Jane’s Walk 2026: Day 13

This is our penultimate day and we feel satisfied that all in all it has been a good trip although we are looking forward to not living out of a suitcase after tomorrow. We return to the Shiplake School boathouse where we find a number of girls setting off in various sizes of canoes followed by a number of rafts manned by members of staff. They look as if they are enjoying themselves on this lovely morning. The forecast was poor for most of the day but all looks good at the moment.

Leaving the boathouse, we walk along a pleasant albeit rutted path beside a wood and pass a number of runners making the most of a Sunday morning. We walk to the outskirts of Lower Shiplake following the signs along the Thames Path. Unfortunately, I did not notice that John had prescribed a rather shorter route through the village, which I failed to follow. Asking a local if we were on the right route, she assured us that we were so we continued rather than retracing our steps. It turned out that we walked probably ½ mile further than we should.

We rejoin the prescribed route near the railway station and thought all would now be well. Soon after, we come across a sign saying that the Thames Path was closed ahead of us and showed a very long detour taking us well out of our way. According to a passer-by, this sign had been there for a long time due to work being done on one of the locks on the river. He suggested continuing up it for a bit longer and then trying to cut through. Further along, we met two very helpful women who confirmed the fact it was closed and gave us another route but said it would take us almost one hour longer.

We had arranged for Sim and Tsenka to meet us in Henley and they had started walking towards us and found the path closed as well and were trying to follow the diversion. We suggested they return the way they came to Henley and we would ask Richard to pick us up, which he kindly did. We decided then to have an early lunch and then start again from the Henley side of the path closure.

We cross the bridge at Henley and walk on the other side, passing the large stand of the Henley Regatta opposite us. Our young fellow companions decide to complete the last three miles at a run and we say goodbye. This is the straight stretch along the river, where the regatta is held. Numerous expensive large houses are along here, with their highly manicured gardens. We pass numerous walkers coming towards us, some of whom are looking exhausted. They are on a charity walk for various causes, some having walked 50 miles in two days so it is not surprising they are looking so tired!

At the end of the regatta stretch, there is an island obviously used for parties and then the river takes a steep right-hand bend, almost going back on itself. Passing the lock and large weir at Hambledon, we end our day in the village of Aston.