Thames Path

The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996. In theory, the Thames Path's entire length can be walked, and a few parts can be cycled, but certain sections are closed for an indefinite period, including Temple Bridge at Hurley and Marsh Lock in Henley (see section below). Some parts of the Thames Path, particularly west of Oxford, are subject to flooding during the winter. The river is tidal downstream from Teddington Lock and the lower parts of these paths may be underwater at spring tides, although the Thames Barrier protects London from catastrophic flooding. The Thames Path uses the river towpath between Inglesham and Putney and available paths elsewhere. Historically, towpath traffic crossed the river using many ferries, but few of these crossings exist now and some diversion from the towpath is necessary. The Thames Path meets The Ridgeway National Trail at the Goring Gap, where the trails use opposite banks of the River Thames between Goring-on-Thames and Mongewell; the Thames Path follows the western bank and The Ridgeway the eastern.

The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996. In theory, the Thames Path's entire length can be walked, and a few parts can be cycled, but certain sections are closed for an indefinite period, including Temple Bridge at Hurley and Marsh Lock in Henley (see section below). Some parts of the Thames Path, particularly west of Oxford, are subject to flooding during the winter. The river is tidal downstream from Teddington Lock and the lower parts of these paths may be underwater at spring tides, although the Thames Barrier protects London from catastrophic flooding. The Thames Path uses the river towpath between Inglesham and Putney and available paths elsewhere. Historically, towpath traffic crossed the river using many ferries, but few of these crossings exist now and some diversion from the towpath is necessary. The Thames Path meets The Ridgeway National Trail at the Goring Gap, where the trails use opposite banks of the River Thames between Goring-on-Thames and Mongewell; the Thames Path follows the western bank and The Ridgeway the eastern. ==Description and access to the river== The general aim of the path is to provide walkers with a pleasant route alongside the river. The way this is achieved naturally falls into three distinct areas, depending on the nature of the river in the area. ==Route== The route of the Thames Path can be divided into these sections: Thames Head (source of the river west of Cricklade) to Oxford ( ): a generally rural, agricultural area. The path makes significant diversions away from the river (in order going downstream) at Ewen, Ashton Keynes, Cricklade, Castle Eaton and Upper Inglesham because of the lack of a public path alongside the river until reaching the towpath at Lechlade ( ); from Lechlade to Oxford there is only one significant diversion from the river, at Stanton Harcourt as there is now no ferry at Bablock Hythe. Oxford to Henley-on-Thames ( ): passing through Abingdon, Dorchester, Wallingford, Streatley and Reading. The path makes significant diversions away from the river (in order going downstream) at Abingdon, Shillingford, Moulsford, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Purley-on-Thames, Shiplake and Aston – all because of the lack of ferries allowing the towpath to cross the river. In addition a short section in Wallingford goes behind houses, as the towpath used to cross at Chalmore Lock, removed in 1883. Henley to Windsor: ( ): through Marlow and Maidenhead. The path makes a significant diversion away from the river past Cookham Lock due to the lack of three ferries and public access to the towpath at Cliveden. In addition there is a short diversion from the river through back streets in Marlow town centre, and a short section in Bourne End goes behind fenced riverside gardens as the modern footbridge is not aligned with the former ferry. Windsor to Richmond ( ): along the bank opposite Home Park, Windsor; past Runnymede; through Hampton Court Park. The path does not leave the river apart from the short stretch where no public path exists at Datchet. It is also necessary to take a diversion through Shepperton and across Walton Bridge if not using the Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry. The river level is tidal and maintained at or above half tide between Teddington and Richmond locks. Richmond to Woolwich ( ): passing Kew Gardens, the Wetlands Centre at Barnes, the end point of the Beverley Brook Walk, and Fulham Palace then through London, using parkland (e.g., Battersea Park) to continue beside the river. Through most of the section, the Thames Path is actually two paths downstream of Teddington Lock, one on either side of the Tideway. The path often diverts away from the river around riverside buildings. The path has been diverted between Richmond and Brentford for an extended period. Woolwich to Crayford Ness, just beyond Erith ( ), connecting with the London Outer Orbital Path. This is considered an extension of the Thames Path (as recognised by the Ramblers Association) and was opened in 2001, but is not part of the National Trail. It has its own Thames Barge symbol, and is sometimes referred to as the Thames Path Southeast Extension. The path often diverts away from the river around riverside buildings. ==Thames crossings== for the Thames Path|alt=]] The list below gives the points where the Thames Path crosses the river between Cricklade and Teddington. Above Cricklade, the Thames is a stream and in some places there may be no water except after rain. Below Teddington there are paths on both sides of the river until the Greenwich foot tunnel, after which the path is only on the south. The list is in downstream order. The letter in brackets indicates whether the path downstream of that point takes the northern or southern bank (using north or south in reference to the river as a whole, rather than at that specific point). Bridges and ferries are listed in full under Crossings of the River Thames. The river can be crossed at about a third of the locks, although some of these crossings are not part of the Thames Path. ==References== ==External links== The Thames Path (London sections) on the Go Jauntly app, in partnership with Transport for London.

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