Jane’s Walk 2026: Day 14

We drive to our end point at Bourne End to meet our walkers for the day, John and Alice, who leave their car and drive with us to Aston. The Thames path has a deviation here, not following the river but through the Cullum Court Estate. Cullum Court was originally owned by the Bishop of Westminster back in medieval times. The present house being built in 1781, a fine Georgian style house looking over the river, with extensive gardens and parks. We are slightly alarmed to see in the park what looked like long-legged deer from a distance but on closer inspection we realise are a herd of white deer. Moses is off the lead and interested but shows no inclination to chasing after them, thank goodness.

Back to the river again and a very pleasant walk to the village of Hurley. This is a charming unspoilt medieval village built around Hurley Priory, dissolved at the time of Henry VIII, part of which is now the parish church. The local pub was originally the guest house to the priory and the fine tithe barn is now used for village events.

There is a problem on the Thames path as two sections are closed, including a footbridge which would take us to the other side of the river and into Marlow. After our experience yesterday, with complicated deviations, mainly on busy main roads, we decide to miss this part out and be driven to Marlow. Our original plan was to stop here for lunch but we decide it is too early to eat and Alice assures us that the picnic she has brought is enough for four, so we decide to continue walking for another hour.

We stop along the way and enjoy Alice’s delicious picnic at a picnic table looking over the river. We admire the many opulent houses and gardens on the other side and watch the many boats passing by. John and Alice need to get to a physio appointment in Oxford by 3.30, so we set off with that in mind and arrive in Bourne End hopefully in time for them to get to Oxford.

It is a slightly bittersweet feeling that this is our last day walking. It has been a really interesting two weeks as ever. We have seen some lovely things, learnt a lot about the Kennet and Avon canal and the extraordinary ingenuity of its designers and builders 250 years ago. We have stayed with and walked with so many kindly, generous people. Also we could not have done it without the pre-planning of our ZANE team and not least, the kindness, sensitivity and diligence of Richard who has looked after us all the way. We have made it in one piece and for that we are very grateful!!