On a warm Friday morning, I set off early for a long walk to Windsor, quickly passing Hampton Court Palace, which I’ve visited several times. Unfortunately, there are no clear views from the towpath and the front gates don’t open until 10am, so I continue to Molesey Lock. A sign on the gate says No Unauthorised Access, but the lock keeper kindly allows me to wander round and take photos.
Grand houseboats are moored next to mysterious wooded islands dotted along the river. Who lives there?
Passing Sunbury Lock, I climb over railings onto an old access bridge for a clear view along the river. I remember working as a student at the BP Sunbury Research Centre on image recognition for undersea unmanned vehicles, scanning for cracks in pipes. Artificial Intelligence has come a long way in 40 years. Who could imagine it would allow a paralysed man to walk by reading his brain waves and sending instructions to his spine to move the right muscles.
A curious mansion emerges from the trees on another tiny island. It looks deserted. It was owned by a Victorian theatrical impresario who kept a crocodile on the island. Gilbert and Sullivan stayed at the house. The new owner is restoring the property and planning to hold public events, including the production of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera. I pass a lot of old oddities with grand new plans. How many come to fruition?
The path twists and turns through gorgeous Weybridge.
Wealth reflects in the calm water.
Mallard ducklings hug the river bank, flanked by their protective mother..
I sit for a while to watch a pair of swans fish together.
A small dog, standing proudly at the bow, guides a narrow boat towards another lock. The river continues to narrow, which seems strange.
Oh oh! It’s hard to take a wrong turn on the Thames Path but, master navigator that I am, I’ve followed the wrong diamond-marked trail on my OS app for two miles. This is the River Wey Navigation. It appears I should have crossed Walton Bridge. Oh well, I don’t mind as the lovely scenery and wildlife is worth an extra few miles.
Rather than backtrack, I try a cross-country route, which is always a risk. Some paths are less well used than others.
I rejoin the Thames Path at Chertsey Bridge. Purists may throw up their hands in horror but I’m relaxed about routes.
The M25 thunders overhead at Egham.
Approaching Windsor, a beautiful park lies ahead, but it’s off limits for subjects of the King, so I’m restricted to views from the bridge.
Windsor Castle rises above the trees on the final approach to Riverside Station.
It’s late in the day and my train leaves in a few minutes so I don’t have time to explore Windsor. Something to look forward to for my next trip. Perhaps a royal invite?
Walk distance: 27 miles.
Total distance: 71 miles.
Ah we all make mistakes Tony! The Wey navigation is also a lovely walk, it’s all owned by the National Trust. There is a lot of water in Weybridge!
There are worse ones to make — like walking down a hill and then finding you have to walk back up it again! 🙂
That large houseboat is the stuff of dreams! Sigh….
Isn’t it wonderful. Like something from the Mississippi River. 🙂