So back to Windsor to start the third day of this section of the Thames. Travelling by minibus today but starting quite late – we don’t leave Millets until 09.30. We get to Windsor and are on route to be dropped by the Castle and we meet a barrier across the road – changing of the guard! Change of plan – we jump out the van, turn into tourists for ten minutes or so and then find our way to the bridge. We are on the Windsor side of the river to start and in Berkshire and always good a convenient Conveniences before we reach the river!
Our goal today is Shepperton -I’ve heard reference to the studios but not the place – up until now most of our destinations have a familiarity about them but not today. The path runs next to an open area which is the northern end of The Home Park , after a while we can look back to see Eton School and also back to the castle. There’s a tree next to the bank and we quickly identify it as an Alder – not very common. We can also see the branch line that runs from Windsor Riverside to Staines
The path reaches a road and crosses over the river using the Victoria bridge and we are back on the far bank. There are plenty of signs about crown property and if you look at the map you can see familiar names such as Frogmore and Adelaide Cottage. It is obviously a rather beautiful park which also includes farmland and after curving right around the park we cross back over the river at the Albert Bridge and also spot a quite distinct gatehouse.
A very pleasant area which was quite important in the past- we are now next to Old Windsor – this was apparently the home of Kings before Windsor Castle took pride of place. By the lock this illustration helped to explain the way that boats were winched over weirs- created when waters were diverted to feed mills of various types. Locks are a reasonably new invention.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locks_and_weirs_on_the_River_Thames
We are walking along the back of houses again and then for a while our path is next to the road as we approach Runnymede – we have decided that we will take a small detour here to make a visit to the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. A busy road and quite a lot of people around plus some useful picnic benches at the NT cafe. Having started walking quite late we decide it’s time for lunch before we make our quick sight seeing diversion !
The education team have placed these sculptures to try to show that ancient civilisations lived in the area. Then in contrast a modern sculptural piece representing the law and justice with seats for twelve – in the middle of a field of course!
There is a John F Kennedy Memorial near the edge of the main field but we don’t really have time to explore. We go further along to the Magna Carta memorials.
We cut back to the river and continue on our way – we haven’t really got far enough yet and there is quite a long way to go- finding the given distances are rather lean compared with the actuality. Perhaps current GPS is more accurate. 
This area is clearly steeped in history and there is more to explore. We’re on to another lock and quite a built up area with Egham to our right and across the river Hythe End and to add to the complication we pass under the M25. As we continue along the river with its mix of rural and suburban there are always things to spot such as this tree covered in mistletoe and then an area where boats are moored next to each other and in abundance – some clearly still lived on, others being renovated- a colourful but peaceful busyness.
We are soon to cross the river again as we reach the bridge at Staines- don’t think I have ever been here. The part by the river looks quite reasonable but I suspect further into the town I might not be as impressed. An ancient market town which was populated by Romans and which gradually became more industrialised over time. Next to the river is the London Stone which marks the original boundaries of the City of London. There is also a possibility that this used to be the extent of the tidal Thames – now further down stream due to the addition of locks and weirs.
Still quite a long way to go and in sections of good paths we can increase our speed. The prevailing thought is that although more built up it is not unpleasant. The river twists and turns a lot here and it is a complex area of land and water, although that is nog entirely apparent to us. Reservoirs and gravel pits used as marinas. Penton Hook is the area of land on the opposite bank and we come to another lock – quite an early one. Fiona and I see a strange sight here – an open wide barge containing a JCB and a skip plus other tools etc , being pushed along and guided by a small truncated boat hull. Whilst captured in the lock we did ask the driver about the river vehicle and he explained he mended lock gates, bank edges etc and was sub contracted by the environment agency – another job opportunity we didn’t know existed.
Still quite a long way to go! I’ve been keeping my eye on the route and the time and we should be okay. Sometimes when you are expanding the map for detail it’s difficult to gage the distance. It actually works out that our route was about 16 miles so not surprising that we had that how much further feeling!
The landscape opens up and we see Chertsey Bridge – an old stone structure and we are next to meadow lands which apparently flood regularly but this increases the minerals in the soil and thus the vegetation and makes for excellent grazing ground. We see belted Galloway cattle again – they seem to be a reoccurring theme of my walks!
I’ve taken some good looks at the map which is lucky as my phone runs out at this point- really cross with myself that I haven’t got my battery pack or kept a closer eye on the status. Anna and I are at the front chatting away and realise we can’t see the others, so we stop to let them catch up around the latest bend. Still no sign and Anna’s phone rings , it’s Mirella- Jenny has been stung near her eye so they have stopped. I recommend cold water and they catch us up.
When they reach us there is already quite a lot of swelling and we put more cold water on and then my insect bite cream- this seems to slow the swelling at least. We continue and I know from a welcome sign that we are now in the Parish of Shepperton. Quite a few houseboats in this area and we continue along feeling slightly subdued.
As we approach Shepperton Lock we spot a pub and Mirella dives in for ice. We are cheered by a family with fairy lights and pumpkins on top of their barge – enjoying a Halloween half term break. Not long and we reach Jane and the minibus.
The ice worked and helped and when we got back to Oxfordshire we called in at the Tescos Pharmacy for advice and anti histamine tablets. Unfortunately Jenny decided not to join us the next day but was feeling better – even if her face had reacted badly.
A good days walk again with a slightly unfortunate end.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 