What a lovely day we all had in glorious sunshine and cool breeze ! Ten walkers came off the train. As we approached the turning point from the Thames Path to Cookham, the 'walk inspector' made a surprising appearance. He was waiting for us... at one of the most scenic spots on this walk, dressed in autumn red in harmony with the tree leaves on the other side of the Thames. So 11 . At Cookham, all avoided crowded pubs despite three to choose from, 3 had picnic on the green opposite The Crown, 7 had sandwich in the church yard, 2 went to the Teapot Tea Shop and lunched in the back garden and were later joined by 4 for tea. After lunch, 1 caught train back from Cookham. The walk inspector and one other followed the advertised route and were not seen again until they miraculously re-appeared at Marlow station apparently after tea (and Cake?). 8 others decided to ignore the instruction and followed the sun-kissed Thames in the afternoon all the way to Marlow. All caught 3:55pm train to Maidenhead. At the station, interests for a dinner out was gathering momentum. Gate Crash 'The Fat Duck Restaurant' near Maidenhead did come across our mind, but enthusiasm for 'Pho at Ealing' was overwelming, off we went, A table for 7 was booked on the train, we arrived at Ealing bustling high street just before 5pm. Spring rolls, classics Pho soup, hot & spicy vegan soup, fresh mint tea.... and more, all delicious and filling, just what one needed after a day's 'hard work', walking, chatting and more chatting... A grand day out with friends, old and new. Thanks Sean for posting this nice walk.

There is disruption on the line to Reading this morning due to a track problem, but this seems to be on the inbound services

To me falls the (hopefully not) “poisoned chalice” of writing the walk report. (To explain, dear reader: one of our number, a secondary school teacher of English, was explaining at lunch how he seeks to expand his pupils’ vocabulary by introducing them to new phrases. Most SWC walkers aspire in my case to reduce my vocabulary, but he “laid down the gauntlet” to see how many of his phrases I could get into my walk report. Sadly you will “bear the brunt” of this...)

(Can I stop now?)

9 on this walk, at least some of us enjoying our first ride on Crossrail (or TFL Rail, as it is at present: it now operates all stopping trains to Reading). The Crossrail trains are smart and purple, but light on seating, particularly of the transverse type. And no, no toilets or charging points (the ancient diesels on the Marlow branch have both. Just saying.)

Setting off from Marlow we enjoyed sparkling morning sunshine , though it clouded up during lunch. A closed path on the way through Maidenhead meant more road walking than usual, but once by the Thames all was very idyllic. The river running high and fast, Brunel’s improbable flat-arched railway bridge still standing, great tits and blue tits singing. Even the squawking parakeets (have they reached here too, then?) seemed charming.

Four of us lunched at the King’s Arms, enjoying two courses for £12.95. The sandwich eaters put their heads around the door, but basically went on ahead of us, as is customary. In the afternoon a bracing climb up Winter Hill, now under grey skies, and a descent through the woods to the Marlow flood plain.

This was indeed somewhat flooded, as the sandwich party had kindly warned us. Nothing daunted, we proceeded to try the tunnels under the A404 but they were all completely inundated. (My English teacher wants me to say the floods “beggared belief”: but they did not: they were just what I expected, given that these are flood tunnels.)

So we retraced to the road and walked down that into Marlow. I lured two of the party into Burgers for tea, which proved quite leisurely as we had just missed the 16.00 train and the next one was not till 17.18. I later learned that one walker had just missed the 16.00 and gone to the Marlow Donkey pub, where we would have gone if I had not insisted on Burgers. Sorry about that.

As a “parting shot” I should mention the Crossrail ride back from Maidenhead, which was standing room only. Well, it is nice to see the new trains are popular, I suppose.

(So, Mr Teacher: how did I do? 10/10?)

Mr Journalist (retired), A tour de force - I salute you. Another great SWC walk with lively chat, some of it, remarkably, idiom-free. Festive Greetings to all.

Having just read the description for this walk it mentions Victorians messing about in boats and Jerome K Jerome which led me to seeing this piece

We went through Maidenhead quickly, and then eased up, and took leisurely that grand reach beyond Boulter's and Cookham locks. Clieveden Woods still wore their dainty dress of spring, and rose up, from the water's edge, in one long harmony of blended shades of fairy green. In its unbroken loveliness this is, perhaps, the sweetest stretch of all the river, and lingeringly we slowly drew our little boat away from its deep peace.

From 3 men in a boat Jerome K Jerome

About 20 gathered at Maidenhead station (I lost the count), given hot and sunny , this short and relatively easy walk along the River Thames was just what the doctor has ordered. The morning segment was along the River Thames with very urban feel to it. We met two walkers en Route who had taken the Marlow train at Maidenhead in order to avoid the Metropolitan area. We arrived at Cookham before 12:30. Three decided to visit Stanley Spencer gallery before lunch. A group went to Bel and Dragon for lunch. Apparently, the food was expensive but rather mediocre. Four decided to try the White Oak, a bit off the track but it turned out to be well worth the effort. Gourmet lunch with the price to match though. The group was split in the afternoon, with the Bel & Dragon group went ahead, had tea in Marlow and caught 4:06 train just when the later group arrived in Marlow, who after tea and cake, decided to enjoy the river view in cool breeze before catching 6:06 train back to London.

I am hoping to come on this walk, but I am interested in doing the alternative along the river into Marlow. Anyone else thinking of this too?

~Karen

6 altogether on this walk, with four coming off the train, and two, having forgotten about the time change, arriving early, and doing their own walk up to Bourne End. glorious sun but cold all day. The walk had a little bit of cultural tour going on, with one walker giving historical tidbits along the way. Only one ate at the pub, which apparently was quite busy, whilst the others ate in the churchyard before going off on a Medieval graffiti hunt in the church (there wasn't any, sadly). After lunch, there was a unanimous decision to do the alternative along the river to Marlow, rather than the ridge.

The journey back was disrupted by issues on the line between Maindenhead and Paddington. A couple of trains had been cancelled from Marlow, which left a frustrated crowd at the station trying to sort out travel with the info box. Overall, though, we did quite well with the disruption, as in, it could have been much much worse. All four ended up boarding the train at 17:17 in Maidenhead and back in time for tea!

5 on this walk. mizzle ,-cloudy,-and-the-occasional-sunny-spell in that order. Weather aside, which was not to bad overall, it was an enjoyable walk.

Following on from Bill's comments, we were pleasantly surprised to find a nice new electric train waiting for us at Paddington, a nice change from the smelly diesels.

Walkers were a little concerned when a a passenger alighted at Maidenhead with a rather large surfboard. However there was no Thames bore just delightful autumnal colours along the Thames path.

Lunch at the Kings Arms was good and well priced with an open fire and settees scattered about.

Onward to Marlow after lunch with better weather and a leisurely tea for most at Burgers to finish off the walk -

4 in the morning, 3+1 in a tranquil afternoon. Two lunching in The Kings Arms at Cookham which was as reliable as usual. Murky during the journey out turning into respectable sunshine .

Rail replacement bus service is one of the most dreaded phrases in the English language, but a substitution of familiar trackside views by less familiar roads from Marlow back to Maidenhead in the height of spring turned out rather pleasingly

Weather forecast for Marlow much improved. I'm going.

7 turned up for this, one of whom disappeared mysteriously soon after the start, so 6 Some expressed intent to walk on to Maidenhead but in the end at least 4 returned to Marlow. humid variously overcast and sunny

9 on this walk, including one late starter who had Tube problems and caught us at lunch. A lovely walk on a day of sparkling sunshine (it clouded up just before lunch but thankfully this did not last). Feeling quite warm in the sun despite the frosty start.

The "minimal mud" billing of this walk proved largely correct, though inevitably there were a couple of gloopy bits around kissing gates towards the end to ensure that we left plenty on the tea room floor (sorry about that!). Generally, though, it was the driest walk I have had since October.

Some saw a kingfisher on the morning stretch along the river (I alas did not). Lunch was in the capacious Kings Arms, which we had almost to ourselves. In the afternoon the climb up Winter Hill was a bit slippy but the views from the top were beautifully sharp.

We got to Marlow at about 3.30pm and all had tea in Burgers. Five of us then did the "new" extension for this walk (actually a new use for the existing Marlow start) back along the River Thames. This proved a great choice, with golden light from the declining sun making everything look especially idyllic. It was so nice, in fact, that when we got to Bourne End we decided to carry on to Cookham, finishing the walk there at 5.45pm and clocking up 13.5 miles in all.

"And at that moment a blackbird sang" (Edward Thomas: Adelstrop) - the first I have heard this year, chirruping away at Cookham station. A reminder that spring is just around the corner.....

This was a lovely walk in bright sunshine.Thank you to Marcus for treating three Ladies to tea and cakes in the German? tea shop Burgers. Very nice.jfk