(S) From Datchet Station cross over the High Street, by the level crossing and turn right. At the junction turn left, now with the village greens and centre of the village are now to your right hand side. After another 90 yards, follow the pavement as it turns left, over a level crossing and into Queens Road.
(1) At the T-junction, turn right to cross Queens Road and on the pavement along Windsor Road. After 200m, and Immediately past the last house (Sempter Mead), cross over Windsor Road and onto the Thames Path through woods. Follow the path to the river and on upstream towards Victoria Bridge.
NOTE: The Thames Path at points along here is narrow and there are steep steps up to the road at Victoria Bridge. If you wish to avoid this, instead of crossing Windsor Road, turn right and left onto a path along the edge of Datchet Golf Club. The path runs parallel to Windsor Road, to your left hand side and re-joins by the main route by the "metal gate" mentioned in the next instruction below.
Climb the steps to the bridge, then cross straight over the road (B470) and turn right along the pavement (our route departs from the Thames Path at this point). After 200m turn left at the gap in the hedge, past the metal gate, then sharp left onto a path through the golf course.
As you walk across the golf course (at 1 mile), the River Thames soon veers left and away from us. It's not that obvious as still to our left is another waterway The Jubilee River. For the next 6.9 miles of our walk, we follow the footpath along the Jubilee River. It provides a chance to do some brisk walking, and I hope you enjoy it.
(2) The path soon leaves the golf course and goes under a railway viaduct, then after another 50 yards turn left to cross a footbridge, over Jubilee River. Once over, follow the path to a lane, then turn right to soon reach a road.
(3) At T-junction with the road (B3026, Pococks Lane) turn right along the pavement. Then after 80m turn left to cross the road (with care) and into the entrance of Thames Valley Athletics Centre. Then after just 20m turn right through a wooden gate onto the footpath along Jubilee River (at 1.5 miles).
After 0.75 miles the path comes out onto pavement next to the A332 dual carriageway. Cross over the road using the staggered pelican crossing. Then left on pavement over Jubilee River and follow the path as it veers right, soon with the Jubilee River to your right.
(4) You are now at 2.35 miles into the section of the walk. For the next 4.9 miles, the path just follows the Jubilee River. I'll just give a few notes and distance in miles below, but enjoy. There are also a few options to divert from Jubilee River Path to make the walk a little more interesting.
2.4 miles. Past weir to your right, then Jubilee River Riverside Centre to your left. 2.49 Past footbridge over Jubilee River.
(5) At 2.67 miles, the path passes under Slough to Windsor Central railway.
(6) At 3.0 miles, the path passes under the road (A355). 3.9 Cross a bridleway/lane and past a bridge over Jubilee River to your right. At 4.14 miles, past the weir, then stay right at the fork. At 4.7 miles, go straight across the bridleway and past footbridge to right. The bridleway leads south to Dorney Common. The footbridge over the Jubilee River leads to paths around Dorney Wetlands.
NOTE: Dorney Wetlands is an area where the channel of the river was widened and designed as a wildlife refuge. There is a boardwalk with a look-out, two bridges, some information boards and lots of footpaths to explore. If you want to divert, I've drawn a short walk (0.67 miles) around the wetlands, taking in both footbridges and the short circular path with the boardwalk and look-out at.
If you have not chosen to take the above diversion you may still wish to see the small circular walk with boardwalk and look-out If so to the right of the path, 100 yards after the footbridge (in instruction 16 above), is a small wooden gate. This gives access to the short circular path with the boardwalk and look-out.
At 4.84 miles, go straight on across a footpath going away to the left and past a footbridge to right.
NOTE: The footpath to the left leads south to Dorney Village. If you wish you can take a short diversion to visit Dorney Village. The diversion is 0.73 miles and adds 0.4 miles. It re-joins the Jubilee River at the instruction below for 5.17 miles.
At 5.15 miles, follow the path around two sides of a small car park and out through a gate onto a road (Lake End Road).
(7) Cross straight over, then turn left and right and continue along the Jubilee River Path (at 5.17 miles).
NOTE: After crossing Lake End Road (at 5.16 miles) there is another opportunity to take a minor diversion, then re-join the Jubilee River Path at 5.33 miles. The diversion is 0.41 miles, add 0.23 miles and does give you a second opportunity to visit a pub for lunch.
At 5.33 miles, go straight on past a footbridge to your right (if you took the last diversion, you have now re-joined the walk. At 5.57 miles, stay right at the fork.
(8) At 5.85 miles, pass under the M4 motorway. Please watch your head as this is low.
NOTE: Only use if you are forced to. At times of flooding, this tunnel can be impassable and you will need to divert via the footpath going left at 5.57 miles and onto Marsh Lane. Turn right, on pavement, along Marsh Lane and follow over the M4 motorway. Once over turn right and down to Glebe Close. Follow the road, then footpath back to the Jubilee River. Turn left along Jubilee River Path. You have re-joined walk at 5.97 miles.
At 5.97 miles, go straight on the past footpath going off to your left. At 6.0 miles, past footbridge to your right.
(9) At 6.45 miles, cross straight over the road (Marsh Lane), then turn left and right, past a small car park, and back onto Jubilee River Path. At 7.04 miles, veer right at T-junction and along lane (Amerden Lane).
(10) At 7.19 miles, turn right at the T-junction and over the bridge. Then turn left, and after another 260 yards through the tunnel under the railway.
(11) At 7.46 miles, Amerden Lane comes out to A4 (Bath Road). Turn left and after just a few yards cross over, then go left along the pavement.
(12) After 50 yards veer right onto footpath away from road and soon across footbridge over the Jubilee River. The footpath comes out next to the Bath Road again, but after just another 50 yards, turn right onto an enclosed footpath between wooden fences, then through metal kissing-gate and along the footpath with Jubilee River to your right. The footpath follows the Jubilee River for 500 yards to a T-junction (at 7.9 miles).
(13) It's at this point where we say goodbye to the Jubilee River for the last time. Turn left, at T-junction, to follow a footpath straight across the edge of a park.
(14) On exiting the park, cross straight over Mill Lane and turn left. Then, by information board, cross over again and veer right to follow pavement in front of town houses. After 140 yards, and just before "no entry" signs, turn tight to cross over Mill Lane to Skindles Brasserie. Then left and right, through pedestrian gate, signed "Thames Path" and under Maidenhead Bridge. The Thames Path soon passes in front of Maidenhead Rowing Club and then left, up a ramp, to come out onto River Road. Turn right along the road.
(15) Just before Maidenhead Railway Bridge, turn right to use the walkway next to the River Thames. (Sounding Arch). Continue south along River Road. Then after 600 yards and just past the last house to your left hand side, stay straight on along the path.
(16) At 10.0 miles, follow the Thames Path under the M4 road bridge. At 10.5 miles, under the Summerleaze Footbridge.
At 12.42 miles we cross the slipway of a large boathouse belonging to Eton College.
NOTE: Our route continues straight on along the Thames Path, but if you wish you can take a minor diversion to visit Dorney Lake and the picturesque, tiny village of Boveney. The diversion adds half a mile and re-joins our route again by Boveney Church at 12.6 miles. This does add some extra interest.
(17) At 12.6 miles, past the church of St Mary Magdalene. Continue downstream along the towpath and after 400m past Boveney Lock. At 13.66 miles, cross the footbridge over Cuckoo Weir, then straight on along well-defined footpath.
(18) On reaching the river again, turn left and follow Thames Path under A332 road bridge (wall under the bridge is decorated with murals). The towpath crosses over two footbridges in quick succession and then under Brunel's “Bow & String” Windsor Railway Bridge (at 14.15 miles).
(19) After passing under the “Bow & String” Bridge stay straight on along the riverbank across Brocas Field and eventually through a narrow ally to Brocas Street. Go straight on along Brocas Street past the Waterman's Arms pub (to your left hand side) and to a T-junction with Eton High Street.
(20) Turn right to cross Windsor Bridge and go straight on along Thames Street to the junction with Datchet Road. Turn left along the pavement to finish at Windsor & Eton Riverside Station.(E)
