Thames Path Part Five: Chertsey to Windsor

The Thames Path is a 182 mile National Trail stretching from London to Gloucestershire. This year, the group will aim to cover the whole trail from start to finish! This initial 5 part series will involve covering the “London” section of the Path from its start in Woolwich up to Windsor.

To add some fun to our adventure, you are encouraged to purchase the Thames Passport where we will collect stamps at over 30 stamping stations along the Path. Collect stamps at all the various stations and you can receive a Certificate of Completion for doing the whole trail from start to finish! The link to purchase the passport is here: https://walkthethames.co.uk/thames-path-passport/

Our final London leg of our Thames Path Adventure! Returning to Chertsey Bridge where we last left the Thames Path on the previous leg, we will make our way into Staines passing several riverside homes and through a couple of locks.

We will make our way through Staines and after a short diversion to factor in a bridge issue just short of the Runnymede hotel, we will continue up to Runnymede where we will stop for lunch. There will also be the chance to get takeaway coffee from the Magna Carta Tea Room and collect another stamp for our passports.

We will then make our way through Old Windsor and towards the Albert Bridge, where in good weather, we may be able to glimpse the King George III statue in the distance which overlooks the start of the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park.

After another short stretch, we will arrive in Datchet where we will have a pub stop at the Royal Stag.

Following refreshment, we will follow the Path towards Windsor, with great views of the playing fields of Eton and Windsor Castle. If we’re lucky, we may see the Royal Standard being flown which indicates that the King is in residence.

Once arrived in Windsor, after visiting Indelibly for another passport stamp, we will seek a beverage at the Duchess of Cambridge pub to celebrate the milestone of concluding the London section of our Thames Path adventure. We also plan to stay for dinner, which is being organised by Michael, our social secretary. Please see separate details for this.

Saturday 28 March 2026
Start time: 9:30 am
Estimated finish time: 5:00 pm
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 21.7km / 13.5mi
Ascent: N/A
Type: linear

Travel Details
To get to Chertsey from Reading, please get the 8:39 train heading to London Waterloo, changing at Virginia Water for the 9:25 train to Chertsey. For returning to Reading, please get the train from Windsor & Eton Central changing at Slough (note this is on a separate train line from the one to the walk start). For those driving, parking is available at Chertsey station as well as Windsor & Eton Riverside station. If you park at either of these stations, you will need to get the train to Chertsey, changing at Staines for either the walk start or to collect your car after the walk. If parking at Windsor & Eton Riverside, you will need to get the 8:53 train to London Waterloo, changing at Staines to get the 9:16 train (the same one that any Reading folk will get from Virginia Water).

Dogs

• Assistance dogs only on this walk.

Please see our dogs policy on our group website for more details.

Notes

• Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water.
• It might be muddy – please wear suitable footwear.

Please see our group website for more information: https://www.berkshirewalkers.co.uk/