I honestly do believe that adventure is right outside your front door. You just have to switch off the telly and go and find it. You might not even have to go very far.
I’m lucky enough to have the amazing Thames Path just down the road from where I live. In around 10 minutes I can be wandering along the banks. ‘What’s so good about that?’ you may say. Well, let me explain…
Turn left at the Maidenhead bridge, heading west, and within a few miles you come to Cookham, officially one of the richest villages in England. Residents include Carol Vorderman, Ulrika Jonnson and Timmy Mallett (bear with me, my name dropping will get better). It’s a small and friendly place with a large selection of pubs and restaurants (11 I think).
Our kind of village, in fact we’re often to be found relaxing in one of the numerous beer gardens in Summer. If there’s one thing we do brilliantly in this country it’s a country pub and there are plenty of them along this stretch of the Thames. When we saw Timmy Mallett in the King’s Arms he was wearing Union Jack trousers. Only in England hey?
Next stop along the river is Marlow, home of Tom Kerridge’s gastropub, the Hand & Flowers. Going from one end of the cultural spectrum to the other (I’m catering for everyone in this blog), Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein whilst living in Marlow, and Shakin’ Stevens is a current resident. It’s a lovely little town, whether you’re a Shakey fan or not. Check out Marlow Bridge, which was used as a template for the bridge connecting Buda and Pest in Hungary.
Keep walking. A little further along is Henley-on-Thames, where the famous rowing Regatta takes place each year. Dusty Springfield is buried in the cute St Mary’s churchyard just off the main street.
Famous (I use the term loosely) living residents include Philip Schofield, Russell Brand, Mary Berry and Lee Ryan of the band Blue. I probably shouldn’t admit this publicly, but I’ve been to see them play live, and enjoyed it immensely.
Alternatively you can turn right at the Maidenhead Bridge and head east along the Thames. You soon go past Bray, where Heston Blumenthal runs not one but three eateries. Bray is the place to go for posh grub – it has two Michelin 3* restaurants, and there are only five in the whole country. I haven’t been to either, as my hubby is a Yorkshireman (how much?!). Parky and Rolf Harris are amongst those who own lavish riverfront homes here, although Rolf is currently in more ‘secure accommodation’ elsewhere!
Next stop is Eton, home to the UK’s most famous public school. Founded in 1440, it costs more than £40,000 a year to attend. PM Boris Johnson is just one of many eminent ex-pupils, along with Prince William, Bear Grylls and Ian Fleming. No girls allowed! But the poor boys are made to wonder around town in a very bizarre uniform – tailcoat, starched white collar and pinstriped trousers. Again, only in England! The school buildings are stunning though.
Finally, walk up Eton High Street and you’re in Windsor, where you might find the Queen and company at home in their castle (I told you it got better!). The fortress itself is pretty impressive. It’s the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The newly ‘unroyal’ Harry and Meghan got married here. And you can go inside and have a look around for a not insubstantial fee.
There are nice shops in Windsor, and a huge park to explore, just in case you’re not a royalist or a fan of castles. My parents love Windsor (they are castle freaks) and highly recommend a pie in the Duchess of Cambridge pub on the High Street.
On a typical walk along the river, you are unlikely to meet anyone famous. I’ve never bumped into Charles & Camilla out for a weekend stroll, unfortunately, although I live in hope. You’ll mostly see happy, smiling dog walkers (like me), a few cyclists, and hundreds of noisy geese, ducks and swans. But it’s gorgeous, believe me, especially on a sunny day. I challenge you not to feel happy ambling, trekking or running along the Thames, or indeed any river, there’s just something special about it.
If you don’t fancy a walk, there’s an even more leisurely alternative between April and September. Jump on a riverboat from Maidenhead to Windsor and you get the bonus of having a nosey into celebrity gardens along the way. Plus there’s a bar on board. It can be quite exciting – the last time I took a trip, the trainee driver ran the boat into one of the islands.
The Thames Path actually runs along the whole of the river, from its source near the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire right through the centre of London to the Thames Barrier, where the river meets the sea. A total of 184 miles, so definitely more than just a ramble. One day maybe I’ll do the whole lot, but for the moment there’s enough to keep me occupied on the lovely stretches close to home.
Steph's Travels 