Thames Path Complete (17 Days & 16 Nights)
17 Days & 16 Nights 4.7 Read 30 reviews- Follow the Thames Path from its Cotswolds source into the heart of London
- Iconic sights such as Windsor Castle, Runnymede & Hampton Court Palace
- Contrasting landscapes from tranquil meadows to the bustling city
- Admire London’s skyline from the South Bank including Westminster Palace
- Walk through the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
What To Expect
Trip Type:
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Activity:
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Long-Distance Trails
Grade & Terrain
Generally this is easy walking as you are, for the most part, walking alongside the Thames and therefore the elevation gains and losses are minimal. However walking the complete Thames Path in one stretch is not easy, as you will be walking fairly long distances everyday, especially on the 17 day tour. Therefore the 17 day complete trip is rated moderate, simply due to the daily walking distances. The 21-day itinerary has at times been split into shorter sections and is therefore graded easy to moderate. These itineraries are most suitable for those walkers with previous long distance experience and an excellent level of physical fitness.
The Thames Path is a walk of contrasting terrain, from countryside trails and small country roads, to towpaths, riverside paths, plus some city streets, the further into London you get.
Please note that depending on where you spend the night, the distances may be at times more or less that listed every day. So please be prepared for longer or shorter walks than listed when necessary. Also the distances listed may not be exactly the same as in the guidebook as different gps units do not measure the distances the same (its not an exact science).
Navigation
The Thames Path is relatively well waymarked. We provide a Thames Path guidebook to assist you in finding your way and GPX tracks are accessible on the Macs Smartphone App, so you can simply follow the route on your phone. We also provide detailed maps.
Accommodation Information
You will experience a variety of accommodations on this tour from small B&B's and guesthouses, to inns, hotels and comfortable pubs with rooms. Some will be quite simple depending on where they are located and what is available. However, they all offer warm welcomes and traditional hospitality. In the heart of London, we will be using chain-style hotels. If you request a booking when there is an event on in London, or it is particularly busy, you may be asked to pay a supplement.
On the Thames Path, accommodation choices can be limited along the trail, so if we cannot secure a reservation for you in a particular place you may have to spend 2 nights in one place and we will include a transfer to or from the beginning/end of the walk, whatever is appropriate.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We also welcome solo walkers on the Thames Path, although you should, of course, take extra care in the outdoors when walking alone.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs or restaurants.
Additional Nights
If you wish to add additional nights along the trail or at the beginning and end of your itinerary please contact us. You may choose to add some rest days, or extra days where there is plenty of opportunity for sightseeing.
- Overnights in B&B’s, guesthouses, inns, hotels & pubs with rooms
- Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Detailed Information Pack, Guidebook and maps
- Access to the GPX tracks via the Macs Smartphone App
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Travel to Cirencester
- Travel from Greenwich
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Local ferry
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you wish to skip a stage
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Equipment
- Extra nights
When To Go
You can start your Thames Path Complete walk anytime between the end of April and beginning of October. It is advised not to walk the beginning sections of the Thames Path too early in the year as there is a risk of flooding on some of the paths as they are next to the river.
Please note that if you are doing the complete Thames Path walk it is best to book a long way in advance due to potential availability issues in central London.
Getting to the Start
You can fly into any of the London Airports. and easily make your way from any of them (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) into the centre of London. From London Paddington Station there is a direct train to Kemble, the closest train station to Cirencester, which takes approximately 1H15. From here we recommend jumping in a taxi to get to Cirencester. Here’s a weblink to a taxi company so that you can call ahead of time. http://www.taxisofkemble.co.uk/ For further information on train travel please visit either the Trainline or National Rail websites.
Getting from the End
In Greenwich, there is an overground train station and from here you can make your way to any of the major train stations, generally changing trains at London Bridge and then taking an underground train. To plan your travel in London, visit the Transport for London journey planner.
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
Equipment
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a daypack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Cirencester & overnight Day 2 Thames Head to Cricklade 12 miles / 20 km Day 3 Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles / 18 km Day 4 Lechlade to Newbridge 16 miles / 26 km Day 5 Newbridge to Oxford 13 miles / 22 km Day 6 Oxford to Abingdon 10 miles / 14 km Day 7 Abingdon to Wallingford/Benson 13 miles / 22 km Day 8 Wallingford/Benson to Pangbourne 13 miles / 18 km Day 9 Pangbourne to Henley-on-Thames 16 miles / 26 km Day 10 Henley-on-Thames to Marlow 9 miles / 14 km Day 11 Marlow to Windsor 14 miles / 23 km Day 12 Windsor to Chertsey Bridge 12 miles / 20 km Day 13 Chertsey Bridge to Kingston-upon-Thames 12 miles / 19 km Day 14 Kingston-upon-Thames to Putney Bridge 13 miles / 22 km Day 15 Putney Bridge to London/Tower Bridge 10 miles / 16 km Day 16 London/Tower Bridge to Thames Barrier 11 miles / 18 km Day 17 Onward TravelThe Macs Adventure Way
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