RIVER THAMES
The Thames forms the western boundary of Taplow. The Thames Path is 184 miles long and is designated a National Trail. The Thames near Taplow is particularly attractive. Our favourites are:
CLIVEDEN.
Towering over the riverbank at Cliveden are wooded cliffs. This very pretty stretch of river was made famous by Jerome K Jerome in his book “Three Men in a Boat” where he says: “In its unbroken loveliness this is, perhaps, the sweetest stretch of all the river”. Access via Cliveden’s Backdoor.
COOKHAM and HURLEY.
Both of these riverside villages are ideal starting points for gentle strolls or longer walks along the banks of delightful stretches of the Thames.
TAPLOW to WINDSOR.
For the best views of Windsor Castle walk or cycle this eight mile stretch of the Thames Path. Start at the A4 road bridge and go downstream on the Taplow side – you can return by another route or take the train to Taplow station.
BRUNEL’S RAILWAY BRIDGE.
This famous bridge over the Thames is encountered at the start of the above walk. Celebrated in Turner’s painting “Rain, Steam and Speed” which now hangs in the National Gallery in London, the bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is an iconic symbol of the Industrial Revolution. The bridge’s brick arches are the widest and flattest in the world. When the first train crossed the bridge in 1838 it was feared that it would collapse due to the novel design, but it is still standing and carries many trains every day.
BOULTERS LOCK.
A particular fascination of the Thames is its locks - pairs of gates across the river that allow boats to bypass the weirs. During Victorian times, Boulters Lock at Maidenhead became famous across England as the fashionable place to go to enjoy the river. Thousands of people would flock there on warm summer weekends to mess about and watch the wealthier classes indulge themselves – particularly on the Sunday of Ascot week when there were pageants, carnivals and regattas. The scene is vividly portrayed in the famous painting “Boulters Lock, Sunday Afternoon”. Gone are the glory days, but the lock and the adjoining island are worth visiting. The terrace of Boulters Lock Restaurant and Bar is the place to enjoy a drink whilst watching river activity. Boulters Lock is half a mile upstream from the Thames road bridge - ask us for details, the island is easily missed.
BOAT TRIPS.
For trips from Windsor visit salterssteamers.co.uk and for river journeys in London visit tfl.gov.uk/river