Fully updated for 2006, “Walks Along the Thames Path” is the essential companion for all those wishing to discover the nature and historical riches of one of the world's most famous rivers. In 25 original and circular walks, Ron Emmons offers a wealth of detail on the architecture, culture, history, and flora and fauna of the Thames and its environs. Meandering through varied terrain from its source in Gloucestershire through the heart of London to the  Thames Barrier, the walks lead to some of England's major attractions, from the Royal town of Windsor and the splendid spires of Oxford to little known villages and picturesque meadows. With walks to suit all interests and abilities, and handsomely illustrated with colour photographs and complete route maps, the book provides practical information on opening times, access, and transport, as well as nearby places of interest. Category : Thames Path Guide Books

This guide takes the walker from the  Thames Barrier in London to the source of the Thames 180 miles away in rural Gloucestershire. The towpath route, opened as a national trail in 1996, has been improved by the addition of new footbridges and the creation of 20 miles of new riverside path.

More than 90 per cent of the Thames Path is either public footpath or bridleway. The Thames, once an important water highway, links a string of historic sites. In the capital there is  Greenwich, the  Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Palace. Hampton Court Palace lies just outside London, and before reaching Windsor there is riverside Runneymede where King John agreed to the Magna Carta.

The water and towpath in the Upper Reaches can be both beautiful and lonely, with cormorants, herons and swans, as appreciated by Shelley and William Morris. The climax is the 22 miles of the infant Thames leading to a field with its often dry spring situated just below the Roman Foss Way.

Category : Thames Path Guide Books

Tourist map of the River Thames featuring the river corridor
at 1:60,000 showing facilities available to the boat user with details of
boatyards, boat hire and boat trip operators and highlighting the Thames
Path. Illustrated guide to the river features of interest.

SIDE ONE
Coverage from the source at Thames Head to Wallingford. Detailed plans of
Lechlade, Oxford, Abingdon and Wallingford at 1:15,000 showing streets,
shopping areas, river facilities and places of interest. Diagrammatic
section along the river and introduction to the Thames Path.

SIDE TWO
Coverage from Wallingford to Tower Bridge. Detailed plans of Caversham,
Henley-on-Thames,  Marlow, Windsor and Eton, Richmond and Kingston upon
Thames at 1:15,000 showing streets, shopping areas, river facilities and
places of interest.

Category : Thames Path Guide Books, Thames Path Maps

From its source in sleepy Gloucestershire, the Thames runs nearly 180 miles - past the spires of Oxford, Royal Windsor and eventually on to the bustle of London. Thanks to its recently renovated towpath, the Thames has become the only major British river that can be walked from its source to its estuary - the  Thames Barrier.

The path is one of the busiest trails in the country. The pubs (all within a few hundred yards of the river) cover a wide range from Cotswold stone country inns and thatched riverside taverns to the traditional establishments in the City and East End of London.

In addition to providing a lively social history of the river and its inns, Pubs of the River Thames is a practical guide for the day-tripper and tourist alike, offering tips and details on all the pubs featured (travel, opening hours, food and beer selections and other facilities).

Category : Thames Path Guide Books

Running for 180 miles (288 km) from the river's source in rural Gloucestershire to the  Thames barrier, the Thames Path is England's newest National Trail and one of the most varied and accessible of the country's long-distance paths. The Countryside Agency's acorn waymarks lead the walker through tranquil water meadows, past the dreaming spires of Oxford and the pageantry of Windsor and Hampton Court, through the heart of the capital, to London's Docklands and beyond. This is the official guide to the Path and will be invaluable to the long-distance walker and weekend stroller alike.

Category : Thames Path Guide books

Customer reviews
“This is an indispensable companion if walking the Thames Path, and if you are taking only one book along with you, it should be this one. Others, such as Turner's one on pubs, the National Trail Companion, and the Imray map, are helpful, but you can get along without them if you have this.

David Sharp, the author, is one of the founders of the Path. His other book, on he London Loop, which he also helped found, is equally excellent. As another reviewer points out, you can't follow the Path uptream with this book.”

The council is calling on residents to attend have their say on controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport in two public meetings being held by the borough.The meetings will be held on Monday, February 11 at the Desborough Suite in Maidenhead Town Hall from 7.30?10pm and on Wednesday, February 13 at Windsor Boys' School from 7.30-10pm.At both meetings there will be a presentation on the DfT proposals by Terry Gould, the council?s head of sustainability and public protection.The proposals include developing a third 2,200 metre runway ? wiping out 700 properties, hundreds of acres of farmland and thousands of mature trees and construction of a Terminal 6.Cllr Colin Rayner, cabinet member for highways, transport and environment, said: ?The Department for Transport (DfT) has put out a consultation document that has nothing to do with getting public views.  We believe it is a statement of intent to build the third runway, which will inevitably lead to Terminal 6.  He added: ?The consultation is extremely difficult to comprehend ? the questions are hard to understand and the choice of answers are somewhat confused. These meetings will help residents understand the issues of the Heathrow expansion plan in plain, simple English.?

The Royal Borough is looking to find a new provider to take forward a varied arts programme in Windsor.Since Windsor Community Arts Centre Limited went into administration just before Christmas the council has been contacted by people and organisations keen to get involved in maintaining arts provision in the town.The process to find the successful provider is now underway.Cllr Jesse Grey, (Con, Datchet) cabinet member for leisure and culture, said in the upcoming 2008/9 budget, councillors were keen to retain the £80,000 grant previously given to the arts centre.A final decision will be made on February 26.Anyone interested in putting forward proposals for the provision of arts in Windsor should contact Mark Taylor on 01628 786989.

The Windsor Spring Festival programme will include a performance by young musicians from Chetham?s School of Music, a visit by Dame Jacqueline Wilson, a literary lunch with presentations and book signings from well known figures, guided walks and children?s theatrical events.

The green belt is set to be reviewed after the council reluctantly agreed to allow a government assessment to take place.Councillors begrudgingly gave the review the green light at a cabinet meeting at the Windsor Guildhall last night after the government inspector had rejected an earlier borough report on the Green Belt in 2006.The new review will take a detailed look at Green Belt, which currently makes 83 per cent of the Royal Borough, with the area being divided into individual 500m² patches and each one independently assessed.Despite accepting the review, councillors were unanimous in declaring their unwavering determination to fight any reduction of land and strongly criticised the government?s plans.Cllr Vicki Howes (Lib Dem, Cox Green), chairman of the planning and environment overview and scrutiny panel said: "We are accepting this reluctantly. There is no legal alternative and it is important to stress that we are doing something that we do not wish to do."<strong>For more on this story see next week?s Advertiser.</strong>

The Advertiser is today joining forces with MP Theresa May to campaign for a better deal for St Mark's Hospital.We are calling on you to throw your weight behind the Who Cares Wins fight for a minor injuries unit at the Maidenhead-based hospital.The move would mean patients would no longer have to trek to Wexham Park, Slough or Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot for this type of non-emergency care, such as a twisted ankle.The campaign has been launched in light of this week's publication of the PCT's Right Care, Right Place document which sets out proposals for changes to healthcare services across Berkshire East.In the first round of consultation from January to March last year, residents across Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough, Ascot and Bracknell were asked what they wanted from their healthcare services.Now the PCT has pooled those ideas and produced a second consultation document which was launched at King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor on Monday.The plans for St Mark's include revamping ageing buildings at St Mark's to enable children's centre development and  increasing the outpatient services.But elsewhere in Berkshire East there are plans for a new purpose-built health centre in Bracknell and urgent care centres - in Bracknell and Slough.Maidenhead MP Theresa May is concerned that Maidenhead is losing out to other areas, arguing that Bracknell and Slough are the big winners in these proposals.<strong>Watch our video interview with Berkshire East PCT chief executive Lise Llewellyn to find out more and see this week's Advertiser for more on the proposals.</strong>

The remaining flood warnings across
the Thames Region have been lifted.
The Environment Agency has
downgraded the final two flood warnings on the River Thames in Oxford to flood
watches this morning but 25 flood watches still
remain.
EA officials are continuing to urge
people in affected areas to remain vigilant in the flood watch areas as river
levels are expected to remain high for several days before dropping later in the
week.
The Thames is still rising very
slowly in areas including Henley and  Marlow, and in Twyford, the river Loddon is
still high near to where it meets the Thames, but property flooding is not
expected in either area.
In response to recent rainfall, the
Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme is still in operation and
the Jubilee River is currently running at 50 per cent of its capacity.

Residents are being given a chance to have a say on parks and open spaces across the borough in a series of public drop-in sessions.It is part of a review into sports and recreation areas which will consider the location, type and number of facilities on offer to residents now and in the future.PMP, the independent sport and leisure consultancy carrying out the review, is inviting residents and those who work or visit the borough to five drop-in sessions where they can give feedback about open spaces in the area and suggest improvements.Cllr Jesse Grey, lead member for community safety, leisure and culture, said: ?This is your opportunity to get involved and shape the future of the recreation facilities and open spaces in the Royal Borough."The drop-in sessions are:Thursday January 24:Nicholsons Shopping Centre, Maidenhead ? 11am to 1pmCookham Library, High Road, Cookham Rise ? 3pm to 5pmFriday January 25:Windsor Royal Shopping Centre (concourse), Windsor ? 10am to 12noonWaitrose, London Road, Sunningdale ? 12.30 to 2.30pmDatchet Library, Montagu House, 8 Horton Road, Datchet ? 3 to 5pm

Mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary is to be honoured with a memorial service at Windsor Castle.

An anonymous donor has swooped in to
help save a vital part of Windsor Arts Centre.

Campaigners are celebrating after
the breakthrough deal was made last week to secure all the contents of the St
Leonards' Road site.

Converted from an old fire station,
it embodies the quirky spirit of acts such as Tankus the Henge and Mitch Benn who have performed there.
The building itself belongs to the council, who are currently in talks to decide
its future.

A cash crisis forced the centre to
close just days before Christmas but local residents quickly formed Windsor Arts
are Yours (WAY) and began fighting to reopen it.

The group says it is clear the
30-year old Windsor Arts Centre organisation cannot be saved. But whatever went
wrong with the previous operation, it wasn?t lack of demand and use.
On Wednesday last week, WAY secured
the physical assets of the building from the administrator, David Tann of
 Reading accountancy firm Norton?s after an anonymous donor put up the
money.

Roger Milne, spokesman for
WAY, said: "We?re delighted to report that the assets have been bought and will
stay in the centre."
The group is organising a public
meeting on Wednesday, January 30 at 7.30 pm at Windsor Boys School to discuss arts provision in the
town.

For more information email
graham.steel3@btinternet.com or leave a message with Linda Chanan on 01753
866745.

Heavy rainfall has once again put the region on flood alert after the River Thames swelled to dangerously high levels. In response to the persistent rainfall and high water levels the Environment Agency (EA) operated its flood alleviation scheme allowing water from the Thames to overflow into the Jubilee River. Marlow's stretch of the Thames was put on flood watch by the EA at 1.43pm on Saturday and areas at risk of flooding include Bisham, Marlow, Cookham Dean and Bourne End. Environment Agency flood risk manager, Barry Russell said: "The rainfall over the past few days has resulted in very high levels in the River Thames. "In order to protect the Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead area from flooding we have put the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation scheme into operation. "We expect to continue operating the scheme over the next few days."The scheme was last used during the recent July 2007 floods.

The transport secretary of state Ruth Kelly is to be quizzed by the Royal Borough as part of a collective of 11 councils opposed to the Heathrow airport expansion.The borough, as part of the 2M lobbying group has drawn up 20 questions for Miss Kelly after she announced her backing for a new runway at the airport before the start of the current government consultation on the plan.It comes after residents complained that the transport department's consultation document, entitled 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow' had been made deliberately complicated and one-sided.It sets out the plans to add 222,000 flights a year at the airport by 2030 -  the equivalent of building a new airport the size of Gatwick.Borough leader Cllr David Burbage said: "Many people have said they find the 238-page consultation document and the eight-page questionnaire bewildering. Yet for all the great mass of detail, so much of the vital information on environmental impact and economic benefits is missing. "We hope residents will find it useful to include some of the 2M questions in their own responses to the minister. We are not saying these are the only questions but they do cover the main concerns people have expressed so far. "The Government has made this consultation as difficult as possible ? our aim is to simplify matters so that residents can test the minister on the key assumptions that lie behind her support for expansion." The 20 questions are:1.    Have you assessed the climate change impact of the extra three million tonnes per annum of CO2 emissions produced by the third runway alone? 2.    Can you explain why the aviation industry, uniquely, can expect other industries to make its emissions reductions for it? 3.    How do you reconcile the government?s stated objectives for achieving emissions reductions with its advocacy of further expansion at Heathrow? 4.    The latest noise attitudes survey (ANASE) showed that the same proportion of people previously annoyed by aircraft noise at 57 decibels were now affected at 50 or 51 decibels. Why was this calculation not included in the noise impact assessment and why is the old 57 decibel contour still being used to draw the boundaries of the areas which, you say, are affected by aircraft noise? 5.    While you say that ANASE is flawed, is it not more robust than a study carried out 22 years ago (ANIS) which was never subjected to external review? 6.    How can people sensibly comment on how the proposals will affect them when you are not telling them clearly where new or altered flight paths would go? 7.    Why does your economic assessment not take into account the £9bn subsidy the aviation industry receives from not paying VAT and the £18bn tourism deficit where UK travellers overseas spend more than visitors to this country? 8.    If the extra 222,000 flights weren?t provided at Heathrow can you calculate the impact on the economy if these ?displaced? passengers a) made their overseas journey by rail, b) flew from another London airport or c) stayed in the UK? 9.    Have you assessed the extra capacity that could be provided by high-speed rail, including the new link from St Pancras? 10.    What benefit to the UK economy is provided by the 35% of passengers at Heathrow who are simply changing planes? 11.    Will you now commission an independent study of the economic impact of Heathrow? 12.    According to your projections, the numbers of people taking public transport to the airport will double to around 38 million by 2030. Numbers travelling by road will also double to 53 million. What new transport schemes will be in place by 2030 and what will be average traffic speeds on the roads? 13.    What new aircraft other than the A380 and 787 will be flying once the third runway opens? 14.    Why was data on aircraft fleet mixes kept secret from local authorities while you were assessing the environmental impacts ? yet freely shared with the owners of Heathrow (BAA) who stand to gain most from its expansion? 15.    Has the data provided by BAA, including types of aircraft, their noise and air pollution characteristics ? and assumptions on airlines' purchasing intentions ? been independently vetted? 16.    Can you guarantee that once the third runway is operating the two existing runways will return to segregated mode and restore the relief offered by runway alternation? 17.    Will you guarantee that the third runway ? which is already longer than proposed in the Air Transport White Paper ? will not be extended again in the future to accommodate larger aircraft? 18.    Will you introduce a requirement to cut back on the number of flights if it becomes clear that air quality and noise limits are being exceeded? 19.    Have you measured the increased risk of air accidents from so many extra flights over London? 20.    Can you explain why you announced your support for the Adding Capacity at Heathrow report to the Evening Standard six days before the consultation started?The 20 questions will form part of a special 2M newsletter which will be published in mid-January and distributed throughout the areas most affected by expansion, including Windsor, Old Windsor, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury.The consultation document is available at www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation and emailed responses can be sent to heathrowconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk

A rally call has been issued for the community in Windsor to help safeguard the future of arts provisions in the town.

Time is running out for motorists who wish to have their say on new speed restrictions in South Bucks. Public consultation was initiated by Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) on November 29, asking residents what they think about the speed limits on certain rural roads and some main roads in the area.The initial 21 day consultation period was extended over the Christmas holidays but will close on Monday.The council is urging residents to air their views ahead of the deadline.Valerie Letheren, portfolio holder for transportation said: "It is important that we hear the views of the people that use or live on these roads. Please let us know your thoughts about this during the consultation period - don?t wait until  the new limits are in place."The A4155 toward Little Marlow is one of the principle roads being studied by BCC, and speed limits in Bourne End, Wooburn, Wooburn Green, and Flackwell Heath and Burnham could also be changed.Motorists are asked to keep watch for yellow signs, located on affected roads in the county, which detail proposed changes. More Information can also be seen on the Area 9 section speed limit review pages atDetailed maps and descriptions outlining the changes can be viewed at the:Bourne End Library, Wakeman Road, Bourne End; Flackwell Heath Library, Carrington Junior School, Chapel Road, Flackwell Heath;  Marlow Library, Institute Road, Marlow or Burnham Library in Windsor Lane, Burnham.

The cash crisis at Windsor Arts Centre has left it's staff jobless just days before Christmas.

Windsor Arts Centre has been forced to close its doors because of a spiralling financial crisis.

Warmest best wishes have been sent
to the mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead after he was admitted to
hospital.

A security alert takes place at Windsor Castle after a group of people are seen acting suspiciously.   

A security alert takes place at Windsor Castle after a group of people are seen acting suspiciously.

A security alert takes place at Windsor Castle after a group of people are seen acting suspiciously.