The Thames Path
Hello, looking for some advice here.
As we are not going abroad this year in our caravan I thought it would be an adventure to walk The Thames Path.
To this end I wondered if anyone has done this, and how easy it is to find caravan sites along the way. We are not self sufficient, therefore we would need electricity and a toilet.
We have a Bailey Almeria Caravan which is 7.2 metres long.
We would not be thinking of travelling until mid September and doing it in stages.
We would be very grateful for any suggestions.
Bobbie Fannon
Comments
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I know the Thames quite well from my boating days. It is probably a case of compiling a list of campsites from which you can explore. Henley on Thames springs to mind as one option. It might depend on how far you wish to walk in a day. Obviously Henley to Marlow would be easy as you can get bus back. Bridge Villa at Abington and the C&CC site at Oxford would also afford option to explore the Thames. I am sure there must be many other campsites near to the river. The Thames is beautiful especially in the upper reaches.
David
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An interesting project. I can tell you where to start or finish! The Thames Head Inn near Cirencester is situated close to where the River Thames is reputed to start. It has a small, very nice campsite, with loos, showers and superb food! It also does B&B, we stayed last year, and already plan to go back. Not sure on situation at the moment, but if you look in the Small private Sites thread, a Sticky in this section you will find details. It’s very very popular.
There have been a few TV programmes about River Thames, and there’s bound to be a book or maps.
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At least it is all downhill once you start!
Don't forget bus passes, if you have them, I found timetables on the internet when I did the walk ,although on one occasion I recall taking a taxi to my starting point as I was pitched at the finish for that day and there was no bus going that way.
Enjoy the trip.
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Hurley Riverside Park is right on the Thames Path. Much further up River Lincoln Park Farm at Standlake is another good site but is set back from the river a bit. There are of course the CLs, Newbridge Farm is on the river side. There is plenty of choice.
peedee
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Reface wrote "At least it is all downhill once you start!"
It depends which end he starts.
C&CC site at Chertsey is right on the river.
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Bobbie , It reminds me of someone who had a similar plan of walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, and asked about campsites for a driver going ahead with a caravan.
The logistics were too great because the campsites were in the wrong places. They settled instead for someone with a campervan meeting them at fixed points along the way - and then going off to pitch overnight camps somewhere else.
I think you will struggle to find enough campsites to do the whole Thames path route with a caravan, but several of us will wait to hear your report afterwards. Good luck.
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You could do the first 16 miles or so from the Cirencester Park CAMC site. Utilising a section of the Monarchs way to join the Thames path at the source. Sign but no water present now. Then follow it to Cricklade and get the 51 bus back. Stops near the end of the site road.
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At the other end, you could stop at Abbey Wood CAMC site. A train from AW station to Woolwich dockyard station, puts you reasonably close to the path at the Thames barrier. You could then follow it as far as you feel able before using public transport to get back to AW. Just make sure you get a pay as you go visitors Oyster card before you leave home, that caps the maximum you will have to pay, depending on what travel zone you end up in.
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Have no experience of the Thames but have walked both the South Downs Way and the Ridgeway. On the South Downs Way we used B&Bs but on the Ridgeway we used the caravan. Campsites were few and far between. We only took one car and that proved problematical as we ended up using buses, taxi’s and trains to get back or rejoin the path. Of course I haven’t studied the Thames way so no idea whether you would need 2 cars.
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This is a helpful Thames tourist web site which list camp sites.
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It’s not an easy project with a car and caravan, certainly not once you have the City sections to do. Cracking canoe project though.
We have done most of SW path, but not in one trip. OH has done some of Coast to Coast paths, like Trans Pennine Trail and Hadrians Wall, but had back up meeting cycles at various points on TPT.
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Might be an idea to check out if Salters Steamers are still running as they provided drop off points at major points along the river.
David
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That’s a lovely idea.
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Thank you all for your responses, they were just what we needed. Weve copied and printed all of your posts and have the Thames path book, so we'll let you know how we get on.
Malc & Bobbie Fannon
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