. To make this a circular route we took the Thames Path back to Windsor from Staines. An obvious alternative would be to make it a point-to-point trip, returning via train to Windsor. Although the route is enjoyable either as a cycle or a walk there’s a few points to note on either option.

Starting from Windsor & Eton Riverside Station, take Farm Yard North to the Thames Path and take a right. Follow the Thames Path on a North-Easterly direction past Romney Lock and through Home park until you reach the bridge that takes the B470 King Edward Avenue over the Thames. Cross the Thames and follow the B470 to Datchet, taking a left onto the B470 Datchet High Street. At the mini roundabout take a right and follow the B376 Horton Road towards the East.

If you’re walking you can take a footpath on the right about 1.5 km along the B376. This will take you alongside the railway line, over a level crossing and eventually to Sunnymeads Station. Continue through Sunnymeads until you reach the B376 again, now called Welley Road. If you’re cycling, you’ll find the footpath a bit tight so it’s best avoided. As a quick diversion continue to the mini-roundabout, taking the second exit onto Welley Road and join up with where the footpath comes out of Sunnymeads.

Continue on the B376 to Wraysbury High Street and take a left onto Station Road. Continue on Station Road until you get to Wraysbury Station. Take a right onto the footpath to the East side of the Colne Brook. The footpath runs parallel to the rail line for ~1.5 km until it connects to Moor Lane just before the M25 overpass. This is best taken on foot but if you’re attempting it by bike make sure you’re on a mountain bike as it’s quite uneven and rooty. If you’re cycling and want to avoid this section, its best to take the right turn onto the B376 Staines Road at Wraysbury rather than left to Wraysbury Station. This will take you through Hythe End directly into Staines Town Centre.

Whichever option you have just taken, you’ll end up at the Two Rivers Shopping Centre. Here' you’ll cross both the River Colne and River Wraysbury (stars of previous cycle trips). Follow clear signage through the town to Staines Railway Station. From the station you’re ~ 500m from the Thames Path which gives you a very easily navigable return route to Windsor.

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Richard gower24 June 2020Cycle, NCN, Thames, Railway, Colne Valley, Berkshire, Surrey, EnglandComment

Runnymede and Old Windsor Circular Walk

Start & Finish: The National Trust Car Park, Windsor Rd, Englefield Green, Windsor SL4 2JL
Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 23 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Magna Carta Tea Room (SL4 2JJ), Coffee Shop at Windsor Farm Shop (SL4 2RQ)
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Runnymede National Trust, Runnymede, Old Windsor, Ham Island

For the third and final part of our Runnymede walking trilogy we returned to the main National Trust Car park and headed North. This walk centres on a quiet part of the Thames Path to the East of Old Windsor. It’s a part of the National Trail that I’d often cycled many years ago but very little recently.

The first half is very easy to navigate as you just follow the Thames Path North until the Southlea Road Bridge. Along the way you’ll divert away from the actual route of the Thames and along New Cut, a man-made channel which created Ham Island on it’s Eastern bank. At Southlea Bridge walk up the stone steps and turn left, following Southlea Road for ~700m. The right hand side of the road is all private Crown Estate land and you can visit the Farm Shop for a mid-walk coffee.

Continue South-East as Southlea Road continues onto Straight Road through Old Windsor. Turn left onto Church Road and continue until the junction. Here you have 2 options: continue straight (East) to St Peters and Andrews Church, eventually reconnecting with the Thames Path, or taking the right hand footpath. The first option gives you a simple route back but you’ll be retracing your steps along the river. The later option takes you through the residential area back to Straight Road. Here you turn left and continue back to the Thames Path further down.

Previous Thames Path Section (west): Windsor Home Park Circular Walk
Next Thames Path Section (east): Runnymede Memorials

Back to Thames Path Walks Index

Richard gower21 June 2020Trek, Thames, National Trust, Berkshire, EnglandComment

South Hinksey and Chilswell Valley Circular Walk

View of the Oxford skyline from the Chiswell Valley

Start & Finish: Hinksey Park Car Park, A4144 Abingdon Road, Oxford OX1 4PZ
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 71 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Devils Backbone, Hinksey Heights Nature Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 5
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe at Oxford Garden Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (180) Oxford, Witney and Woodstock
Links: South Hinksey, Chilswell, Oxfordshire County Council Walks and Rides: Chiswell Valley Circular

In a change or location from our recent Chiltern and Surrey Hills based walks we started exploring Oxfordshire this week. The County Council’s website is a great resource for walks and we chose the Chilswell Valley Circular as our first. It’s easily accessible from the city centre and quickly takes you out into quiet countryside. The brief diversion to cross the busy Southern Bypass Road is a minor inconvenience, but a small annoyance in an otherwise great short walk. See the council’s PDF on the walk for route details.

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Richard gower20 June 2020Trek, Railway, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Beeches Way

For a well signed route very close to my home, it’s odd that I’d not completed this one years ago. At 27km (18 miles) this would have made for a good training for an ultra marathon so I kept it on the back burner for when I needed it. When the Covid-19 Lockdown came and all races cancelled, it was time to bring it forward. So, as soon as it was acceptable to travel a small distance from home, we decided that it was time to tackle it.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

SECTION 1 - COOKHAM TO STOKE COMMON

Start: The Ferry, Sutton Road, Cookham, Maidenhead, SL6 9SN
Finish: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +118m / -69m. Net -49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Buckinghamshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blackwood Arms, The Beeches Eco Cafe, several in Farnham Common
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Cookham, Hedsor, Burnham Beeches, Farnham Common, Stoke Common

The best place to start is the Ferry, a lovely riverside pub and restaurant next to the road crossing on the Thames at Cookham. The car park is for customers only but there’s other parking options nearby if you’re driving to the start. For the rail-return option (see below for details), Cookham Station is a 1.3 km walk to the Ferry.

From the Ferry, cross the road bridge and look out for the footpath on the right hand side of the road past the county sign for Buckinghamshire. Here you’ll cross a field and rejoin the Thames for a short distance. After passing through a small gated estate you’ll cross Hedsor Hill Road and onto a track that passes St Nicholas Church on the right and Hedsor Folly on the left. The 1km from Hedsor Lane to Broad Lane is pretty steep but once you get to the top the rest of this section is fairly flat.

As you continue along the Beeches Way you’ll notice that there’s a lot of signage to assist you. Be careful though as the Beeches Way signs are poorly maintained and many have faded or have moved, pointing in ambiguous directions. As the route also follows Shakespeare’s Way, you can look out for that route’s stickers, but a map or GPS route would be very helpful.

At approx 5.5 km in you’ll pass the Blackwood Arms, location of some Midsomer Murders episodes and a good place for a rest at approximately half way in. From here you’re only 1 km from the section than runs through Burnham Beeches, a well maintained country park and nature reserve. From Burnham Beeches you’ll pass through Farnham Common and woodland before reaching the end of this section at Stoke Common.

There’s a bus stop at the B416 Gerrards Cross Road with connections to Amerham, Wycombe, Gerrards Cross and Slough. If you’re driving the parking options are extremely limited here so an alternative end point would be Farnham Common. This would reduce section 1 by just over 2 km and add it to section 2.

SECTION 2 - STOKE COMMON to Langley Park

Start: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Finish: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +48m / -65m. Net -17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse Fulmer, San Remo Kiosk Black Park, Langley Park Tearoom
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Stoke Common, Fulmer, Black Park, Langley Park

From the B416 Gerrards Cross Road enter Stoke Common and follow the main North-Easterly path to the footpath exit on Stoke Common Road. Take a left onto Windmill Road down to Fulmer village centre. The Black Horse pub is one of our favourites and a good, albeit pricey, stop for a meal. On the North side of St James’ Church, take the footpath to the right before the bridge over the Alderbourne Stream. The trail follows the stream for ~300m before heading uphill through fields and into the private Fulmer Rise Estate.

Continue through the Fulmer Rise estate to exit and take a left onto Fulmer Common Road. When we got to the big metal footpath gate we found that one of the residents had locked it off with a bike chain. Some other walkers had already turned around and gone back to Fulmer. We asked a nice lady in the nearest house to open the car gate for us and continued on our way. Hopefully that was a one-off incident of public right-of-way blocking but we reported it to the council anyway.

A short way down Fulmer Common Road, take the first right onto Black Park Road and then a path ~400m on the left into Black Park. This is one of my favourite Country Parks and location of my home parkrun event. There’s many trails through the park but you’re basically heading South East to the footpath exit onto the A420 Uxbridge Road. Keeping to the Western side of the park will take you around the lake and past 2 cafes while the Eastern side will give you a glimpse of the back of Pinewood Studios at the North End.

At the South-East corner of Black park you can cross over the A420 Uxbridge Road to enter the North Eastern corner of Langley Park. Be very careful crossing this road as it can be extremely busy with cars travelling very fast. With the noisy road behind you, you can now enjoy the peace of the Rhododendron walks through Temple Gardens. This stage of the walk ends at the Langley Park cafe and car park as you emerge from Temple Gardens.

SECTION 3 - Langley Park to West Drayton Railway Station

Start: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Finish: Station Approach, Yiewsley, West Drayton UB7 9DY, United Kingdom
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +29m / -61m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, London Loop, Grand Union Canal, Grand Union Canal Slough Arm, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 69
Pubs / Cafes on route: Langley Park Tearoom, The Swan At Iver, The Rail Road Cafe West Drayton
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Langley Park, Iver, Yiewsley

From the Langley Park car park follow any of several footpaths through the park to the South Eastern corner. Here you’ll pick up a path heading directly East with sign-post for the Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way, Colne Valley Trail and NCN 61. Continue following the Beeches Way for 3 km on an Easterly direction. You’ll cross over Billet Lane, Wood Lane and Love Lane along the way, each of these running North/South. When you reach Bangor’s Road South you’ll turn right onto it, following South-East for ~300m before turning left onto Coppins Lane. Continue North along Coppins Lane and follow it as it turns from a road into a footpath and curves to the East. Watch out for a junction in the footpath and be careful to turn right rather than continuing on the Colne Valley Trail

After leaving Coppins Lane you’ll continue due South for just over 1 km and will reach Iver High Street. Cross over the High Street and continue South along Thorney Lane North. When you see signs for the Beeches Way pointing left down Victoria Crescent DO NOT follow them. A bridge over the canal further down this section has been removed but the signs have not been updated. Instead, continue South down Thorney Lane North until you cross the Grand Union Canal. On the South West corner of the bridge you can walk down to the canal towpath. Walk East along the towpath and you’ll rejoin the Beeches Way.

Follow the canal for ~1 km, crossing over both the Colne Brook and River Colne. When you reach a big metal footbridge crossing over the canal watch out for sign-posts and a Coal Post. Take a right onto the path leading from the bridge and continue South East. After ~1 km you’ll cross the River Frays and across a residential island then over the main section of the Grand Union Canal. Follow the Grand Union South East for ~500m until you reach the end of the route at West Drayton.

Accessing the start and end by train

We tackled the Beeches way by leaving a car at either end of each of the point-to-point sections. If you want to complete the route in 1 day there’s also an option to take a train from one end to the other. Cookham Station is 1.3 km from the start of the route at the Thames river bridge and the end of the route is very close to West Drayton station. From West Drayton you can take a train heading west and change at Maidenhead. From Maidenhead take a train towards Marlow or Bourne End and get off at Cookham.

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower19 June 2020Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Thames, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, England, Coal Duty PostComment

Ankerwycke and Wraysbury Circular Walk

View of the Ankerwyke NT fields from the Western footpath near Magna Carta Lane

Start & Finish: The National Trust Car Park, Magna Carta Lane, Wraysbury, TW19 5AD
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 33 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Colne Brook Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: The George at Wraysbury
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: National Trust Runnymede and Ankerwycke, Ankerwyke Yew, St Mary’s Priory, Ankerwyke, Wraysbury

This walk was the second of a 2-part exploration of the Runnymede and Ankerwyke National Trust site. We had already completed the Runnymede Memorials Circular the week before. The Ankerwyke site is much less visited, mostly because it’s not directly connected to the Runnymede site on the other side of the Thames. I’d actually been to Runnymede many times before but never knew there was anything to see across the river. Having discovered it, it’s a very pleasant, quiet part of the area for a interesting circular walk. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

The best place to park is at the free National Trust Car Park on Magna Carta Lane. It’s very small though, holding about 10 cars and little-to-no options for parking elsewhere on that road. If it’s full the best alternative would to be park in Wraysbury Village Centre or at The George pub.

From the National Trust Car Park take the main footpath South through the cow fields to the Thames. Along the way you’ll pass the 2 main points of interest, The Ankerwyke Yew and the ruins of St Mary’s Priory. When you reach the Thames, turn left and follow the footpath East. After approx 500m the path will take a sharp left to head North away from the river. Look out for a small gate on the right hand side of the path that will take you onto Hythe End Road. A sign says that it’s a private road, but there didn’t seem to be any issues with walking down it.

Hythe End Road ends at a Thames Water pumping station which marks the start of the Staines Rivers Aqueduct. Follow the road as it takes a sharp left up to the B376 Staines Road. Take a right here and continue for about 100 metres. You’ll pass over a bridge on the Colne Brook and will find a footpath on the left taking you into Wraybury Lakes. The 1 km footpath here is a lovely part of the circuit passing by the Colne Brook River on your left and a reservoir on your right.

At the Northern end of the Wraysbury Lakes footpath you’ll pass over the Windsor-Staines railway line on a level-crossing. On the Northern side of this turn left and follow the footpath next to the tracks until you reach Coppermill Road. Take a left here, following the road over the railway bridge at Wraysbury station and look out for a footpath on the left taking you onto The Lane. This will pass through a farm and onto Wraysbury Footpath 7 that takes you to Wraysbury High Street. When you reach the village centre take a moment to see the windmills behind Wraybury Baptist Church.

Continue South along Wraysbury High Street and take a right onto the B376 Windsor Road. Shortly you’ll pass The George Pub on the right. Take a left onto St Andrew’s Lane and enter into the Church grounds. At the back of the church you’ll find a footpath heading South. Continue on this all the way back into the National Trust property. When you reach Magna Carta Lane you can either take a left and follow the road directly back to the car park or pick one of the footpaths back to the Thames. We choose one that runs along the Western perimeter of the fields, joining back with the main path near St Mary’s Priory.

Back to Thames Path Index

Richard gower14 June 2020Trek, Colne Valley, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Box Hill Hike

View from the OS Trig Pillar at Box Hill

Start & Finish: The National Trust Car Park, Zig Zag Rd, Tadworth, KT20 7LB
Distance: 11.2 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 370 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Thames Down Link
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
OS Trig Pillars: TP1553 - Box Hill, TP4791 - Mickleham Down,
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Running Horses Mickleham
Map: OS Explorer Map (146) Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate
Links: National Trust Box Hill, Box Hill Hike Route Guide, Peakbagger: Box Hill

The Box Hill Hike is a classic of the Surrey Hills trails. It’s a bit longer, a bit steeper and a bit more enjoyable that others that we’ve been to in the area recently. The National Trust’s guide to the walk gives a clear description on the route so I won’t repeat it here. My additional notes on the route are:

The official start and finish points are at the National Trust Visitors’ Centre at the top of Zig Zag Road. They have a car park there but it can be extremely popular in Summer weekends or Bank Holidays. There’s alternative on-street parking further round the route in Box Hill Village or Mickleham.
The route is well signposted but all signs point in an anti-clockwise direction. If you’re going clockwise, as we did, you’ll need to keep a closer watch out for the signs as some will be facing away from you as you pass them.
Baggers of OS Trig Points will find 2 pillars on route, one (Box Hill) very near the National Trust Car Park at the start and the other on Mickleham Down.

Back to Surrey Hills Index

Richard gower13 June 2020Trek, Trig Pillar, National Trust, Surrey Hills, Surrey, EnglandComment

Runnymede Memorials Circular Walk

Far East side of the NT estate near the Runnymede Hotel and Spa

Start & Finish: The National Trust Car Park, Windsor Rd, Englefield Green, Windsor SL4 2JL
Distance: 7 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 91 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Magna Carta Tea Room (SL4 2JJ), Runnymede Cafe (TW20 0AE)
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: National Trust Runnymede and Ankerwycke, RAF Memorial Runnymede, Lutyen’s Kiosks, Magna Carta

This is a short walk that packs in a lot of history. Runnymede is a National Trust site on the banks of the Thames to the South East of Windsor. It’s most famous for being the location where the Magna Carta, a charter of rights and basis of modern law, was signed by King John in 1215. This walk combines a pleasant section of the Thames path with the main memorials and monuments in the area.

Start at the National Trust car-park (free to members) opposite the Tea Rooms. From here follow the Thames Path for ~2.75 km to the Runnymede Hotel and Spa just before the M25 river crossing. Both the National Trust managed banks of the river and the Pleasure Ground are great places to stop for a picnic in the summer. Watch out for the Queen Elizabeth statue in the Pleasure Grounds and the paintings on the lock-keepers cottage at Bell Weir Lock.

At the Eastern end of the Runnymede Hotel you’l find a footpath that takes you away from the river, through the car-park and up to the A308 Windsor Road. As you cross the road you’ll see 2 octagonal brick buildings called the Lutyens Kiosks. These were commissioned by architect Edward Lutyens to commemorate the death of MP Urban Broughton who died in 1929.

With the kiosks behind you continue along the footpath across the fields in a westerly direction for just over 1 km. Here you’ll find a path that takes you up into Cooper’s Hill Woods and onto Cooper’s Hill Lane. Continue for ~1km past the Kingswood University campus on your left to the gates of the RAF Memorial on your right. The RAF Memorial commemorates more than 20,000 airmen and women who were lost in the Second World War who have no known grave. I’ve been there several times before and always found it to be a peaceful, thought-provoking place.

On exiting the RAF Memorial, take a left onto Cooper’s Hill Road and retrace your steps to a footpath that takes you North into the woods at the Western corner of the memorial property. This path takes you steeply down and back to the fields where the main Runnymede memorials are located. The final 1 km of the walk is worth taking slowly to fully appreciate the history and significance of the memorials and works of art. In order you’ll pass Writ In Water, The American Bar Association Magna Carta Monument, The JFK Memorial and The Jurors artwork. The National Trust page for Runnymede is a great start for finding out more about these.

After The Jurors, you’ll be back at the A308 Windsor Road with the Car Park on the other side.

Previous Thames Path Section (west): Runnymede and Old Windsor
Next Thames Path Section (east): Staines

Back to Thames Path Walks Index

Richard gower7 June 2020Trek, Thames, National Trust, Windsor, Berkshire, Surrey, EnglandComment

Cycling The Slough to Windsor Railway

Start & Finish: Slough Railway Station, Brunel Way, Slough SL2 5BY
Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 48m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Jubilee River, Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, 61, 461
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads in Windsor and Eton
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Slough, Slough Station, Slough-Windsor & Eton Line, Chalvey Halt Station, Windsor, Windsor & Eton Central Station, Slough & Windsor Railway Society

Having explored some local branch lines on foot in the last few weeks, it was now time to get on my bike for another one. This is the 2 mile line that connects the GWR mainline at Slough to Windsor and Eton Central. If you’re arriving by train check out Station Jim on platform 5 for a bit of geeky canine station history.

From the main (South) entrance of Slough station, head West along Brunel way and take a left onto B416. Be careful here as its a very busy road. We were there very early on a Sunday morning so it was quiet, but you still need your wits about you. At the big junction take a right onto the A4 and continue for 300 metres before taking a left onto Burlington Road. This keeps you as close as possible to the track as it curves away from the GWR mainline around the site of the old Thames Valley University.

Continue South-West along Burlington Road, right onto The Crescent and right onto Chalvey Road East. Here you’ll see the metal bridge that takes the rail line over the main road. To the North of the bridge was the site of Chalvey Halt, a station that was only open between May 1929 and July 1930. Take a left onto Ragstone Road before the rail bridge. Ragstone Road curves round to the East after about 100 metres where you’ll find a road that continues South parallel to the track. When we got there the gates at the entrance to the road were locked. As a diversion we continued along Ragstone Road, took a right onto the A332 to pass under the M4 then took the path on the right to follow the the North side of the Jubilee River. This path continues for a short distance to the rail crossing of the Jubilee River then curves off to the North to meet the path that we had planned to be on. Take a left to pass under the rail line then immediately left.

From here the path follows tight to the rail line all the way to the River Thames. You’ll pass under the M4, over the Jubilee River, under the A355 spur road and onto fields at the back of Eton College. With the Slough section now behind you the route gets significantly more pleasant as it passes the brick arches that hold the line high overground through to the centre of Windsor. When you reach the Thames you can’t follow the track over the river so you’ll need to divert West to the A355 road bridge, cross there and return East until you meet the rail line again at Alexandra Gardens.

After passing under the rail line take a right to follow the North side of the track through Alexandra Car Park. At Goswell Road take a right, pass under the arch and then a left. You’ll now be in the service area of the shopping centre next to the station. Continue up the hill until you see a set of steps and a ramp that takes you up to the main station concourse. You’ll now be in what was a very large station opposite Windsor Castle. The modern station is tucked away at the back of the shops and cafes.

From Windsor there’s many options for longer rides back to Slough. The fastest, most direct route is to take the B3022 Thames Street as it descends from the Castle back to the river. Cross over Eton Bridge and follow Eton High Street (B3022) heading North. At the roundabout next to the Jubilee River continue North onto the A332 back to Slough Town Centre. When you reach the big A4 junction from the start of the trip, take a right onto Wellington Street (A4) then a left before Tesco back onto Brunel Way, finishing back at the station. Once you leave Eton there’s nothing pleasant or interesting about this section so I recommend taking the train back if you’re walking the line rather than cycling it.

Back to Cycling Index

Richard gower7 June 2020Cycle, NCN, Railway, ThamesComment

Chiltern Walks: Marlow Donkey

Start & Finish: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Thames Path at Marlow to Bourne End Rail Bridge: 3.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Cookham Bridleway Circuit
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Marlow Donkey, The Bounty at Bourne End
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Maidenhead - Marlow Passengers’ Association History, Marlow Branch Line, Bourne End Station, Marlow Station, Marlow Bridge, National Trust Winter Hill and Cockmarsh

The Shakespeare’s Way is a 235 km / 146 mile mile long-distance path connecting Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon with the Shakespeare's Globe (Theatre), Southwark, London. A 34km section of the path cuts through the Chiltern Hills National Landscape in a south-easterly direction. Our walks take in short sections of the Shakespeare’s Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Shakespeare’s Way is reasonably well marked however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

As well as being part of the Shakespeare’s Way collection, we also did it as a continuation of the Wycombe to Bourne End Railway Disused Railway Walk. This time we were following an intact rail line that joins Marlow to Maidenhead via Bourne End. The Maidenhead section will come another time but, for now, we were doing a circular walk based on the “Marlow Donkey” section from Bourne End to Marlow. The notes below describe the anti-clockwise route initially following the train line from Bourne End to Marlow. If you’re following the Shakespeare’s Way collection in a north-west to south-east direction, then reverse the route.

From the car park at Bourne End Station, follow a footpath in a south-westerly direction to meet the bridge where the line to Maidenhead crosses the Thames. The rail line will be on your right and you’ll pass the section where it splits to head north to Marlow. At the river crossing take the stairs down to the Thames path, turn right and cross underneath the railway bridge. Continue along a narrow path to Bourne End Marina. The rail route passes behind some very nice houses on the riverfront and over level crossings connecting the marina to the town centre.

Further along the Thames Path you’ll cross Spade Oak Meadow and cow-filled farmland. The rail line stays close from the river for about 3 km until it curves round to the West at Marlow Rugby Club. At this point you have 2 choices, one to follow the course of the train line to Marlow Station and the other to keep close to the river, following the Thames Path and Shakespeare’s Way. Both options reconnect at Marlow Bridge.

If you’re following the train line, leave the Thames Path to follow a path between the Rugby Club and the rail line. After the A404 underpass the rail line continues behind houses and you’ll need to follow Gosmore Lane, Riverpark Drive and Lock Road to keep as close as possible to the line. The Marlow Donkey Pub sits at the corner of Lock Road and Station Approach. If you divert for a few minutes down Station Approach you can find an information board about the original station on the left hand side and the uninspiring new Marlow Station a bit further down. Back at the Marlow Donkey pub you can continue the walk down Station Road, left onto Mill Road and right onto the Thames Path as it passes through some narrow alleys to the Marlow Road (High Street) at All Saints Church. Take a left here to cross Marlow Bridge.

Crossing Marlow Bridge is always a point of interest for us due to Timea’s Hungarian heritage. The bridge was designed by William Tierney Clark and is a smaller version of the Chain Bridge that crosses the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Look out for a plaque on the north-east pillar of Marlow Bridge with text both in English and Hungarian.

Continuing south after the bridge you’ll pass The Compleat Angler hotel and take a left onto Quarry Wood Road. Continue for ~1 km until the foot of the hill. Be careful of cars here as there’s no pavement in this section. Pass a small bridge over a stream take the left hand footpath at the point where Quarry Wood Road takes a sharp right. From here continue past lovely riverside houses and woodland at the base of Winter Hill. Beware of the elephant!

At ~2.5 km from leaving Quarry Wood Road you’ll see a tall metal footpath sign in the middle of a field and at the bottom of a steep uphill path. Take a sharp left here and continue to the track behind the riverside houses. Continue East along this path following the Thames back to the Bourne End Rail Bridge. The quirky pirate themed Bounty Pub before the bridge is a great place for a drink to celebrate (nearly) completing their loop. To get back to the start at Bourne End Station cross the rail bridge back to the north side of the Thames and retrace your steps from the start of the route.

Part 3 of the Wycombe-Maidenhead Rail Trilogy will come soon with the Bourne End To Maidenhead section.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (north): Marlow and Harleyford
Shakespeare’s Way next section (south): Bourne End, Cookham and Wooburn

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower30 May 2020Trek, Railway, Chilterns, Thames, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, England, National TrustComment

Walking The High Wycombe To Bourne End Disused Railway

Start: High Wycombe Railway Station, High Wycombe, HP13 6NN
Finish: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Return to Start: via #36 bus. Check timetables for details.
Distance: 9.9 km km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +37m / -86m. Net -49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Wooburn Green village
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Maidenhead - Marlow Passengers’ Association History, Wycombe to Bourne End railway - looking back at the historic line (Photos)
Wycombe Railway, Loudwater Station, Wooburn Green Station, Bourne End Station

The Wycombe to Bourne End Railway was originally part of a longer section that connected Maidenhead and High Wycombe. The Maidenhead to Bourne End section is still intact but the line to Wycombe closed in 1970. Unlike a lot of disused railways its not been fully adopted into a cycle route or walking trail. It’s all walkable though with a bit of planning, some good navigation and a few diversions. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

You can start at either end but we chose to start at High Wycombe station as we will continue the trip to Maidenhead on a later trip. From the station walk East for approx 750m following Birdcage Walk, then Station Road and Queen’s Road until it meets the A40. Follow the A40 for another ~500m, crossing to the South side of the road at the junction with Pinions Road. Up to this point there’s no visible remains of the old railway, although you can see the main Chiltern Line when you look North up several of the adjoining streets.

The first time that you encounter the old railway is at the steep embankment that stops abruptly at the A40 opposite Pinions Road. There was originally a steel girder bridge that took the railway over the A40 to join up with the mainline to the Northwest. There’s a path to the East of the embankment where you’ll get your first chance to walk along the old rail route. Here the River Wye passes underneath as it continues its journey from Bradenham to the confluence with the Thames not far from Bourne End Station.

This part of the walk ends at Bassetsbury Lane which you can follow close to the old rail route for ~1.4km. To the right hand side of the road the houses are built up higher that the road in place of the tracks. Bassetsbury Lane becomes Kingsmead Road which you’ll take until it crosses the Chiltern Way just after the Rugby Club. Turn right up Bridge Bank Close following the Chiltern Way for about 100m. Here you can rejoin the path that follows the rail route South East through the woods. You’re now on the Chepping Wycombe Parish Council Railway Land Conservation Route, a highlight of the trail.

The conservation trail ends Treadaway Hill very close to the old Loudwater Station, now demolished. Here the there was a Level Crossing but the route is now blocked by an industrial estate next to the M40. To continue the walk, divert left onto Treadaway Hill and take a right at the Happy Union pub to follow Boundary Road. Pass under the M40 bridge and over a small roundabout onto Wycombe Lane. A very short distance past the roundabout take the footpath to the right of the pavement up into the woods.

Continue through the woods for a short distance until you reach Flackwell Heath Golf Course. A footpath will continue straight across the golf course, however turn left and follow the path and track along the North-East side of the golf course. When the main path will takes you back onto Wycombe Road continue along the overgrown path that follows the back of the houses. The path will take a sharp right hand turn up the hill at the end of the golf course. Continue up but take the left hand path at the path junction to continue on to Juniper Lane. Turn left on Juniper Lane and follow this back to Wycombe Road.

For the next 1.6 km / 1 mile you’ll continue along Wycombe Road through Wooburn Green. This stays to the East of the railway route, although diversions onto the parallel streets of Compton Road, Red Lion Way and Old Station Road would keep you closer to the tracks. All of these are cul-de-sacs so a through-route on these is not possible. The only one that we diverted to was Old Station Road which, not surprisingly, was the location of the original Wooburn Green Station that was demolished in the late 1980s.

When you reach Wooburn Manor Park, look out for a footpath on the right of Wycombe Road that takes you past Spade Oak and back onto the railway route. From here you can continue along a quiet, wooded section that follows the old rail line for 1.6 km / 1 mile to Bourne End. When the path finishes at the A4155 Cores End Road, cross over and take a footpath onto Boston Drive to continue to Bourne End Station.

I’d stumbled upon parts of this route year ago on various cycling and Geocaching adventures. As it’s not a recognised trail I hadn’t considered tracing the route of the line until recently. I’m glad that I did though as its a hidden gem of a route still with evidence of the old rail route.

The Wycombe Railway and Connecting Lines

Brixworth Country

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: November 30th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Corby

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: September 21st 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Daventry

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: November 8th 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Irchester Country

I completed this event on: December 21st 2019 with a finish time of: 25:58
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: November 2nd 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-31624255-map-full - Irchester Country.png

Kettering

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: September 24th 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Market Harborough

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: April 25th 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Northampton

I completed this event on: Christmas Day 2021 with a finish time of: 26:30
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: May 5th 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page, blog7t write-up

Queensway

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: June 6th 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Salcey Forest

I completed this event on: January 25th 2020 with a finish time of: 26:03
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: October 26th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Sixfields Upton

I completed this event on: February 15th 2020 with a finish time of: 25:53
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 536
Inaugural: February 24th 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-31937711-map-full - Sixfields Upton.png

The Plens

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: July 20th 2024
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

University of Northampton

I have not yet completed this event
Inaugural: July 8th 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

Watermeadows

I completed this event on: July 31st 2021 with a finish time of: 25:18
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: February 16th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

route-36984491-map-full - Watermeadows.png

SECTION 1 - COOKHAM TO STOKE COMMON

SECTION 2 - STOKE COMMON to Langley Park

SECTION 3 - Langley Park to West Drayton Railway Station

Accessing the start and end by train

The Wycombe Railway and Connecting Lines

More Disused Railway Posts

See also:

Chippenham

Lydiard (formerly Swindon)

Marlborough Common

Melksham

Quakers Walk

Salisbury

Seven Fields

Southwick Country

Thoulstone

Tidworth

More parkrun posts

More parkrun posts

parkrun event numbers per county

Notes and exceptions.

The South East Counties parkrun pages

More parkrun posts

All of the Northamptonshire parkrun events …

Brixworth Country

Corby

Daventry

Irchester Country

Kettering

Market Harborough

Northampton

Queensway

Salcey Forest

Sixfields Upton

The Plens

University of Northampton

Watermeadows

More parkrun posts