Category: Updates

I think that I have mentioned before that it is difficult now to describe the Olde Bell at Hurley as a walkers’ pub.

Matthew Norman has reviewed it for the Telegraph.

See page 110.

Two pubs feature in today’s 50 Best Country Pubs in The Independent.

Both are at the source end: The Wild Duck at Ewen and Tunnel House Inn just beyond the Source and suddenly much featured here. The latter is under the Families section whilst the former is ‘for weekenders’.

Good pictures here of the path between the Thames Source and the Tunnel House recently featured in the Telegraph; see below.

This Saturday 26 June Jonathan Wilkes will be at Tower Bridge at 9am ready to row upstream to Kingston-upon-Thames where he is the Rector.

He is being sponsored to help the funding for a visitor centre at All Saints Church near the river. Coffee and cake is already served in the church every weekday morning.

His supporters will be waiting at Richmond and some plan to jog along the towpath with him.

The Rector might reflect that in past times the Bishop of Winchester had a house near London Bridge and would be rowed by a team from there to Kingston where he continued by road to Winchester.

See pages 64 and 65.

There has been much comment and delight at Matthew Norman’s review in The Telegraph of the Waterside Inn at Bray.

Fortunately the Thames Path is on the opposite bank and the ferry has long ceased to operate so one is not tempted to drop in for lunch. But walkers often wonder what it is like there. Bray is delightful even if the former pub is expensive.

Take a picnic when walking from Windsor to Maidenhead and enjoy it sitting on the seat opposite Bray and the former Greoge Inn.

See page 97.

The confusion about which stretches of path are open on the west side of the Greenwich Peninsula continues.

I have found Delta Wharf open but here is the latest view from campaigning locals.

See pages 15 and 16.

Having posted earlier today about the Tunnel House Inn here are some directions for the mile walk to pub from the Thames Source.

From the stone at the Thames Source continue ahead below the bank (right).

Go through the gateway with a stile ahead to follow the field boundary (right) to a second gate where there is a ladderstile. After a third gate and ladderstile, the way is enclosed. On reaching a bridge over a dry canal do not cross but go left along the towpath.

Soon after running under the Kemble- Gloucester railway line, the path passes a round house. Follow the path under a road bridge to the Sapperton Tunnel.

The towpath ends in front of the Tunnel House Inn.

If you have spare time having arrived at the source I recommend walking ahead and left along the former canal to the Tunnel House Inn.

Christopher Middleton has rightly given it a rave review in today’s Daily Telegraph.

I don’t mention it in the Thames Path guide although maybe a I should in future. The route from the source features in Pub Walks Along the Thames Path (Countryside Books) if you can still find  a copy.

See page 213.

Lechlade’s market square has a real market on Thursday 17 June.

It’s always worth turning into the town over Halfpenny Bridge but for once there

will be “fresh local food” immediately ahead from 8.30am to 1pm.

See page 194.

The summer issue of Thames Guardian, the River Thames Society‘s magazine, has a

reminder that  Shillingford Bridge is being restored this summer.

The Thames Path runs up the side of the bridge when it leaves the towpath to pass

through the hamlet.

Stonemasons are working on the bridge’s arches and attractive parapet which means that

pontoons and scaffolding are being used.

The bridge was completed in 1827 to succeed several timber crossings on the line of

the old Shilling ford.