I had signed up for a BOC retirees walk whilst down in the South East. I was in the Chertsey C&C site overnight in the van, but was not sure of a parking site close to Runnymede that would take it, so I planned to walk up the Thames path from Chertsey bridge to Runnymede.
I was up early due to the time change from BST to GMT and caught the sun rise.
I set off out of the campsite and over the Chertsey bridge. I remembered this from my last visit here to do the section south from here.
Up the road to Chertsey lock ... and the associated weir.
The path followed the river beside a road, with the edge scattered with house boats.
Up through Laleham park to the village of the same name.
Up around Penton Hook. It started to drizzle around here but not sufficiently enough to warrant a coat.
Continuing past Penton Hook lock, with the island on the far side.
Still on the bank past Truss's Island, and across the park leading to Staines
The trace of the path gets a little mysterious here and diverts down the main street before returning to the river to pass a statue of a Swan Upper.
At this point I decided the rain was getting more than a drizzle and so the umbrella came out.
Another piece where the signage gets lost but the map showed it went over the bridge.
On the west bank next and following the path along the side of the river. Then there was a diversion due to a bridge closure, and I had to walk around on the main road up to the junction with the M25.
After passing under the motorway (and past other roads) the Thames path diversion ended after passing down a track to the river once again.
Then along past the Runneymede hotel - looking into all the guests at breakfast.
Now I was in the Runneymede park area and things opened up as I passed Bell weir lock - currently being repaired by a major operation.
Finally approaching the pleasure? park and the place where I would wait for everyone else.
It was starting to rain harder and so I was glad the cafe had just opened and I dropped in for a coffee and bacon roll. Then a long wait for the others whilst the rain got harder outside.
Statistics| Distance | Elapsed | Height |
|---|
| 10.5km | 2h 03m | 45m
|
