After a long break we resumed our Thames Path walk on the early may bank holiday. The weather was a little damp with light rain throughout most of the trip, but we can heartily recommend this leg and it was one of the more varied routes since leaving London.
Starting in Marlow the route is currently diverted due to a significant safety issue with the bridge at Temple. This means the first part of the route is along roads, the first is a main road just over Marlow bridge and has a pavement to walk along. The second is a classic country road where the traffic is light and is wide enough to move out the way safely. The offical site is a little ambigous about this and suggests that it is main road with no pavement the entire way. The diversion is fine, if not as a pretty as the main route looked!
After leaving the road you join a pleasent path near the river past some very expensive looking houses! Eventually you rejoin the main thames path just after the Temple bridge and follow along the river. This route had a lot of sheep and in early may plenty of lambs. There was a convenient lunch stop with benches and, even better, a break in the rain at Hurley Lock. There is also a Cafe and Toilets at the lock which is handy!
Past the lock the path opens up and becomes grass, with views across the river including a few historic locations. In addition to sheep this leg was good for water birds with lots of types of geese, magansers and the whole selection of ducks easily spottable! Eventually you track inland for a while through a private deer park with some interesting deer, sculptures and a chapel at the top of the hill.
After the park you quickly enter the hamlet of Aston where there is a good pub, with a very pleasent beer garden, which we couldnt use because of the rain! This is a good place to refuel before the final leg through to Henley.
The paths on the route into Henley gradually improve as you get closer to the site of the regatta and it is interesting to walk past all the infrastructure that has been put in place over the years to support it. Although this means it would be worth avoiding this section during the regatta itself! The river also straightens out here so you can see Henley coming up ahead as you get closer to the bridge and the end of the walk. There are plenty of options for dinner in Henley although this time we went to Pizza Express as we had tesco vouchers!
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