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Walking the Thames Path (Oxford to Windsor)

8 days

from

$1,949 USD

incl. taxes

View Dates & Prices

Walking & Trekking

Suitable for:

Age 12+

Activity level:

Leisurely / Moderate

Trip code:

W07TO

Way to Travel:

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity:

Self-Guided Walking

Min age:

Walk between Oxford and Windsor along the Thames Path. The exhilarating walk follows a mature river, with colourful river boats, great loops, and numerous locks and weirs.

Walk between Oxford and Windsor along the Thames Path. The walking is exhilarating as it follows a mature river, with colourful river boats, great loops, and numerous locks and weirs. Walk through a mixture of landscapes of quiet countryside, beech woodlands, small hamlets full of historic interest. The Thames has been a constant source of inspiration for artists and authors due to its many outstanding features.

Some of the natural, architectural and engineering highlights include the famous Christchurch Meadows, Goring Gap between the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs, the Sandford Lasher (weir at Sandford lock), Hambledon Weir, Henley Bridge and the beautiful suspension bridge at Marlow, and of course ending at the impressive Royal Palace, Windsor Castle.

Spot water voles, herons and kingfisher as well as numerous ducks, coots, geese and swans. Enjoy wild flower meadows and woody copses.

Accommodation is in a range of friendly B&Bs, inns and hotels, some of which are of historical interest from a 16th Century coaching inn to a house originally the residence for Queen Victoria's minor government officials.

Highlights

Walk the Thames Path from Oxford, city of dreaming spires to Windsor, with it's royal palace
Literary connections: Sonning, described in Three Men in a Boat as 'the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river'; Marlow, where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein; Bourne End, home of Enid Blyton
Engineering gems: Hambleden Weir, Marlow suspension bridge; Henley bridge
Walk through the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Key information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels
Breakfasts daily
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers between hotels

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
Breakfasts daily
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's not included

Hotel upgrades
Transfers to and from hotels
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Visas & vaccinations

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Live Chat >

Request a Brochure >

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

The Thames Path is made up of well marked paths through riverside towpaths, through meadows, country roads and city streets. There are little to no elevation gains and losses.

Day by day breakdown

Day 2 15.5km/9.75miles

Day 3 21.0km/13.5miles

Day 4 17.0km/11.0miles

Day 5 25.0km/16.0miles

Day 6 13.5km/8.5miles

Day 7 23.0km/14.5miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Expand all

Oxford

Windsor

Day 1

Arrive in Oxford

Arrive in the city of dreaming spires and discover its wealth of historical highlights.
Stay overnight at The Oxford Coach and Horses or similar
Day 2

Oxford to Abingdon

Follow the trail through the Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve to the lock at Sandford, which has the greatest fall of water on the Thames with its weir, known as the Sandford Lasher. Continue to reach Abingdon, one of the most important historic towns on the Thames Path with Iron Age origins.
Stay overnight at The Coseners House or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3

Abingdon to Wallingford

Walk through the pretty village of Culham and with a short detour, Dorchester, with its thatched cottages, before reaching Wallingford, home to the remains of a medieval castle.
There are two impressive abbeys to enjoy on this stretch: the remains of Abingdon Abbey at the start of the day and the great abbey church in Dorchester built around 1140.
Stay overnight at the Town Arms or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4

Wallingford to Pangbourne

Walk through hamlets, water meadows and woodlands between the Chiltern Hills to the east and the Berkshire Downs to the west before crossing the toll bridge leading to Pangbourne. It is thought that the water voles here inspired author Kenneth Grahame's character Ratty in his book The Wind in the Willows.
Stay overnight at The Elephant or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5

Pangbourne to Henley

Follow the trail towards Sonning, described by Jerome K Jerome in Three Men in a Boat as 'the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river'; before reaching Henley-on-Thames, known for its annual rowing regatta. The award-winning River and Rowing Museum is on the banks of the river as you enter the town.
Stay overnight at The Row Barge or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6

Henely to Marlow

Leave Henley and follow the length of the regatta course to Temple Island, the starting point of the race. Continue along the river to Hambleden Lock with its picturesque view of the lock, a series of weirs across which you can walk and Hambleden Mill. Walk through open meadowland to Marlow with its fine suspension bridge.
Stay overnight at The Macdonald Compleat Angler or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7

Marlow to Windsor

Walk through one of the most beautiful stretches of the Thames Valley with the wooded slopes of Winter Hill rising on the opposite bank as you leave Marlow. Follow peaceful river paths passing some places of historic significance, Bourne End, where Enid Blyton lived and Cookham, home to the artist Stanley Spencer who lived here for 49 years and where the chapel is now a memorial gallery to his work. The grand finale of the walk is spotting Windsor Castle towering above the water.
Stay overnight at Langton House or similar

Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8

Leave Windsor

Depart Windsor after breakfast.

Meals included: Breakfast

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

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Essential Info

Visas

United Kingdom

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Vaccinations

United Kingdom

No vaccinations are obligatory.

Eating and Drinking

Enjoy the local cuisine in quintessentially British pubs, cafes and delicatessens - local delicacies include Cerney Ash or Stinking Bishop cheeses, Crackleberry Farm eggs, Cotswold Cream liqueur and the local ales - try the Yubby beer from the Yubberton Brewery Co. There's also the archetypal English Cream Teas that go down a treat with a nice hot cup of tea!

Weather

The Cotswolds has a temperate maritime climate with warm, rather than hot, summers and cool to cold winters. The hottest month, on average, is July and the coldest is January with rain falling fairly evenly throughout the year. The weather is unpredictable as with the rest of the UK and it is possible to see elements of all four seasons in one day. It is advisable for visitors to check the weather forecast before they arrive in the Cotswolds to get a better idea of the sort of clothing they will need during their trip. Bringing hooded waterproof coats and hats will ensure visitors are prepared for any spells of wind and rain the region may experience.
Spring: The climate is milder in spring making it a good time to visit the Cotswolds. There can be some great sunny days mixed with cooler and wet weather. From March to May the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 17°C.
Summer: Most days in summer range from mild to warm with the possibility of some infrequent hotter days, the days are at their longest in the summer. There may be overcast and humid conditions in the summer. From June to August the average daytime temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C.
Autumn: The climate can vary from some pleasantly mild days particularly at the start of September to cooler and colder days in October and November. Autumn is a good time to visit the Cotswolds as it avoids the peak summer season whilst enjoying milder temperatures and longer hours of daylight particularly at the start of September. Visitors can see some wonderful autumn colours. From September to November the average daytime temperatures are between 9°C and 19°C.

Is this trip for you?

Walking Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 3 (Moderate)
Average daily distance: 20km
No. of days walking: 8
Terrain and route: Walks on this holiday are through a mixture of landscapes including quiet countryside, beech woodlands and small hamlets.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Live Chat >

Request a Brochure >

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Accommodation

Hotels

OXFORD COACH AND HORSES, OXFORD 3 Star
Just a 10-minute walk from Oxford City centre, the Oxford Coach & Horses is built on the site of an old coaching inn dating from the 18th Century, said to be the last in Oxford before the road to London. Rooms are modern and comfortable.

THE COSENERS HOUSE, ABINGDON 5 Star
The Cosener’s House is in the grounds of the Abbey in a picturesque Thames-side position. The name comes from the Cuisinier (the official responsible for providing food for the Abbey). The oldest part of the present building is the central portion which dates from the mid-eighteenth century. Rooms are modern and spacious and there is a bar and restaurant available as well as a terrace and large garden.

THE TOWN ARMS, WALLINGFORD 4 Star
The Town Arms is located in the historic market town of Wallingford beside the river Thames. There is a bar and restaurant which serve local ales and home-cooked food.

THE ELEPHANT, PANGBOURNE 3 Star
The Elephant Hotel, beside the River Thames, is a boutique hotel with beautiful, hand-crafted Indian furniture, rich rugs and delicate fabrics. A restaurant, The Herd, is available as well as a bar - Babar.

THE ROW BARGE, HENLEY-ON-THAMES 3 Star
The Row Barge is one of Henley's oldest coaching inns, dating to the 16th Century. It is close to the centre of town and offers a beautiful beer garden, great home-cooked food and a warm welcome.

MACDONALD COMPLEATE ANGLER, MARLOW 4 Star
The Compleat Angler is a 400 year old country house overlooking Marlow Weir and the River Thames. The elegant rooms have classic décor and are named after fly fishing lures. There are two restaurants and a cocktail bar.

LANGTON HOUSE, WINDSOR 4 Star
Langton House is a Victorian town house set in a quiet leafy tree lined road in the heart of Windsor. Built in around 1890 it was a residence for Queen Victoria’s minor government officials.

Call for general departures:

1 844 227 9087

Call for private group trips:

1 844 227 9087

Live Chat >

Request a Brochure >

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes