Enjoy the pleasures of the River Thames, rolling countryside and Chiltern beechwoods on this Chilterns Country walk. It starts at Bourne End railway station which is served by trains from Maidenhead and Paddington. The shorter 3 mile circular route takes you along the Thames and around Spade Oak Lake which teems with birdlife. The longer 6 mile circular walk carries on from the Lake through picturesque Little Marlow and up to Bloom Wood where you get stunning views over the Thames Valley.

En route you will pass the old wharf on the River Thames at Spade Oak, where once tons of locally-made paper, along with malt barley and timber would have been loaded onto boats to be transported downriver. Gravel is one of the major natural resources of this part of the Chilterns and Spade Oak Lake is a flooded gravel pit which is now home to a variety of wildfowl and other birds.

A children's quiz has been developed for the Little Marlow gravel pit section of this walk. There are fun questions for children to answer as they go round the route, about what they can see.

Facilities

Refreshments are available at pubs in LIttle Marlow, Spade Oak and Bourne End and from Emmetts Farm Shop in Little Marlow.

Getting There

Twice hourly trains run from Maidenhead to Bourne End. From London Paddington the journey time is about 50 minutes.
Bus service 317 links Bourne End with High Wycombe and Maidenhead. Car parking available in Bourne End and at at Spade Oak.

Disabled Access

The shorter circular route is fairly level with no stiles and some kissing gates. The longer route has a steady climb up to 300 ft on unsurfaced tracks and no stiles.

OS Map

Sheet 175: Reading & Windsor

Grid Reference

SU893874

Distance

3 miles and 6 miles

Information Available

• Little Marlow Walk
• Little Marlow Walk children's quiz
• Little Marlow Walk children's quiz answer sheet

Route