top of page
John Tippetts

Stage 1 - The Source to Cricklade - May 14th


In order to get an early start for my first walk, I drove to the Swindon Central Premier Inn the night before. I'd booked in for 2 nights. I was promised a sunny start to Sunday, so was a little upset to find I woke up to a bit of a pea-souper! Never mind. I had my cooked breakfast, got all my bits together and then drove to Kemble Station where I parked my car for the day. The plan was to walk from the station to the Source and then to Cricklade. I'd then get the bus back to Swindon, the train to Kemble and finally drive back to the hotel in Swindon. Although this sounds rather convoluted, there was thinking behind doing things this way. The first train on a Sunday from Swindon to Kemble isn't until 09:35, whereas doing things this way I was at Kemble station by about 08:00.


I'd been forewarned that there was still significant flooding in the Ewen area and that the path in general was very muddy. I therefore thought that wellies might be a better option than my normal walking shoes and chose to wear these. I walked from Kemble Station to the Source, took loads of photos (as you do) of the fingerpost and stone and I was then on my way in the mist towards Cricklade

The famous fingerpost at the start/end of the Thames Path National Trail
Trewsbury Mead carpeted in buttercups & dandelion heads

Shortly after leaving Ewen it became difficult to distinguish between the river and the path but I was feeling smug as I was wearing my wellies, so no worries about getting wet feet. This smugness was however short lived as I had a 'Vicar of Dibley' moment, taking a step that resulted in flood water spilling over the top of my wellies! Bugger!

Warning signs of trouble ahead
Yuk!

John wades the Thames!


After reaching the end of the flooding I emptied my wellies, wrung out my socks and put on a dry pair.

That's a lot of water!

With my tail now between my legs I continued towards Somerford Keynes and then Ashton Keynes. The going was now surprisingly good.

The path heading towards Ashton Keynes

On reaching Ashton Keynes I chose to stop to eat my sandwich and take a bit of a rest. Ashton Keynes is such a pretty village.

Ashton Keynes
Wisteria

Duly refreshed I continued on my way through the Cotswold Water Park - a seemingly endless number of former gravel pits now filled with water. Whilst the path was quite muddy in places it was still easily passable.

Water skier on one of the Cotswold Water Park lakes
Water skier on one of the Cotswold Water Park lakes

The water park always seems to go on forever but eventually I reached the point where the Thames Path takes you through North Meadow in Cricklade. I was now faced with a dilemma; do I follow the path, which by all accounts was still flooded, or do I take the easy option along the disused railway line that brings you out at the top end of Cricklade? I bottled out and chose easy!

Do I risk the flooding in North Meadow?
.........or take the dead cert dry route?

At the end of the old railway line in Cricklade I walked through a couple of housing estates and emerged where I would have come out had I risked North Meadow.

In Cricklade back on the Thames Path
In case of any doubt, what looks like a stream below this bridge is the Mighty Thames!

Walk complete and 12.2 miles of the Thames Path under my belt. I timed my arrival in Cricklade almost to perfection. Buses back to Swindon run every 2 hours on a Sunday. I reached the bus stop at about 14:40 with 10 minutes to spare.

High Street Cricklade
Not just happy to finish my walk but also knowing my bus was only minutes away

My bus arrived more or less on time - service 51 - and very soon I was back in Swindon. A 5 minute walk to the railway station and my train to Kemble was waiting for me! Having retrieved my car from the station car park I drove back to Swindon and the delights of the Premier Inn for another night.













164 views0 comments

Related Posts

See All

Comentários


bottom of page