Thames path guide books - Walking the Thames long distance path


Oxford canal pictures

		River Thames Long Distance Path Windsor to source (distances in miles)bracketed entries were not used for meals or accommodation but may be useful in alternative plans. Note this is a summer timetable and would not be feasible with short winter days. As time passes all the pubs along the river follow the general trend away from the emphasis on beer to an emphasis on food. All pubs listed serve real ale at time of writing. Cash "Hole in the wall" cash machines (ATM's) will not be found along the path, except by detouring into one of the larger towns like Reading or Oxford. P.T. tells that at Maidenhead Bridge there is a Texaco garage opposite you with a free bank machine.
		*Windsor*	0		(The Donkey House, The Watermans Arms, The Royal Oak)
		*Cookham*	*9.95*		*Bel and the Dragon*
		Pub almost turned restaurant but still with good beer, excellent staff, scruffy walkers can eat in the snug bar! Also The Kings Arms. P.T. tells me that 200m upstream of Bourne End bridge on the Berkshire bank (i.e. just off the path) is a pub called The Bounty. It does basic but reasonable food, muddy boots welcome and you can just use the loo if you want! Only open during weekend afternoons in the winter months but all day in the summer. - access is only on foot or by boat.
	Night 1	*Aston*	*9.75*	*01491 574721*	*The Flower Pot*
		Well placed pub with accomodation right on the path
		*Sonning*	*9.1*	?0118 969 3901	*The Bull Inn Hotel*
		Near the church in attractive village Reading Festival
	Night 2	*Pangboune*	*10.15*	*4 star 0118 9842244*	*The Copper Inn*
		Smart hotel with elegant restaurant and a pleasant bar (cheaper accomodation should be easy to find here if required) Also Swan, Ferryboat, George, Greyhound
		(Goring)	(4.2)	01491 872379	The Catherine Wheel in Goring and The Bull in Streatley
		Streatley also has The Swan Hotel <website> and The Miller of Mansfield (hotel/restaurants)
		*Cholsey*	*8.1*	*01491 651381*	*The Beetle and Wedge*
		"The Boathouse" at the "Beetle and Wedge" is really a restaurant, you can buy a drink and they even stock a decent beer, but its really about elegant eating beside the Thames. If you prefer a "normal" pub or all tables are booked continue on until the path turns right towards the river. Go left instead to Cholsey and the "Morning Star", a friendly local (try the stuffed jalapenos! [2001] ).
	Night 3 (option 1)	*Shillingford*	*5.5*	*01865 858595*	*The Kingfisher Inn* *<website>*
		(Dorchester-Days Lock)	(9)	01865 340015	Chequers
	Night 3 (option 2)	*Long Wittenham or Clifton Hampdon*	*11.5*		*The Machine Man The Plough The Barley Mow*
		*Night 3 options* We stayed at "The Machine Man" in Long Wittenham when it was a pub, now we would plan to stop in Shillingford at the "Kingfisher Inn", right on the path. This shortens the long 19.6 mile day to 13.6, adding the difference to the following 15.8 day, making it 22.3. Rather too long for comfort, but it has the advantage of not having to leave the path and either cut across from Days Lock (extra distance to retrace) or use the dangerous road alongside Clifton Lock. A better plan might be to find accomodation short of Oxford, between Sandford and Iffley, thus shifting the extra miles onto the following short day. Hawkswell House Hotel, across the river at Iffley Lock, is a possibility.The Isis Tavern tell me there is also a B&B "Homeleigh" in Evingdon Road. I would welcome further suggestions or information about any pub with accomodation in this area. . "The Plough" <website>at Clifton Hampton is a thatched inn just north of the path. The Machine Man (01865 407835) now only does B & B but "The Vine" just down the road ("Aunt Sally" is played in the garden) serves substantial meals. Approach these two from Days Lock not from the north down the road from the "Barley Mow" ("Chef and Brewer", Clifton Hampton Bridge) because of traffic.
		*Sandford*	9.2*		*The Kings Arms*
		Popular tourist pub at lock
		(Iffley Lock)	(5)*		The Isis Tavern
		Riverside pub, cut off from roads, on edge of Oxford
	Night 4	*Oxford*	5.9*	aircon 01865203705	*The Cock and Camel*
		from Long Wittenham (see Night 3 variations above) The Cock and Camel* is a Youngs owned trendy bar with rooms above accessed from street. Avoid the mushrooms at breakfast! We were too late for dinner in the bar and ate in the "Old Orleans" Cajun chain type restaurant opposite - interesting and not bad at the price! Also "Watermans Arms" Diversion: A walk along the Oxford canal
		(Binsey)	(1)		The Perch
		800 year old thatched pub
		(Godstow Lock)	(2)		The Trout
		Attractive and busy riverside pub (food untested but looked good). On a more recent visit we found the pub rebuilt with a strong food emphasis at the expense of a lot of its atmosphere and character.
		*Swinford*	*6.2*		*The Talbot Inn*
		Roadside pub just off the river with a small garden.
		(Bablock Hythe)			*The Ferryman*
	Night 5	*Newbridge*	*7.8*	*01865 300221*	*The Rose Revived*
		Green King owned riverside pub with accomodation, "The Maybush"over the bridge does home cooked food. River views at both pubs.
		*Tadpole Bridge*	*6.5*	*01367 870382*	*The Trout <website>*
		Attractive Cotswold stone riverside pub with newly added accomodation
		(Radcot)	(4)	*01367 810220*	The Swan Hotel
		(Kelmscot)	(7)		The Plough Inn
		(St Johns Lock)	(10.4)		The Trout
	Night 6	*Lechlade*	*10.6*	*01367 252296*	*The New Inn*
		Busy old coaching inn in attractive Market Square. Helpful landlord. Most rooms in converted stables leading down to its private moorings.
		*Castle Eaton*	*6.7*	*01285 810280*	*The Red Lion*
		Garden slopes down to infant Thames, river views from bar
	Night 7	*Cricklade*	*4.2*	*01793 750005*	*The Old Bear*
		Locals pub (no food Sundays, but Indian restaurant across street) breakfast at farmhouse kitchen type communal table, one room in pub + three converted stables rooms. Friendly.
		*Ashton Keynes*	*5.3*		*The White Hart*
		The Plough (on the path) has now closed
		(Somerford Keynes)	(3)		*The Bakers Arms*
		Pleasant pub in attractive affluent village, food untested but menu is a mixture of wholesome traditional and modern british. Beer garden.
		Ewen	(5)	*01285 770310*	*The Wild Duck <website>*
		Beautiful 15C building with patio garden. Upmarket restaurant but also a good wholesome bar food menu. Drake Island, Ewen.
		*Source*	7
		In total about 130 miles				*2001-2005*

Good food. By good food I mean a choice of fish and meat, innovation in the cooking and good presentation. (Food at all the pubs was acceptable).
The usual disclaimer: There is of course no guarantee offered that any of this information is correct, especially as time passes!

Next page
Pubs along the Thames