I’m trying very hard to keep on blogging throughout lockdown. My strategy is to share with you some of the glorious countryside close to where I live in Berkshire, which makes walking and running a joy regardless of what’s going on in the news.
For today’s walk, we’re starting at Cookham Moor and heading through the meadows along the river Thames northwards to the village of Bourne End, enjoying a game of ‘I want that house’ as we go.
The name Marsh Meadow gives a big clue to why this area is so lush – it’s a flood plain. The history of this whole district has involved regular inundations when the Thames bursts its banks. Today, thanks to a month of great weather (yes, a month! In England!), we won’t get wet feet, unless we fancy a paddle in the river.
Marsh Meadow is the scene of many happy memories. It’s here that the original Let’s Rock the Moor retro festival took place back in 2009. I’ve been attending every May since 2014. There’s nothing quite like a field full of middle aged fun-seekers singing along to Chesney Hawkes’ ‘I am the one and only’. Well, it works for me anyway. Sadly, this year it’s been postponed, and may still be cancelled.
At the end of Marsh Meadow is the river. This side is parkland, but over on the opposite bank there are huge houses, with boats, statues, sundecks, studios, basically every appendage you can think of scattered around Wembley-grade lawns. It must get annoying having a constant stream of walkers gawking at you as you sit in your garden though? Particularly the really irritating ones like me who take photos!
Some of the houses are amazing, some a bit vulgar. Some just don’t have that indoor, oudoor flow that you’d want living on the river. Such are the meaningful discussions we have during lockdown, when there’s not much to talk about! The husband can be a bit loud when pointing out the shortcomings of other people’s homes. Thankfully, the river is wide.
We follow the path along the river until we reach the railway bridge, which doubles as a footbridge across to the village of Bourne End. The branch line from Maidenhead to Marlow crosses here, a single track railway affectionately known as ‘The Marlow Donkey’. Only in England! Bourne End railway station is a dead end, so the train pulls in and then reverses back out, with the driver swapping ends, to continue the journey. It’s so old-fashioned, I love it. The bridge dates from 1895 when it replaced a rickety old wooden structure – what a shame!
Bourne End (meaning ‘end of the stream’) is where the river Wye flows into the Thames. Enid Blyton lived in the village from the 1920s, as did the ‘King of Thrillers’ Edgar Wallace, who used to drive around in a yellow Rolls Royce wearing a trilby hat. He wouldn’t look out of place now in this part of the world, which has more than its fair share of eccentrics.
We saunter along this bank as far as Bourne End marina. There’s not much going on, just people walking their dogs or sitting out in their gardens, but it’s always nice to watch the boats bobbing around in the sunshine.
We cross back over the bridge and carry on along the western bank, past The Bounty, a pub renowned for dog-friendliness – in normal times there would be as many canine as human punters on a sunny weekend. Alas, it’s closed today, although the publican is rather smugly sitting in the garden with a jug of beer. ‘That’s not fair’ Tony tells him. He laughs. So would I!
Veering left away from the river, we walk across Cock Marsh, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to having diverse meadow habitats in a small area. The flooding that happens periodically helps to maintain this biological richness. No wonder the cows look content.
Up ahead on the ridge is the Winter Hill golf course, owned by the John Lewis Partnership and apparently rather lovely, but we have no intention of climbing up a big hill in this heat, so we turn left and stay on the flat.
The path takes us underneath the railway line this time and we emerge blinking back onto the bright expanse of Marsh Meadow.
We cut through the middle of the horse paddocks and along a public footpath around the back of my favourite house, which is up for sale. It’s huge, it’s next door to the pub and it overlooks the meadow. I could sit on my balcony and watch Tony Hadley, Midge Ure and friends rocking the moor. It’s a snip at £2.8 million.
The path takes us back to Cookham Moor and harsh reality. Thank goodness we still have walks and we can still dream. Till next time…
Steph's Travels 