Thames Path - Staines to Windsor

Today was Day 2 of our 4-day walk along part of the Thames Path. We took a train from Windsor to Staines and walked to re-join the path where we had left it yesterday by St. Mary and St. Peter's Church. From here it was on the path again through Staines and onward to Windsor and our hotel.

This is what Joyce told us to entice us with to do the walk.

"You can expect a varied walk. Some is urban and some is very rural. Sometimes we are pushed away from the river bank and climb a steeper bank for a view . There is history, railway lines, planes and Red Kites overhead, meadows, wide paths, bridges, Islands, a ferry, a castle, wildlife and much more. It’s a tow path but not like a canal tow path. The river is wide and the locks and weirs are fascinating works of engineering.

I am really looking forward to a change of scenery. Walk as much or as little as you like but do enjoy yourselves."

This was our route today.

Here are just a few of my photos.

I was fortunate in having an interesting view from my hotel room. When I woke in the morning I had this view of Eton college chapel.

The mist soon cleared and we headed to the elegant listed Windsor & Eton Riverside station for out trains to Staines.

Here we are back where we finished yesterday.

There was still a bit of mist around.

We stopped to admire the Swanmaster statue.... What is swan uppijng, I wondered? The phrase had appeared in this Times crossword earlier this year and provoked some discussion.

Soon we reached the historic site of Runnymede.

Runnymede lock was tranquil and I liked the reflections.

What a lot of mistletoe... and today the planes were omni-present. Can you see this one?

We stopped at the tearoom.

"Make hay while the sun shines (mostly)" seemed at home in the landscape - read more about it here.

Nearby, especially impressive in the weak hazy sunshine,  was the evocative set of chairs called "The Jurors", "Twelve intricately worked bronze chairs stand together on this ancient meadow. Each chair incorporates symbols and imagery representing concepts of law and key moments in the struggle for freedom, rule of law and equal rights. "

Once again we passed grand riverside houses and pale green weeping willows.

The path took us away from the river briefly at Datchet. Here is everyone waiting to cross the road back towards the water.

As we neared Windsor we could see these trees laden with mistletoe on the other side of the river with the castle beyond.

We came across some colourful cherry blossom...

...not long before arriving in Windsor.

On a wander later I discovered the Windsor and Eton brewery tap.

20 different beers? I tried the Father Thames. Delicious. Might others enjoy visiting here tomorrow night, I wondered?

You can see more of my photos here on Flickr and more details of our route here on MapMyWalk.