Re-boot: Segment 6: Windsor to Bourne End

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/e/b/0/event_55472432.jpeg UPDATED 25 May - please note the travel plan has changed and group will now leave from Waterloo, but you can also travel from Paddington and meet us at the meeting point in Windsor. This walk will be hosted by Alison.

What is this?

The is the re-boot of the sixth leg of the 180 mile walk to the source of the Thames. This leg starts from the Queen’s residence in Windsor to Bourne End, which is one of the villages in the heart of the stockbroker land.

Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham and Bourne End are the Villages on the banks of the Thames where all the rich stockbrokers and bankers used to live before the financial crisis, (Now they have all moved to Hackney). Nevertheless this walk goes through very pretty green areas and you will still be able to see where the rich people used to live.

Meeting time and Meeting-point.

Meeting time is 11:00 am at the Windsor Bridge, At the crossing of Thames Street and Thames path http://www.g.co/maps/88jne . It is a short distance from both Windsor Central station and Windsor riverside station

This meeting time has been chosen to cater for people coming on the following train from London.

London Waterloo start 9:44 am, arrive Windsor Riverside at 10:44am

Getting to the meeting point

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The Walk and Route

The walk is not intended to be a guided walk, everyone is free to walk at their own pace, and the job of the designated group leaders is to make sure the group loosely hangs around together in smaller clusters.

Starting from the Windsor bridge we cross the river to the Eton Side of Windsor, we are back on the riverside path very soon, which first goes through a meadow, past an attractive bridge the Windsor Railway bridge, then we cross under or go over a few more bridges and will walk along mostly a countryside setting, there are many large house to see on the way and there are times when we actually walk through the gardens of some of these houses, the owners apparantely are not very fond of the walkers stopping and gaping. The path also goes past many quaint little villages .

For more details of the what you will see along the way, with photographs of landmarks along the way check out.

http://www.thames-path.org.uk/thames_windsor_bourne_end.html

Pit Stops and Lunch

The lunch stop will be in a Riverside Park, with a cafe. So you have a choice of bringing a picnic lunch or buying from the cafe. I decided against stopping at a pub this time as all the pubs along the route seem to be posh and expensive.

Jenners Riverside Cafe

Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 8NP 01628 621721

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Toilets along this route are few and far between , so you may need to time these visits. Here is a list of toilets along the route..

Eton Court car park

Boveney Lock

Bray Lock

Maidenhead, Ray Mill Island – cross river at Boulter’s Lock

Cookham, Sutton Road car park

Bourne End, Wakeman Road car park

Apres Walk drinks

The walk finishes at The Bounty

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“The Bounty is located on Cockmarsh between Cookham and Bourne End. It is set in a lovely location right next to the River Thames overlooking Cockmarsh towards Winter Hill. Due to the location, The Bounty is not a well known pub and is not particularly easy to find if you do not know it, however it is very easy to stumble across if you are walking along the river between Cookham and Bourne End.

Despite its location, which is only accessible on foot or by boat The Bounty is a very popular pub with 'locals' who prefer it to other pubs closer to home. It is not possible to get to The Bounty by car but for those coming from further away The Bounty is conveniently located under half a mile from Bourne End train station and just over a mile away from Cookham train station.

The Bounty is a very unique pub which is full of character from top to bottom. They serve a variety of drinks including Rebellion beer, produced locally in Marlow. They also serve food and The Bounty is a family friendly place with a large outdoor seating area next to the river which is great on a sunny summer afternoon. To keep children entertained there is also an outdoor play area. The place has a very homely feel to it and the friendly staff will be sure to look after you. “

So at the end of the walk we have something to look forward to.

Getting Home

The Bourne End Station is 300 m from the Bounty Pub, and on Sunday there is a train every hour that goes to Maidenhead from where there are frequent trains to Paddington.

The train times from Bourne End to Maidenhead are: 16:12, 17:15, 18:12, 19:15. It takes 12 minutes to maidenhead and there is a connecting train to Paddington from Maidenhead at each of these times.

An alternative to the train is a mini-cab to Slough/Windsor . The cost is £20, so if 4-5 people want to pool in and order a cab, it will cost less that £5 each, which is the same as the train fare between Bourne End and Slough.

How far is it and when will I get there.

The total distance is 11 Miles, spilt up approximately as follows:

Windsor to Bray (The first signs of civilization after Windsor) = 5 Miles

Bray to Maidenhead , Jenners tea gardens (Lunch stop) = 1.5 miles

Maidenhead to Cookham = 3.0 miles

Cookham to Bourne end = 1.5 miles

Approximate times :

Jenner’s team room (Lunch stop) = 1:30-2:00pm.

Bourne end = 4:00pm - 4:30pm.

FAQ

What do I need to bring?
Suitable footware and clothing. The track is likely to be muddy in many places. Hiking boots are still not required, although they always help. The walk will go ahead even if the weather is horrible. Drinks, chocolate to share, something for lunch. Money for a pint at the end

What if I cant make it?
Please change your RSVP to "no" as soon as you decide you can’t make it.

What if I am late?
We will be leaving the meeting point at 11:00. If you are delayed beyond that, you will be on your own, but you can try and catch up with us along the route, but it may not be that easy..

Can I do only part of the walk?
Yes. You can quit, the only place you can quite is maidenhead that is after the first 6.5 miles.

Can I join the walk at half way say at mid-day ?
This will be logistically quite difficult, but you can always try. The best place to meet us will be at the Lunch stop in Maidenhead, although that will leave you with only a fraction of the walk.

What if I get lost?
You can text the group leader, and if finding the group proves to be too disruptive and painful, head for the nearest train station go home. The best places to find your way back is at Maidenhead.

What if it rains or the weather is bad?
The walk will be on rain or shine, make sure you get enough waterproof clothing.