Exploring the Thames Rivers and Streams
50 favourite riverside walks
Published on 8. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-84486-671-7 (ISBN)
Description
A guide to exploring and enjoying the river Thames and its tributaries through the 50 best riverside walks.
The River Thames is a beautifully rich and diverse 215-mile stretch of water that so many of us enjoy walking along - for half an hour, half a day, or days on end courtesy of the wonderful Thames Path. Explore further and you discover the Thames tributaries - the rivers and streams that flow into the Thames from miles in all directions. This natural network has an enormous catchment area, right across Southern England into the Thames Estuary. From a small source stream in Gloucestershire, across varied and historic countryside, through London and into the wide estuary entering the North Sea, the Thames and its tributaries are a plentiful area for exploration and enjoyment.
Exploring the Thames Rivers and Streams helps you do just that. The book presents the 33 primary rivers that flow from the Thames and within these chapters describes 50 wonderful walks that best explore the beauty these tributaries have to offer. The walks vary between 4 and 12 miles long and explore a variety of chalk streams, wet woodlands, lakes, reedbeds, flood meadows and canals, where you can pause, observe the wildlife, read about the interesting and historical places featured, or enjoy the waterside with a wild swim, picnic or paddle. Each chapter also features beautiful photography and informative maps.
The River Thames is a beautifully rich and diverse 215-mile stretch of water that so many of us enjoy walking along - for half an hour, half a day, or days on end courtesy of the wonderful Thames Path. Explore further and you discover the Thames tributaries - the rivers and streams that flow into the Thames from miles in all directions. This natural network has an enormous catchment area, right across Southern England into the Thames Estuary. From a small source stream in Gloucestershire, across varied and historic countryside, through London and into the wide estuary entering the North Sea, the Thames and its tributaries are a plentiful area for exploration and enjoyment.
Exploring the Thames Rivers and Streams helps you do just that. The book presents the 33 primary rivers that flow from the Thames and within these chapters describes 50 wonderful walks that best explore the beauty these tributaries have to offer. The walks vary between 4 and 12 miles long and explore a variety of chalk streams, wet woodlands, lakes, reedbeds, flood meadows and canals, where you can pause, observe the wildlife, read about the interesting and historical places featured, or enjoy the waterside with a wild swim, picnic or paddle. Each chapter also features beautiful photography and informative maps.
Reviews / Votes
Delightful... beautifully illustrated * Waterways World *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
Colour photographs and maps throughout
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
670 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84486-671-7 (9781844866717)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Richard Mayon-White | Wendy Yorke
Exploring the Thames Rivers and Streams
50 Favourite Riverside Walks
E-Book
06/2025
1st Edition
Conway
€18.49
Available for download
Persons
Richard Mayon-White has lived in the Thames Valley for the last 60 years, and has always enjoyed walking and exploring rivers. As a volunteer, he helps to maintain and monitor the Thames Path and lead riverside walks.
Wendy Yorke is an active river explorer, finder of river sources, wild swimmer and nature photographer. She is a professional literary agent, author coach, book manuscript editor, international speaker and leader of author coaching writer retreats in southern France.
Wendy Yorke is an active river explorer, finder of river sources, wild swimmer and nature photographer. She is a professional literary agent, author coach, book manuscript editor, international speaker and leader of author coaching writer retreats in southern France.
Content
Introduction
Part 1: The rivers entering the Thames in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Chapter 1: Swill Brook
Walk 1: Lower Mill Farm and Swillbrook Nature Reserve; 4.5 miles (7km)
Chapter 2: River Churn
Walk 2: Around the Seven Springs; 5.8 miles (9km)
Walk 3: Cirencester to Baunton; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 3: River Key (no favourite walk)
Chapter 4: Ampney Brook
Walk 4: Cricklade and Down Ampney; 5.5 miles (9km)
Chapter 5: River Ray (Wiltshire)
Walk 5: Shaw Forest to Purton Wood via Mouldon Park; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 6: River Cole
Walk 6: Coate Water to Chisledon; 3 miles (4.8km)
Chapter 7: River Coln
Walk 7: Chetworth Roman Villa to Fossebridge; 6.5 miles (10km)
Walk 8: Bibury to Coln St Alywns; 5 miles (4km)
Chapter 8: River Leach
Walk 9: Northleach to Hampnett and Upper End; 6.5 miles (10.5km)
Part 2: The rivers entering the Thames in Oxfordshire
Chapter 9: River Windrush
Walk 10: Sherbourne to Windrush village; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 11: Minster Lovell; 3.5 miles (5.6km)
Chapter 10: River Evenlode
Walk 12: Charlbury, Chilson and Pudlicote; 7 miles (11km)
Walk 13: East End Roman Villa; 3.5 miles (6km)
Chapter 11: River Cherwell
Walk 14: Charwelton and Hellidon; 4 miles (6.4km)
Walk 15: Kirtlington; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 12: River Ock
Walk 16: Letcombe Brook; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 13: River Thame
Walk 17: Dorchester to Long Wittenham; 8 miles (13km)
Part 3: The rivers entering the Thames in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
Chapter 14: River Pang
Walk 18: Stanford Dingle to Bradfield; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 19: Pangbourne and Moor Copse; 4.5 miles (7km)
Chapter 15: River Kennet
Walk 20: Avebury to Silbury and East Kennet; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 21: Speen to Donnington Castle and Bagnor: 5.3 miles (8.5km)
Walk 22: Thatcham to the River Enborne and Greenham Common; 8 miles (13km)
Chapter 16: River Loddon
Walk 23: The Basing Trail at Basingstoke; 7 miles (10km)
Walk 24: Dinton Pastures to Twyford and back; 7.7 miles (12km)
Walk 25: North Warnborough to Greywell and Odiham Castle; 4 miles (6km)
Chapter 17: River Wye
Walk 26: West Wycombe; 3 miles (5km)
Part 4: The rivers entering the Thames in Surrey
Chapter 18: River Colne
Walk 27: Rickmansworth to Black Jack's lock, near Mount Pleasant; 6 miles (9km)
Walk 28: St Albans to Childwickbury and Redbournbury; 7.5 miles (12km)
Walk 29: Chess Valley at Chenies; 6.8 miles (10km)
Chapter 19: River Bourne
Walk 30: Chertsey Meads to Weybridge; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 20: River Wye
Walk 31: Tilford to Frensham Little Pond and Pierrepoint Farm; 5.5 miles (9km)
Walk 32: Camelsdale to Black Down; 6 miles (10km)
Walk 33: Godalming to Guildford; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 21: Mole
Walk 34: Brockham Village Circular Walk; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 35: Dorking to Leatherhead, via Box Hill and the Mole Gap Trail; 7 miles (12km)
Walk 36: Cobham Circular Walk; 4 miles (6.5km)
Part 5: The rivers entering the Thames in West London
Chapter 22: River Hogsmill
Walk 37: Riverside Walk from Ewell (source) to the Thames; 8 miles (12.8km)
Chapter 23: River Crane
Walk 38: Crane Park and Kneller Gardens; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 24: River Brent
Walk 39: Horsenden Hill to Brent River Park; 8.3 miles (13km)
Chapter 25: Beverley Brook
Walk 40: Richmond Park to Putney and back to Wimbledon, using a bus from Putney to Wimbledon; 9.2 miles (15km)
Chapter 26: River Wandle
Walk 41: Waddon Ponds to Morden Hall; 6.5 miles (10.4km)
Part 6: The rivers that meet the Thames in and near East London
Chapter 27: River Ravensbourne
Walk 42: Keston Common; 3 miles (5km)
Chapter 28: River Lea
Walk 43: Hertford to Rye House; 7 miles (12km)
Walk 44: Cheshunt, Fishers Green and Waltham Abbey; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 45: Walthamstow Marshes to Hackney Marsh; 6 miles (10km)
Chapter 29: River Roding
Walk 46: Loughton; 4 miles (6.4km)
Chapter 30: River Rom and Beam
Walk 47: Dagenham; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 31: River Ingrebourne
Walk 48: Hornchurch Country Park; 6 miles (9.6km)
Chapter 32: River Darent
Walk 49: Otford to Shoreham and Eynsford (return by train); 5.5 miles (8.8km)
Chapter 33: The Mardyke
Walk 50: Davy Down and North Shifford; 3.5 miles (5.6km)
Part 1: The rivers entering the Thames in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Chapter 1: Swill Brook
Walk 1: Lower Mill Farm and Swillbrook Nature Reserve; 4.5 miles (7km)
Chapter 2: River Churn
Walk 2: Around the Seven Springs; 5.8 miles (9km)
Walk 3: Cirencester to Baunton; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 3: River Key (no favourite walk)
Chapter 4: Ampney Brook
Walk 4: Cricklade and Down Ampney; 5.5 miles (9km)
Chapter 5: River Ray (Wiltshire)
Walk 5: Shaw Forest to Purton Wood via Mouldon Park; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 6: River Cole
Walk 6: Coate Water to Chisledon; 3 miles (4.8km)
Chapter 7: River Coln
Walk 7: Chetworth Roman Villa to Fossebridge; 6.5 miles (10km)
Walk 8: Bibury to Coln St Alywns; 5 miles (4km)
Chapter 8: River Leach
Walk 9: Northleach to Hampnett and Upper End; 6.5 miles (10.5km)
Part 2: The rivers entering the Thames in Oxfordshire
Chapter 9: River Windrush
Walk 10: Sherbourne to Windrush village; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 11: Minster Lovell; 3.5 miles (5.6km)
Chapter 10: River Evenlode
Walk 12: Charlbury, Chilson and Pudlicote; 7 miles (11km)
Walk 13: East End Roman Villa; 3.5 miles (6km)
Chapter 11: River Cherwell
Walk 14: Charwelton and Hellidon; 4 miles (6.4km)
Walk 15: Kirtlington; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 12: River Ock
Walk 16: Letcombe Brook; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 13: River Thame
Walk 17: Dorchester to Long Wittenham; 8 miles (13km)
Part 3: The rivers entering the Thames in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
Chapter 14: River Pang
Walk 18: Stanford Dingle to Bradfield; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 19: Pangbourne and Moor Copse; 4.5 miles (7km)
Chapter 15: River Kennet
Walk 20: Avebury to Silbury and East Kennet; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 21: Speen to Donnington Castle and Bagnor: 5.3 miles (8.5km)
Walk 22: Thatcham to the River Enborne and Greenham Common; 8 miles (13km)
Chapter 16: River Loddon
Walk 23: The Basing Trail at Basingstoke; 7 miles (10km)
Walk 24: Dinton Pastures to Twyford and back; 7.7 miles (12km)
Walk 25: North Warnborough to Greywell and Odiham Castle; 4 miles (6km)
Chapter 17: River Wye
Walk 26: West Wycombe; 3 miles (5km)
Part 4: The rivers entering the Thames in Surrey
Chapter 18: River Colne
Walk 27: Rickmansworth to Black Jack's lock, near Mount Pleasant; 6 miles (9km)
Walk 28: St Albans to Childwickbury and Redbournbury; 7.5 miles (12km)
Walk 29: Chess Valley at Chenies; 6.8 miles (10km)
Chapter 19: River Bourne
Walk 30: Chertsey Meads to Weybridge; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 20: River Wye
Walk 31: Tilford to Frensham Little Pond and Pierrepoint Farm; 5.5 miles (9km)
Walk 32: Camelsdale to Black Down; 6 miles (10km)
Walk 33: Godalming to Guildford; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 21: Mole
Walk 34: Brockham Village Circular Walk; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 35: Dorking to Leatherhead, via Box Hill and the Mole Gap Trail; 7 miles (12km)
Walk 36: Cobham Circular Walk; 4 miles (6.5km)
Part 5: The rivers entering the Thames in West London
Chapter 22: River Hogsmill
Walk 37: Riverside Walk from Ewell (source) to the Thames; 8 miles (12.8km)
Chapter 23: River Crane
Walk 38: Crane Park and Kneller Gardens; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 24: River Brent
Walk 39: Horsenden Hill to Brent River Park; 8.3 miles (13km)
Chapter 25: Beverley Brook
Walk 40: Richmond Park to Putney and back to Wimbledon, using a bus from Putney to Wimbledon; 9.2 miles (15km)
Chapter 26: River Wandle
Walk 41: Waddon Ponds to Morden Hall; 6.5 miles (10.4km)
Part 6: The rivers that meet the Thames in and near East London
Chapter 27: River Ravensbourne
Walk 42: Keston Common; 3 miles (5km)
Chapter 28: River Lea
Walk 43: Hertford to Rye House; 7 miles (12km)
Walk 44: Cheshunt, Fishers Green and Waltham Abbey; 5 miles (8km)
Walk 45: Walthamstow Marshes to Hackney Marsh; 6 miles (10km)
Chapter 29: River Roding
Walk 46: Loughton; 4 miles (6.4km)
Chapter 30: River Rom and Beam
Walk 47: Dagenham; 5 miles (8km)
Chapter 31: River Ingrebourne
Walk 48: Hornchurch Country Park; 6 miles (9.6km)
Chapter 32: River Darent
Walk 49: Otford to Shoreham and Eynsford (return by train); 5.5 miles (8.8km)
Chapter 33: The Mardyke
Walk 50: Davy Down and North Shifford; 3.5 miles (5.6km)