Guided Trail on the Thames Path

54 miles. 10-13 miles per day with negligible ascent

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: Osney Bridge to Bablock Hythe - We quickly lose sight of the dreaming spires and suburbs of Oxford and enter lush watermeadows. On the opposite bank is Port Meadow, ancient common grazing land presented to the Burgesses of Oxford by William the Conqueror. We pass all that remains of the Benedictine nunnery at Godstow, which was founded in 1139, and then continue to Swinford Bridge, one of the two remaining toll bridges across the Thames. At Pinkhill Lock the path leaves the river and crosses fields to reach Bablock Hythe, which has literary connections with Matthew Arnold. Distance: 10½ miles

Day 3: Bablock Hythe to Tadpole Bridge - Our path continues alongside the river to the remote lock at Northmoor where we can look at one of the weirs which retain the paddle construction of earlier times. Then we continue to Newbridge, actually the second oldest of the Thames bridges, which heralds a remote meandering section of our walk where there are few signs of habitation. At one place, we can look across to an isolated chapel standing in fields at Shifford, once an important town where a thousand years ago King Alfred held a meeting of the English Parliament. We then follow Shifford Lock Cut, before rejoining the river to Tadpole Bridge, which was built to carry the turnpike road to Bampton. Distance: 10 miles

Day 4: Tadpole Bridge to Lechlade - Today, we can follow a towpath all the way to Lechlade. At Rushey Lock we shall see another paddle-weir and, over a side channel at Radcot, the oldest bridge on the Thames. We pass close to Kelmscott Manor, a house lived in by William Morris and his family for 25 years, before coming to Buscot Lock, where the National Trust has restored the lock-keeper’s cottage. After St John’s Lock, the spire of Lechlade Church will be seen beckoning us on. Distance: 10½ miles

Day 5: This is a day without any walks programmed, giving you the opportunity to explore the local area independently, or to use the Country House facilities.

Day 6: Lechlade to Cricklade - Leaving Lechlade at Halfpenny Bridge, we follow the last mile of the towpath to Inglesham Round House, the point where the Thames and Severn Canal once joined the river, and then cross fields to visit the 13th century church at Inglesham. Inspired by William Morris, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings carefully restored the church in the 1880s. There are still a few sections of road walking. Toward the end of the day, however, we rejoin the river for the final two miles into Cricklade. Distance: 10½ miles

Day 7: Cricklade to the source - On this our final day, we cross the insignificant River Churn as we enter the North Meadow Nature Reserve. After passing the Latton Aqueduct, a relic of the North Wiltshire Canal, we follow paths through the Cotswold Water Park, created by the flooding of old gravel pits. Frequent glimpses of the Thames headwaters lead us on to Ashton Keynes where the path will bring us to the last bridge where water can sometimes be seen. Near Upper Mill Farm, once a water mill, a windpump marks a spot where water used to rise vigorously but thereafter it is only just possible to discern the line of the river. We continue across open fields to reach the simple marble slab in Trewsbury Mead that marks the official source of the river and the end of our journey. We then retrace our steps for half a mile to pick up our coach back to Bourton-on-the-Water. Distance: 13 miles

Day 8: Departure day