Halfpenny Bridge in Lechlade

Thames Path – West

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On this page:

Overview

Route

What’s Included?

Itineraries & Prices

Accommodation

Travel Info

Additional Days

Overview

Walking Holidays

5 - 7 Nights

54 miles / 87 km

Prices from: £735 per person
Start: Kemble, Gloucestershire
Finish: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Availability: Year-round
Grading: Easy to Moderate
Way-marked: Yes

Thames Path - West Highlights

The Source

Discover the source of the iconic River Thames, where you will find only a trickle of water. Watch as the Thames evolves from a stream into a full-flowing river.

Tranquil riverside

Meander along the tranquil riverside, through pristine countryside and picture-postcard villages with plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy a cosy pub lunch.

The Cotswolds

Begin your walk in the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you can enjoy the unspoilt landscapes.

Gentle walking

Enjoy gentle walking on the flat terrain along the trail, as you stroll along the Thames and relish in peace and serenity.

Rural landscapes

Amble through the delightful meadows and peaceful farmland which make up the rural western section of the Thames Path.

Oxford

Discover the picturesque ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ – home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

The Quieter Side of the Iconic River Thames

Beginning at the source of the River Thames, the western section of the Thames Path meanders alongside the river, whilst passing through traditional English villages and towns. Throughout this rural section, you will have the path mostly to yourself, allowing you to enjoy the calm serenity of riverside walking. The path will lead you straight into the beautiful city of Oxford.

This National Trail follows the most iconic river in the UK. The path is very well way-marked and is easy to follow through peaceful farmland and open meadows. The Thames Path is a fantastic entry-level walk, unchallenging and yet incredibly rewarding. This section of the trail is more rural as you explore the beautiful countryside along the Thames.

The path will take you from a rural Cotswold meadow where you will find the source of the Thames, journeying through expansive farmlands, ambling along the tranquil riverside and ending in the historic city of Oxford, where there are plenty of sightseeing opportunities to enjoy.

Along the River Thames, you will find many traditional English villages, where you can stop and enjoy a well-deserved pub lunch or a local brew at a cosy riverside inn. This section is definitely for those who are looking to escape to the city but still enjoy the comforts of local pubs and friendly locals.

Thames Path - West Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is THP-W2 which covers the route in 5 days / 6 nights.

Travel to Kemble for your first night’s accommodation

Arrive in Kemble, the closest settlement to the source of the River Thames, and spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation.

Day 1: Kemble to Cricklade (12 miles / 20 km)

You will start your Thames Path journey at the source of the River Thames, which is located in a rural Cotswold meadow. For most of the year, the riverbed is completely dry until further downstream, where the river becomes fuller.

The route passes through idyllic Cotswold villages, distinguished by their traditional golden-coloured stone buildings. You will also pass through a section of the Cotswold Water Park, which has over 150 lakes set across the countryside, used for wildlife nature reserves and water activities. You will then arrive in Cricklade, the first town on the River Thames.

Day 2: Cricklade to Lechlade (11 miles / 18 km)

Today the path mostly follows the river through open farmland as you make your way to the small village of Castle Eaton, with its lovely 12th-century church. You will spend some time away from the river, as you make your way through meadows and country lanes.

The path then leads to the bustling market town of Lechlade, where there are plenty of facilities for you to enjoy after your walk. You will cross over into Lechlade on the Halfpenny Bridge, a beautiful old stone toll bridge.

Day 3: Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge (10 miles / 26 km)

From Lechlade, you will notice the river becoming wider as you see the increasing amount of boats and barges using the river to travel. Shortly after Lechlade, you will pass St John’s Lock, the first of 45 locks along the entire River Thames.

This section is very rural as the path only passes through some smaller settlements such as Radcot, where you will cross the oldest bridge on the Thames. After following the serene river through the countryside, you will arrive at Tadpole Bridge.

Day 4: Tadpole Bridge to Newbridge (6 miles / 10 km)

This very short section will take you through Chimney Meadows, a National Nature Reserve, as you enjoy a quiet stroll along the Thames. You will then arrive at the small settlement of Newbridge, where you will find the second oldest bridge on the Thames.

Day 5: Newbridge to Oxford (15 miles / 24 km)

From Newbridge, the path leads back into the lovely countryside for the entire day until reaching Oxford. You will travel through beautiful open meadows and pass through many more locks as you make your way to the renowned university city of Oxford.

Onward travel

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Thames Path.

What’s Included?

Your Thames Path walking holiday includes:

Carefully selected accommodation along the route and trail transfers when applicable
En-suite or private bathroom facilities whenever possible
Daily door-to-door baggage transfers
Comprehensive information pack, kit list, guidebook and map (one set per room)
Personalised itinerary with details of your accommodation, route and recommendations for lunch and dinner
Traditional English breakfast
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your walking holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Transport to and from the start and end of the walk
Lunches and evening meals

Itineraries & Prices

We offer 3 suggested itineraries for walking the Thames Path – West.

Our most popular itinerary is THP-W2 which covers the route in 5 days.

Tour code

Itinerary

Average miles

Difficulty

Price per person

THP-W1

4 Days / 5 Nights

13.5 miles per day

Moderate

From £735

Average miles : 13.5 miles per day

Tour code: THP-W1

Difficulty : Moderate

4 Days / 5 Nights (THP-W1)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is also a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Due to the popular nature of the area that the Thames Path passes through, this does incur a higher single supplement and solo walker supplement than our other walking holidays.

Arrive Travel to Kemble for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Kemble to Cricklade 12 miles / 20 km

Day 2 Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles / 18 km

Day 3 Lechlade to Newbridge 16 miles / 26 km

Day 4 Newbridge to Oxford 15 miles / 24 km

Depart Onward travel from Oxford

Prices

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £735 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

Enquire Now

THP-W2

5 Days / 6 Nights

11 miles per day

Easy

From £895

Average miles : 11 miles per day

Tour code: THP-W2

Difficulty : Easy

5 Days / 6 Nights (THP-W2)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is also a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Due to the popular nature of the area that the Thames Path passes through, this does incur a higher single supplement and solo walker supplement than our other walking holidays.

Arrive Travel to Kemble for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Kemble to Cricklade 12 miles / 20 km

Day 2 Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles / 18 km

Day 3 Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge 10 miles / 16 km

Day 4 Tadpole Bridge to Newbridge 6 miles / 10 km

Day 5 Newbridge to Oxford 15 miles / 24 km

Depart Onward travel from Oxford

Prices

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £895 per person

Enquire Now

THP-W3

6 Days / 7 Nights

9 miles per day

Easy

From £1005

Average miles : 9 miles per day

Tour code: THP-W3

Difficulty : Easy

6 Days / 7 Nights (THP-W3)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is also a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Due to the popular nature of the area that the Thames Path passes through, this does incur a higher single supplement and solo walker supplement than our other walking holidays.

Arrive Travel to Kemble for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Kemble to Ashton Keynes 7 miles / 12 km

Day 2 Ashton Keynes to Cricklade 5 miles / 8 km

Day 3 Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles / 18 km

Day 4 Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge 10 miles / 16 km

Day 5 Tadpole Bridge to Newbridge 6 miles / 10 km

Day 6 Newbridge to Oxford 15 miles / 24 km

Depart Onward travel from Oxford

Prices

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £1005 per person

Enquire Now

Thames Path Accommodation

All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.

We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.

Travel Information

As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.

Getting to Kemble

By Air

Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow

From London Heathrow, there are trains to London Paddington where you will be able to connect with a train directly to Kemble (journey time 1 hour 15 min).

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Kemble

Regular trains run from London Paddington to Kemble (journey time 1 hour 15 min).

By Car

If you plan to travel by car, it may be possible to leave it in Kemble for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed.

Departing from Oxford

By Air

Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow and London Gatwick

From Oxford, you can connect with a direct train to London (journey time 1 hour). There are regular bus services from central London to both Heathrow and Gatwick which run 24 hours a day.

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Oxford

Regular trains run from Oxford to London Paddington. The journey time is approximately 1 hour.

By Car

If you plan to travel by car, it may be possible to leave it in Oxford for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed. Due to the popularity of Oxford as a tourist destination, we would recommend travelling via public transport.

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the Thames Path – West.

You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.

Lechlade

Head out onto the River Thames and partake in some fun water activities with Cotswold Canoe Hire
Relax and enjoy the shops, cafes, pubs & restaurants that Lechlade has to offer

Oxford

Explore the historic hometown of Oxford University. Visit the various colleges spread throughout the city, as well as the impressive Bodleian Libraries which make up the largest library system in the UK
Relax in the Oxford Botanic Garden on the banks of the River Cherwell
Meander through the historic Covered Market, home to a large collection of different shops and stalls
Try punting, a quintessentially Oxford activity, as you sail on the rivers that run through the city

How do our Walking Holidays Work?

For more than 20 years, we’ve been weaving together unforgettable walking holidays amidst the enchanting landscapes of the British Isles. Dive deeper into how they work in our comprehensive guide. Read more