Distance: 3 miles (allow up to 2 hours).

Start: Bourne End railway station, Station Road, Bourne End SL8 5QH. Park in Wakeman Road, Bourne End SL8 5SX. To join the walk, return along Wakeman Road and bear left over the main road to walk along Wharf Lane.

Access Information: An easy stile-free walk with 6 gates. Paths can be muddy.

Refreshments: The Queens Head in Little Marlow, the Spade Oak and cafes and pubs in Bourne End.

Route:

From the station turn left along the main road to the roundabout. Follow the pavement round to the left and take the first turning on the left (Wharf Lane). Follow this lane over the railway crossing to the River Thames and the Thames Path.

1. Turn right along the riverside path, go through the gates of the Upper Thames Sailing Club and continue until the path widens out at the entrance to Spade Oak Meadow.
2. Go through the gate ahead and continue alongside the river to pass through the next gate.
3. Turn right along the hedgerow and cross over the railway line to the path directly ahead and Spade Oak Lake to the right.
4. Keep straight ahead (or follow the permissive footpath to the right and along the edge of the lake which will give better views) and carry on to a surfaced lane. Continue forward to a footpath on the right immediately after a row of cottages on the left. Stay ahead to visit Little Marlow.
5. To continue the main walk, turn right along the footpath and cross two footbridges into a field. Turn right along its edge, cross the access road and through the gate opposite. Continue in the same direction and through a gap into the next field. Take the footpath on the right opposite the electricity pole and cross the footbridge to a T-junction. Turn left alongside the lake for 600m to a turning on the left.
6. Turn left over the footbridge and continue through the gate onto a lane. Turn right past the Spade Oak pub to shortly turn left along the unmade Upper Thames Way.
7. Stay on the unmade track to the left-hand bend and continue ahead over the railway crossing to a T-junction. Turn left to return to Bourne End station.

This walk was updated in 2025