Thames Path itinerary
Thameshead – Cricklade – Lechlade – Newbridge – Oxford – Abingdon – Wallingford – Tilehurst – Henley-on-Thames – Marlow – Windsor – Shepperton – Teddington – Putney – Tower Bridge – Thames Barrier
Go to day 1 | 2 | 3| 4| 5| 6| 7|
Day 1: Thameshead – Cricklade - Lechlade
Thameshead – Cricklade: 12.3 miles (19.7km)
Cricklade – Lechlade: 11 miles (17.5km)
Totals for Day: 23.3 miles (37.2km)
Thameshead
The source of the River Thames lies in a remote meadow in the Cotswolds just outside the village of Kemble. A simple monument below an ash tree in the meadow marks the source. A few feet in front, you might see a small basin of stones covered in clear water, but for much of the year the source is dry.
Cricklade
Your first stop on the Thames Path National Trail is the small town of Cricklade. Dating back to Saxon times, Cricklade was built by Arthur the Great as a defence against the Danes. It’s the only Wiltshire town on the young River Thames, and if you walk down the high street, you’ll find some fascinating buildings dating back to the 13th century.
Lechlade
From Cricklade, continue along the Thames Path. Leave the path at Ha’penny Bridge, and you’ll find yourself in the small Cotswold town of Lechlade. The town is named after the River Leach which joins the Thames nearby. Lechlade is the highest point at which the Thames is navigable. Look out for the statue of Old Father Thames, which watches over St John’s Lock.