Walk along the Thames from Henley to Cookham/visit the Marlow Farmes Market

INFO AND LOCATION
-8.45 am meeting point EALING BROADWAY station
-9.00 departure from meeting point
-18.51 arrive in EALING BROADWAY

This whole area of the Chiltern Hills was designated in 1965 as an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to recognise and protect its picturesque beauty.

HIKE DESCRIPTION
We shall be exploring the River Thames away from London to the pretty villages. This picturesque walk takes out of Henley along the hills overlooking the Thames and covers a very scenic stretch of the River Thames taking us past the charming riverside villages of Aston and Hurley and also Marlow Lock, - built in 1773. Time seems to have stood still in this area and even the village of Hurley is little changed since the days when it was a Benedictine Monastery. We also get a glimpse of Bisham Abbey and Bisham Church across the River Thames before we cross over the weir footbridge at Hambleden Mill and continue until Marlow. In Marlow we will stop to visit the market made by local farmers. In Marlow we will see the lovely suspension bridge designed by William Tierney Clark. This part give us fantastic views of Winter Hill and as you near Cookham, once you’ve crossed the river, the path takes you through Cock Marsh, purchased by local residents in 1934 and given to the National Trust. It is one of the best lowland wetland sites in the country, noted as an important breeding ground for wading birds and home to an outstanding selection of plants.

VILLAGES
HENLEY ON THAMES is one of the most beautiful towns in England, recently voted by The Times as one of the best places to live in the English countryside and a regular winner of RHS Britain in Bloom medals. Adjacent to the River Thames, Henley is overlooked by a beautiful Chiltern landscape of wooded hills and green fields. The town was first described in the 12th century and is until today considered as one of the most beautiful English market towns with many interesting historical buildings. Its historic St Mary’s Church, the Town Hall, the market square, many local shops, plus its own theatre/cinema, mean Henley is a delightful place for mooching about. Best known for its annual Royal Regatta.

MARLOW is without a doubt one of the loveliest locations on the River Thames, set amongst the rich meadows of the river valley and alongside the woodlands of the Chiltern Hills.The vibrant Georgian market town is made up of historic streets and an abundance of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and bistros all adding to the town’s unique charm. The town’s most famous landmark is the suspension bridge which spans the River Thames and joins the counties of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. The bridge was designed by William Tierney Clark and first opened in 1832.

COOKHAM The Royal Manor of Cookham was held by the Crown until 1818 and today, although many changes have taken place, the village has made the most of its position and is now one of the most popular Thameside resorts with its many superb restaurants and inns, including Bel and the Dragon dating from 1417 and reputedly one of the oldest licensed houses in England! The name of Cookham today is closely associated with Sir Stanley Spencer, one of the greatest British painters of the 20th century who lived in the village until his death in 1959 and who used its scenery as the background to many of his paintings

DISTANCE: 20 KM (13 miles)
DIFFICULT: easy but long

HOW TO GET THERE
We will meet in the rail train station EALING BROADWAY (outside of Ticket office) an all together we will take the train

WHAT TO BRING
-water (recommend 2 liter) and lunch
-shoes and comfortable clothing
-camera or phone

PARTEPITATION FEE
27 £ per person to be paid by transfer
Included: train ticket and guide
Not included: insurance

PAYMENT DATA
MIRIAM FERRARIN
Sort Code: 04-00-04
Account number: 54970683

Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable but we have a process to release your space for resale to another member.