Why a circular walk beats an out-and-back

The Thames Path is a wonderful thing, but walking it as a simple there-and-back can feel repetitive. A circular route links the riverside trail with village footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes, so you see the river from both banks and the countryside behind it. You might start beside a lock, climb through a beech wood, drop into a village for a pint, then rejoin the towpath at the next bridge. Circular walks also solve the transport problem: instead of arranging two cars, you can often begin and end at the same station or car park.

Pick a stretch with two anchor points

Before you plot a route, choose two or three anchor points: a railway station, a village with a pub, a bridge, a lock or a ferry landing. Then look at a detailed 1:25,000 map. You are hunting for yellow footpaths, orange bridleways and green byways that connect your riverside start to your inland return. The Thames Path is waymarked with the acorn symbol, but linking paths are usually marked with yellow arrows on gates and posts.

• Start and finish: aim for a loop of 8–14 km, a comfortable half-day with stops.
• Transport: check train times before you leave. Sunday services on rural lines can be sparse.
• Escape routes: note where you can cut the walk short if the weather turns or a ferry is not running.
• Season: summer gives long evenings and open ferries; winter means mud, flood closures and shorter daylight.

Good stretches tend to be where the river meanders past villages set slightly back from the water, with footpaths climbing away from the floodplain and returning via a different bridge or lane.

Linking village footpaths with the riverside trail

When you leave the river, take a moment to orientate yourself. Riverside paths can be flat and distracting, and it is easy to miss a turning. Look for a stile, a kissing gate or a waymark post where the footpath leaves the towpath. Follow it away from the water, across meadows, through a farmyard or along a hedged lane. These inland sections are often the most memorable part of the day.

Rejoining the Thames Path is usually straightforward if you aim for a bridge, lock or ferry. Bridges are the most reliable because they are marked on every map and never move. Locks are also good, though some have long approach channels. Ferries are charming but less dependable, which brings us to the two things that catch out even experienced walkers: tides and ferry timetables.

Check the tides before you set off

Below Teddington Lock, the Thames is tidal. That changes everything. A stretch of towpath that is dry at low water can be covered by the rising tide an hour later. Mudbanks and slipways become treacherous. Tide times shift every day and vary between Richmond, London Bridge and the estuary, so you need a current tide table for the day and the specific reach you are walking.

• Time your walk: aim to be on tidal sections around low water, and avoid the two hours either side of high spring tides.
• Watch the river: if the water is already lapping the path, turn back or take the higher inland route.
• After heavy rain: floodwater can close towpaths even on non-tidal stretches. Check local flood warnings.
• Wear grippy footwear: wet wooden boards, stone steps and clay banks are slippery.

On the non-tidal upper Thames, tides are not a concern, but the river can still rise quickly after rain. Towpaths are occasionally closed for repairs, so check before a long drive.

Ferries, bridges and seasonal crossings

Ferries are one of the great pleasures of the Thames, but they are not a bus service. Many operate only at weekends, only in summer, or only when the river is calm. Some are chain ferries that take foot passengers and cyclists; others are small rowing boats. Fares are modest, but opening times change with the season and the weather.

If your circular route depends on a ferry, always have a plan B. Check the operating times the day before, and again on the morning. Ask locally if the ferry is running, or look for a notice at the landing stage. If it is not running, you may need to walk to the nearest bridge, which could add several kilometres.

• Bridges: the most reliable crossing points, open all year and free.
• Ferries: check season, days, times and whether they take dogs or bikes.
• Weirs and locks: some have public footbridges, but not all. Read the map carefully.
• Trains: a useful fallback if a ferry fails and you need to shorten the loop.

Kit, timing and a few local rules

For a half-day circular walk, carry a small rucksack with water, a snack, a waterproof jacket and a paper map. A phone is useful for tide tables and train times, but do not rely on signal in wooded valleys. Tell someone your route and expected finish time. In summer, take sun cream and insect repellent; in winter, pack a head torch and spare socks.

Respect the countryside: close gates behind you, keep dogs on leads near livestock, and do not block farm entrances. Many pubs stop serving food between 3pm and 5pm, so if you want a late lunch, book ahead or check the kitchen hours. On busy summer weekends, the popular stretches around Henley and Richmond can be crowded; start early for quieter paths and easier parking.

Finally, remember that a circular walk is not a race. The Thames rewards a slow pace: a heron on the shallows, a lock keeper's garden, a village church with a cool porch. Link your footpaths carefully, check the tides and ferries, and you will have a walk that feels both adventurous and reassuringly familiar.