Walk down to the clock tower, cross the road at the lights and bear right into Queen Street, by the Bell pub. Veer right into York Road and pass the football club. Walk down to the mini-roundabout and turn left into Forlease Road. Head for the next junction and turn right into Moorbridge Road. Walk through the underpass and veer right/straight ahead on the far side, following Bridge Road towards Maidenhead Bridge, and passing almshouses on your left. Cross the bridge almost to the opposite bank and look to the right, downstream. Straddling the river is Brunel’s railway bridge, depicted in J M W Turner’s famous Rain, Steam and Speed (1844). Return to the Maidenhead side of the river, go through the small gardens and bear right into Ray Mead Road, passing Jenner’s Cafe.
Continue to Boulter’s Lock. You can divert here to cross the bridge and walk around Boulter’s Restaurant onto Ray Mill Island. Return to the main road, and where the road and Thames Path divide, follow the tow path. The view to the Buckinghamshire bank is dominated by the woods of the Cliveden Estate. The path swings away from the river and cuts through woodland, eventually merging to join a paved road (Mill Lane). Continue ahead to the junction, turn right and follow the road into Cookham.
Pass the Stanley Spencer Gallery, and Cookham High Street is on your left. Take a few minutes to browse its pretty shops and buildings – Bel and The Dragon, built in 1417, is one of the oldest licensed houses in England. Turn left out of the High Street to continue, passing a large boulder known as the Tarry Stone with an enigmatic plaque 'Where sports were held before 1506…' (this was the meeting point for the local 'Olympic' games). Continue ahead, and soon turn left at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church. The striking angel monument at the churchyard entrance was the subject of one of Spencer's paintings. A few yards further on, to the left of the path, is the artist’s own modest marble memorial.  Continue past the church and veer left to rejoin the Thames Path, looking back right to see Cookham Bridge.
Swing left and pass Cookham Reach Sailing Club via two gates. Cross the meadow and walk by the river, eventually passing through a kissing gate into Cock Marsh water meadow. Ahead is Bourne End railway bridge. Go through a kissing gate, pass beneath the bridge and turn immediately left. Go up the steps and cross the footbridge to the Buckinghamshire bank. Once over the bridge, go through a gate, turn right into an alleyway and pass a house called River Haven. Keep left at this point and follow the drive alongside a brick wall to the road. Turn left to the station at Bourne End to catch the train back to Maidenhead.
This lovely walk takes in one of the most beautiful stretches of the whole River Thames, with lots of interest both on and beside the river. River craft vary from millionaires’ pleasure cruisers to state-of-the-art racing canoes, to workaday barges and chic converted longboats, while many of the... houses on the riverside – often complemented by gorgeous gardens – are stunning. King of all is Cliveden, perched high above the Thames (most visible in winter), on the opposite bank to the walk. This mid-19th century Italianate mansion, built for the Duke of Sutherland, was once the home of the wealthy and influential Astor family. Boulter’s Lock is one of the most famous stopping points on the Thames and was where the cream of society (including prime minsters and noblemen) gathered at many river events before World War I, often before being entertained at Cliveden. Birthplace of an artist Cookham is a beautiful little village that will forever be associated with the artist Stanley Spencer (1891–1959). He called  Cookham 'a village in Heaven', and was a controversial and eccentric figure; even today his work is the subject of speculation and debate. Spencer was born in Cookham High Street and spent most of his life in the village. The former Methodist chapel on the corner of the High Street, to which Mrs Spencer marched young Stanley and her eight other children every Sunday, is now an important gallery devoted to his work. There are always around 15 major oil paintings by Spencer on show, and the exhibition changes twice a year. Cookham played a key role in Spencer’s work, forming the setting for many biblical and figure paintings, as well as landscapes. The gallery's most famous painting is The Last Supper, painted in 1920, but also notable, and very relevant to this walk are View from Cookham Bridge and Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta. There is also an extensive collection of drawings, including much of his early work; The Fairy on the Waterlily Leaf (1909) and Roy (1906) are highlights. In addition there is a permanent collection of his letters, documents and notes, together with the pram in which he wheeled his paints and brushes around the village when painting landscapes. While in the gallery, pick up a copy of the Walk Around Spencer's Cookham booklet which leads you to the scenes which the artist depicted in his work. The gallery also arranges guided walks. If you would like to see more of Spencer’s work in Berkshire, The Sandham Memorial Chapel at Burghclere, south of Newbury, contains famous murals inspired by his experiences in World War I. Today Spencer’s works are highly prized, and in 2011 Sunflower and Dog Worship sold at auction for £5.4 million.
Berkshire consists of two distinct parts: the western half, which is predominantly rural, with the Lambourn Downs spilling down to the River Lambourn and the Berkshire Downs to the majestic Thames, and the eastern half of Berkshire, which offers plenty of opportunity to get out and savour open spaces. Reading and Newbury are the county’s major towns, and the River Kennet flows through them both.
Walk down to the clock tower, cross the road at the lights and bear right into Queen Street, by the Bell pub. Veer right into York Road and pass the football club. Walk down to the mini-roundabout and turn left into Forlease Road. Head for the next junction and turn right into Moorbridge Road. Walk through the underpass and veer right/straight ahead on the far side, following Bridge Road towards Maidenhead Bridge, and passing almshouses on your left. Cross the bridge almost to the opposite bank and look to the right, downstream. Straddling the river is Brunel’s railway bridge, depicted in J M W Turner’s famous Rain, Steam and Speed (1844). Return to the Maidenhead side of the river, go through the small gardens and bear right into Ray Mead Road, passing Jenner’s Cafe.
1 of 4
Continue to Boulter’s Lock. You can divert here to cross the bridge and walk around Boulter’s Restaurant onto Ray Mill Island. Return to the main road, and where the road and Thames Path divide, follow the tow path. The view to the Buckinghamshire bank is dominated by the woods of the Cliveden Estate. The path swings away from the river and cuts through woodland, eventually merging to join a paved road (Mill Lane). Continue ahead to the junction, turn right and follow the road into Cookham.
2 of 4
Pass the Stanley Spencer Gallery, and Cookham High Street is on your left. Take a few minutes to browse its pretty shops and buildings – Bel and The Dragon, built in 1417, is one of the oldest licensed houses in England. Turn left out of the High Street to continue, passing a large boulder known as the Tarry Stone with an enigmatic plaque 'Where sports were held before 1506…' (this was the meeting point for the local 'Olympic' games). Continue ahead, and soon turn left at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church. The striking angel monument at the churchyard entrance was the subject of one of Spencer's paintings. A few yards further on, to the left of the path, is the artist’s own modest marble memorial.  Continue past the church and veer left to rejoin the Thames Path, looking back right to see Cookham Bridge.
3 of 4
Swing left and pass Cookham Reach Sailing Club via two gates. Cross the meadow and walk by the river, eventually passing through a kissing gate into Cock Marsh water meadow. Ahead is Bourne End railway bridge. Go through a kissing gate, pass beneath the bridge and turn immediately left. Go up the steps and cross the footbridge to the Buckinghamshire bank. Once over the bridge, go through a gate, turn right into an alleyway and pass a house called River Haven. Keep left at this point and follow the drive alongside a brick wall to the road. Turn left to the station at Bourne End to catch the train back to Maidenhead.
This lovely walk takes in one of the most beautiful stretches of the whole River Thames, with lots of interest both on and beside the river. River craft vary from millionaires’ pleasure cruisers to state-of-the-art racing canoes, to workaday barges and chic converted longboats, while many of the... houses on the riverside – often complemented by gorgeous gardens – are stunning. King of all is Cliveden, perched high above the Thames (most visible in winter), on the opposite bank to the walk. This mid-19th century Italianate mansion, built for the Duke of Sutherland, was once the home of the wealthy and influential Astor family. Boulter’s Lock is one of the most famous stopping points on the Thames and was where the cream of society (including prime minsters and noblemen) gathered at many river events before World War I, often before being entertained at Cliveden. Birthplace of an artist Cookham is a beautiful little village that will forever be associated with the artist Stanley Spencer (1891–1959). He called  Cookham 'a village in Heaven', and was a controversial and eccentric figure; even today his work is the subject of speculation and debate. Spencer was born in Cookham High Street and spent most of his life in the village. The former Methodist chapel on the corner of the High Street, to which Mrs Spencer marched young Stanley and her eight other children every Sunday, is now an important gallery devoted to his work. There are always around 15 major oil paintings by Spencer on show, and the exhibition changes twice a year. Cookham played a key role in Spencer’s work, forming the setting for many biblical and figure paintings, as well as landscapes. The gallery's most famous painting is The Last Supper, painted in 1920, but also notable, and very relevant to this walk are View from Cookham Bridge and Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta. There is also an extensive collection of drawings, including much of his early work; The Fairy on the Waterlily Leaf (1909) and Roy (1906) are highlights. In addition there is a permanent collection of his letters, documents and notes, together with the pram in which he wheeled his paints and brushes around the village when painting landscapes. While in the gallery, pick up a copy of the Walk Around Spencer's Cookham booklet which leads you to the scenes which the artist depicted in his work. The gallery also arranges guided walks. If you would like to see more of Spencer’s work in Berkshire, The Sandham Memorial Chapel at Burghclere, south of Newbury, contains famous murals inspired by his experiences in World War I. Today Spencer’s works are highly prized, and in 2011 Sunflower and Dog Worship sold at auction for £5.4 million.
Berkshire consists of two distinct parts: the western half, which is predominantly rural, with the Lambourn Downs spilling down to the River Lambourn and the Berkshire Downs to the majestic Thames, and the eastern half of Berkshire, which offers plenty of opportunity to get out and savour open spaces. Reading and Newbury are the county’s major towns, and the River Kennet flows through them both.
