1: Henley Station. From the station turn right and immediately right along alleyway to road. Cross and continue to riverbank past children’s playground. There are public toilets on the right. Turn right along the towpath through Mill and Marsh Meadows. The original Thames Path is indefinitely closed at Marsh Lock so turn right along lane on the diversion. Pass a car park where refreshments are available in summer and cross the railway. At the main road carefully cross and keep ahead along Noble Rd into bridleway then turn left along Harpsden Way. Continue to road junction and turn right past Harpsden Church.

2: Harpsden Church. Take the left fork after the church then bear left on bridleway on rising ground. Bear left at junction with footpath and continue to Woodlands Rd. Cross and bear left on wide path. Keep parallel to the lane then join it along track. Keep ahead along lane then turn left on bridleway which reaches the main road after half a mile. Carefully cross and bear right on fenced path which leads along Northgate Avenue. At road junction Shiplake Station is on the left. Cross to lane ahead with the Baskerville Arms on the left. After 400 yards turn left at the Thames Path sign then left and right to duck under the railway. Follow the path to the river bank and turn right along it. At bend in the river turn right along byway and go under the railway bridge. At the end of the housing turn left on footpath to Shiplake Lock.

3: Shiplake Lock. Continue along the riverbank to the Shiplake College boating area where there is a seat. The bridleway on the right leads past Shiplake Church which dates from the 13th Century. Generations of the Phillimore family are buried in the churchyard. Go over the bridge and keep to the river bank for another two miles then go over the footbridge to reach the road at Sonning. Carefully cross at the traffic lights, turn left over the bridge then turn right on the towpath. Pass Sonning Lock and the boatyard of Reading Bluecoat School. A little further on there are paths on the left leading to the Thames Valley Park Nature Reserve where there are seats overlooking the lakes. Pass through the water meadows which are full of wild flowers in summer then the water sports area before coming to the Horseshoe Bridge where the River Kennet flows into the Thames.

4: Horseshoe Bridge. Turn left under the bridges along the Kennet and Avon Canal. Pass Blakes Lock, the Fisherman’s Cottage and the weir. At the road bridge, go up the steps and turn right over the canal. Take side road on right and turn right along Gasworks Rd. Go over the green-painted bridge and turn left on path along the river, passing new apartment blocks. Go under the bridge then up to Chestnut Walk and past the former Reading Jail. Turn right through the Abbey ruins then under the bridge into the Forbury Gardens. There are public toilets behind the refreshment kiosk. Pass the Maiwand lion with its impossible gait and leave the gardens by the north west arch. Turn left along the cycleway, carefully cross road and turn right to the traffic lights. Cross and turn left for Reading Station.