Maidenhead to Windsor River Walk

This walk takes you from Maidenhead to Windsor along the Thames Path National Trail.
It's a popular walk running for just over 7 miles along a flat riverside path. Along the way there's pretty locks, weirs and some lovely country views to enjoy.
Walk Report October 15th 2026 By James Parker:
We started at Boulter’s Lock in Maidenhead, where there’s a convenient car park beside the Thames (postcode is SL6 8JN for your sat navs).... It’s a lovely spot to begin a walk, with boats passing through the lock and plenty of activity along the riverbank. The weather was pleasantly mild, although there was a bit of a breeze over the water. We joined the Thames Path and headed south, enjoying the peaceful riverside scenery as we left the busier parts of Maidenhead behind. There’s something about following a river that makes a walk feel unhurried, and we found ourselves stopping regularly to watch the boats and look at the houses and gardens along the banks.
We continued through the Taplow and Dorney Reach area, passing Monkey Island on the way. This stretch has a mix of grand riverside properties, wooded sections and open views across the water. There were plenty of swans and ducks about, and we spotted a few people out enjoying the river in boats. The path was generally straightforward, making this a good walk for anyone who prefers a long, level route rather than a climb into the hills.
The biggest surprise of the day was Dorney Lake. Built as an international rowing venue and used for the London 2012 Olympic Games, it has a very different feel from the natural bends of the Thames. The lake is a purpose-built 2,500-metre rowing course, with broad paths running alongside the water and extensive parkland surrounding it. There was an event taking place when we visited, so the area was much busier than we’d expected, with people arriving and activity around the clubhouse. Even so, it was fascinating to see the venue in use rather than simply passing an empty stretch of water. The long, straight course makes it easy to appreciate why it was chosen for Olympic rowing, and the open views across the lake were excellent.
We were also delighted to discover Mr Brightside, the coffee van usually found near the clubhouse. After walking for a good while, a hot drink and a little something to eat were very welcome. It was a useful stop before continuing towards Windsor, and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere made a nice contrast to the event activity nearby. I can imagine Dorney Lake being much quieter on a day without an event, but the extra bustle certainly gave it a bit of life during our visit. The surrounding parkland and nature conservation areas also make it worth allowing time to explore rather than treating it simply as a place to pass through.
Leaving Dorney behind, we continued towards Queen’s Eyot and Eton Wick. The landscape gradually returned to a more traditional riverside setting, with green banks, boats and quieter stretches of path. It was a pleasant change after the open expanse of the rowing lake. As we approached Eton, the famous school and historic streets gave the walk another point of interest. We took our time looking around, as there’s plenty of history packed into this small town, and it feels quite different from the riverside villages along the way.
The final stretch took us across the river towards Windsor, where the imposing walls of Windsor Castle provide a fitting finish. After spending so much of the day beside the Thames, arriving in a town with such a strong royal history felt like a real change of scene. There are plenty of cafés, pubs and shops nearby if you want to make a longer day of it, and the castle is well worth visiting if you have time to spare.
Overall, this is a rewarding long-distance riverside walk with a good mix of scenery, historic places and interesting stops. Dorney Lake was the standout for us, especially with an event taking place and the welcome coffee stop at the clubhouse. I’d recommend allowing time for refreshments and a look around Eton before finishing in Windsor, where the castle and riverside streets make a fitting end to the journey.
Postcode: SL6 8JN
Pubs and More Info
The circular Maidenhead Boundary Walk also starts from the lock car park. The 13 mile trail is a nice way to explore the area around the town.
At the other end of the route there's the Windsor River Walk. This circular walk visits Eton Wick, Eton Great Common, Eton College and Datchet.
You can also reach Eton from the town on the Jubilee River Walk. This route passes Taplow Lake and the 15th century Dorney Court on the way.
Just to the west in Hurley you can pick up the Hurley Loop Walk which will take you south to the woodland trails in Ashley Hill Forest and the Hurley Chalk Pit Nature Reserve. There's also one of the oldest pubs in the country to see in the village.
Just to the east of Marlow is the neighbouring village of Little Marlow. Here you can explore the wildlife rich Spade Oak Nature Reserve and visit the historic 14th century church and 16th century pub.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Berkshire Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

Maidenhead Boundary Walk Chiltern Way Thames Path Marlow Marlow to Henley Cliveden House Cookham River Circular Walk Windsor River Walk Dorney Lake Eton Hurley Loop Walk Jubilee River

Photos

The finish line of the Maidenhead Regatta, just downstream of Brunel's famous railway bridge over the River Thames near the English town of Maidenhead. This bank of the river is in Buckinghamshire and Taplow, whilst the far bank (and the town) ...

Maidenhead Bridge and River Thames. The bridge carries the A4 Bath Road over the River Thames. It was designed by the architect Robert Taylor and built at a cost of £19,000 in 1777. It was a toll bridge until 1903, when motorists decided they were no longer prepared to pay and threw the gates into the river. The bridge has 12 arches of which the middle 6 are over the water, with the middle two navigable. The first bridge over the river here was built out of wood in 1280. The centre of the small metal plaque on the near abutment records the maximum water level reached during the November 1894 flood event.

Monkey Island. This island is a narrow island in the Thames, and can be reached only by footbridge or boat. It became firm ground only when rubble was dumped following the great fire of London in 1666. The 3rd Duke of Marlborough bought it in 1723, and since then there have been pleasure buildings, lawns, and latterly this hotel.

Jubilee River, Footbridge near Glebe Close, Dorney Reach. A view taken looking downstream.

Dorney Rowing Lake

Boveney lock, Windsor.

Eton College boathouses from Windsor and Eton Bridge

The River Thames at Windsor

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