Stage 6 - Windsor to Henley - 7th May 2024

Setting off from Windsor & Eton Bridge

6th stage of my Thames Sea to Source 2024 challenge on yet another belting day. This time 23.79 miles from Windsor and Eton Bridge to Hanley via the Temple Bridge Closure diversion in Marlow. I did this walk out of sequence in May. It's probably my favourite stage.

The Brocas - a large meadow on the Eton side of the river

Looking upstream from the Brocas

This is as much of Dorney Lake as you can see without leaving the path

Dorney Lake

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Dorney Lake

Windsor Marina

Oakley Court is a hotel these days

Bray Studios

Summerleaze Bridge - built as a gravel conveyor belt, taking gravel from the construction of Dorney Lake

Summerleaze Bridge - converted to a footbridge on completion of Dorney Lake

Bridge under the M4

Bray Lock

The rather nice houses of Bray

Razor-sharp hedges in outskirts of Maidenhead!

Approaching Maidenhead

Brunel's Maidenhead Railway Bridge AKA the Sounding Arch

Maidenhead Bridge is Grade I listed

We cross the river here

Maidenhead Bridge Garden

One of my favourite views heading towards Boulter's Lock

Boulter's Lock. The bridge takes you over to Ray Mill Island - a great place for a coffee break

The gardens on Ray Mill Island

There are loads of squirrels here

Boulter's Lock weirs

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Weirs at Boulter's Lock

The gardens on Ray Mill Island

This bridge takes you across to the strip of land between the Thames and the man-made Jubilee River

After a coffee break it's back heading towards Cookham

How quiet and relaxing this is

Spring Cottage on the Cliveden Estate - made infamous by the Profumo Scandal in the early 1960s

Another of the Cliveden cottages. You can rent a number of these lovely properties

Cookham

Holy Trinity Church Cookham

We're now walking up towards Bourne End

There are some exceptional riverfront properties along here

Bourne End Railway & Footbridge. We have to cross the river here

View from the bridge

Who knew there was such a challenge!!

Bourne End has a small marina

Heading down towards Marlow

Marlow

Marlow

You have to take this photo of the church & the bridge!

Bisham Abbey on the Temple Bridge diversion

No pavement or verges so be careful along here

You're not getting onto Temple Bridge!

Temple Bridge - closed since May 2023 due to safety & structural issues

February 2026 - The central span has beee removed for examination

February 2026 - The central span has been removed for examination. It's likely the entire bridge will have to come down

Looking upstream beyond Temple Bridge

Egyptian goose & her family

Canade goose & her family

White Deer park at Culham Court

Culham Court

Walking across the Culham Court estate

The Flower Pot Aston. It's last owner had an obsession for stuffed fish!

The Flower Pot Aston. It's last tenant owned Britain’s largest private collection of cased fish! Now nearly all gone

You have to stop here for a sneaky pint!

The new tenants have improved the pubs & the garden no end

How posh!

The river at Aston

Hambleden Weir

Hambleden Weir

Entrance to Hambleden Lock

On the home run into Henley now

Preparations underway for Henley Regatta in July

Preparations underway for Henley Regatta in July

It's 7 o'clock & I've reached Henley Bridge

Looking downstream from Henley Bridge

Looking upstream from Henley Bridge

A long day but what a fabulous walk this has been