The Thames Path by Leigh Hatts

The Castle Hotel, opposite Windsor Castle’s main entrance, is being refurbished.

This is the former Mermaid Inn dating from at least the early 1500s. William Shakespeare may have known it at the end of that century as he features the nearby Garter in his The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The present facade of the old Mermaid is late 18th century which is when the name changed to The Castle Hotel.

It’s much larger than at first appears with an extension at the back opened by Prince Philip during the last reign.

The big changes, even requiring a one week closure, follows the hotel becoming part of the small Sutton hotel group. The front entrance, flanking rooms, staircase and much more are being carefully redecorated.

Meanwhile the library is the temporary breakfast room.

A 12% discount booking offer is on the website.

When fully open later this year there will probably be few vacancies as the demand for overnight stays rises with receptions and investitures being held at Windsor Castle during the Buckingham Palace restoration programme.

**If visiting Windsor Castle (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) one can catch a view of the Thames upstream from the end of the North Terrace.

Temple footbridge between Marlow and Hurley which closed in 2023 is unlikely to be restored until 2028 at the earliest.

Although the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, has offered £250,000 towards repair work.

An outline design for the Temple crossing is expected to be published next November.

The diversion via Marlow Bridge is here.

Due to lack of funding for public services there is a growing number of temporary diversions along the Thames which are going to be long term.

Goring has one of the diversions.

Shortly before Goring & Streatley Bridge there is a half mile (0.8km) diversion away from the Thames due to an eroding towpath.

Funding secured so far is insufficient to complete the repair so further help is being sought. The riverside route is unlikely reopen until late 2026 at the earliest.

DIVERSION: At the blocked towpath (when walking upstream) turn inland along an enclosed footpath which joins a driveway to reach Manor Road.

Turn left for just over 300 yards passing Long Meadow (left) to go left at a lamp post outside a house called Little Norfolk.

The wide driveway passes the house (left). After Fairfield (left) the way descends and narrows. A long enclosed footpath leads to the river.

The remains of a boathouse can still be discerned on the right -as seen a little downstream.

Go right for Goring.

Note: Goring can be reached quickly by remaining on Manor Road. At a junction continue forward past the closed John Barleycorn pub (right) and go left The Miller of Mansfield for Pierreponts cafe and the river.

National Trail notice here.

Also note: Another change in Goring is the closure of the Tourist Information Centre.

A closed footbridge, half a mile from Staines, is now expected to remain out of use until 2027.

Bridge 142, still bearing its Thames Conservancy livery paint, carries the towpath over to one side of a hardly discernible island shortly before the M25 and Bell Weir Lock.

During 2023 the cast iron crossing was hit by a tree and in February last year it was closed after an inspection detected cracks.

A diversion was immediately put in place and at first expected to last for just six months.

Suddenly this November there has been some progress with an environmental survey and a further inspection by ground investigation specialists to decide the bridge replacement specification.

The diversion begins at a warning notice placed a quarter of a mile before Bridge 142 for those walking upstream.

The alternative is urban and quickly highlights how the Thames is a successful and vital green corridor isolating the walker from nearby noise and pollution.

DIVERSION: Turn inland, by a boat turned flower bed, down River Park Avenue. At the main road, called The Causeway, go right.

After passing under the M25 motorway, the pavement comes to an end at a crossing.

Cross over as indicated by the traffic/pedestrian lights.

Go right for a short distance to find path starting on the left. Follow this winding wooded path to the towpath and turn left.

Bell Weir Lock is ahead.

There is now a slightly improved route at Battersea Power Station allowing one to approach the river a little earlier after the Nine Elms diversion.

New Directions: Having turned off Battersea Park Road and into the wide Pump House Lane keep to the right side.

The wide road rises to a roundabout close to the power station. Go right along the east side of the building (left).

At the far end, as the road bears left, go half right down a footpath to reach the river.

Turn left with the water (right) to pass the power station (left). The way continues under Grosvenor Railway Bridge towards Battersea Park.

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond has reopened having been closed for just over a year.

A ribbon was cut on Saturday morning on the short restored stretch of path by Kew councillor and deputy mayor Clare Vollum whose wide knowledge and interest in the river includes her Thames Strategy chairmanship.

The towpath at Kew is a causeway between the Thames and a flood channel which empties into the river just above Richmond railway bridge. At very high tide this outflow can take in water which travels back along the narrow channel to be deposited into the river at Kew where the breach occurred.

Richmond transport cabinet member Alexander Ehmann said the project presented the most challenging ground and tidal conditions.

‘Thousands of walkers, runners, cyclists and commuters use this route every year and it’s a crucial part of how we connect with the Thames, the environment, our communities and indeed how we connect with our past and seeing it open today is exactly why we do this work.’

Project manager Sam Emmett recalled that the breach occurred on 19 October last year and the team was on site by April with many consents having been required. Materials were brought upstream from Rainham.

Design engineer Judy Eid said that there were design complexities as the system of the towpath and drain dated back to the 1700s and there was no documentation of any repairs.

Speaking for contractors Conway, Toby Allen confirmed that the main work was delivered by river with close monitoring of tide times. A large crane was positioned on one of two pontoons and on average twenty individuals were on site each day.

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond Lock is due to reopen later this morning.

A year ago the path was violently breached by fast moving water from a parallel culvert.

Yesterday afternoon as the autumn sun disappeared contractors still had vehicles on the path as they completed restoration work.

There will be a brief reopening ceremony at the Richmond end near the lock at 10am.

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond will reopen next Saturday 8 November.

A reopening ceremony is due to take place at 10am near Richmond Lock.

A section of the towpath alongside Kew Gardens collapsed twelve months ago with tidal water gushing along a parallel culvert.

Those working on the repairs have faced challenging tidal and ground conditions which required additional piling and reinforcement to ensure the long-term stability of the path.

Later in the morning a very low tide is expected at 12.40pm thanks to the annual Richmond Draw-Off when lock gates stay open.

Wetherspoon has opened a new pub near London Bridge called The Sun Wharf.

The pub occupies the landlocked former London Dungeon attraction site under London Bridge Station whilst the confusing name relates to a nearby wharf lost in 1985.

The original Sun Wharf is under the huge No 1 London Bridge which forces the Thames Path inland. This modern building occupies three wharves: Fenning’s, Sun and Topping’s.

An indication of where Sun Wharf used to be can be found on the Thames Path in the narrow section of Tooley Street.

Having walked inland to turn right you pass a flower bed to the right. Here on the ground are two metal strips marking the entrance to Topping’s Wharf.

The small Sun Wharf with its single riverside crane was opposite the third tree ahead and just before the building line curves to further narrow the street. The curve follows the boundary of the lost Fenning’s Wharf.

Sun Wharf handled Australian produce whilst in the early 20th century Topping’s was occupied by Perrier.

The new pub’s moderately priced Wetherspoon menu offers a handy alternative to eateries around Borough Market.

Open daily 6.30am, for breakfast, until 12.30am.

Directions to The Sun Wharf pub from the Thames Path: On having turned inland just before London Bridge do not then go right towards the bridge but half left to the road junction. The Sun Wharf pub is opposite on the far side of the main road.

Work is due to start this morning on removing the central span of Temple Bridge.

The footbridge, upstream of Marlow, has been closed since 2023 when it was suddenly deemed to be unsafe.

The work should take about a week.

However, no decision has been made about restoration or rebuilding and there is certainly no funding currently available.

The cost of this week’s dismantling may be as much as £300,000. Full replacement could potentially cost around £2.5million.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is expected to eventually meet the major part of the cost with possible contributions from Oxfordshire County Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

An indication of a way forward could be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in next year’s Budget after final costings are made available.

The bridge, replacing a ferry lost in 1953, is a vital link in the Thames Path. The current diversion via Bisham involves walking along a narrow and unpleasant main road.

The closed crossing, a 267 foot West African hardwood single span, is only 36 years old which has raised questions about a possible lack of maintenance.

Environment Secretary Virginia Bottomley performed the opening ceremony eight years ahead of the Thames Path inauguration.