LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Parked car in culde sac at Dorney Reach, near Monkey Island and cycled to Marlow via Maidenhead, Cookham and Bourne End. No obvious place to leave bike near bridge so I investigated a telegraph pole in a sideroad called Fisherman's Retreat. As I was locking the bike a lady came out of the house adjacent, so I asked if it was okay, she jokingly said it was a rough neighbourhood. She agreed to keep an eye on my bike so I started walking the Thames Path from the Suspension Bridge. Successfully negotiated 'Seven Corner Alley' to pass the lock and enter the scorched grass open area around the by-pass bridge. Sharp bend in the river as it is defected by Winter Hill with it's impressive expensive houses clinging to the hillside. Found a tennis ball, which had obviously been dropped by a dog and thought little Thomas would enjoy playing 'hitting' with it. Passed several dob walkers and stopped for a natter with Jean Hester, who later emailed me. Onwards past Winter's Hill. A short distance further downstream I could hear this rhythmic drumming noise. It grew louder and louder, then all was made clear as Chinese type dragon passed full of children rowers, all paddling to the beat of the drum. Then I entered several meadows occupied by cows and a bull. As the dog walkers passed, the cattle took absolutely no notice, obviously well used to the dogs. The houses on the opposite bank abruptly ended with the old ferry white house, the same house I recently passed on Walk 804 Cookham. A red kite over as I passed a class of youngsters from lectured with dos and don'ts before boarding the sailing yachts. Shortly after was the sailing club with rows of pleasure boats and between on a slipway was about a dozen Egyptian geese all resting in the sunshine. Narrow passage beyond sailing club cleading to the river crossing at railway bridge. Pedestrian bridge bolted to the side of railway bridge for cheapness and convenience. Path now on the south-west bank of Cock Marsh passing magnificent houses on opposite river bank of Bourne End and workmen restoring near riverbank where erosion of thousands of boats had slowly washed away vulnerable parts of the riverbank. Past Bell Rope Meadow to diversion before Cookham Bridge, passing Holy Trinity Church, the Tarry Stone, Cookham Village Centre, and Formosa Place before returning to the riverbank. As I passed Seven Gable Cottage on the opposite bank, amongst the woods, the butler was serving lunch to a couple on the lawn. Onwards past several grazing horses with their eyes and ears protected from the flies, a cat in the woods miles from any home, half submerged pleasure boat and greylag goose, before the first houses of maidenhead. The path in Maidenhead is sandwiched between the A4094 amin road and the riverbank railings, passing Boulter's Lock and a tablet in the ground with a verse of pros inscribed by Ian Miles about Old Father Thames, to Maidenhead Bridge. The information board in the adjacent gardens explains that there has been a bridge at this site since 1254. Forever onwards, now on the North-East bank of the river, after crossing Maidenhead Bridge passing racked rowing boats and Brunel's masterpiece of a railway bridge carrying the ole GWR line to Bristol and South Wales. From the riverside road after the bridges more wonderful houses are seen of the opposite bank of the fishery. The houses thin out as Bray Lock and Weir is reached. Surprised to find footpaths on either side of the M4 bridge linking to the Bray Road. I wasn't expecting pedestrians to be encouraged near a motorway, soon reached the large gardens of Dorney Reach Village and the footpath between the houses to the car parked on Dorney Reach Road. Returned to Marlow to collect Bike to end another wonderful interesting and varied walk along the River Thames.

Location Map: - Start: at Marlow - Finish at Dorney Reach
(Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons).