Thames Path National Trail marking 30 years with relay

The relay will involve hundreds of walkers and community groups as they travel the full 185.2-mile route from Gloucestershire to east London, passing through Henley and other towns along the way.

It begins at the river’s source near Kemble, Gloucestershire, on June 5, finishing at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel on June 28.

Hannah Gutteridge, Thames Path national trail manager, said: “We’ve created 24 walks along the Thames Path, each walk will be led by an experienced leader from a community group, several of them from The Ramblers.

“We’re now inviting everyone to join us on the Relay.”

To mark the anniversary, 30 poems by Poet-in-Residence Robert Seatter will be featured in 30 locations between the Source and Woolwich, accessible through QR codes on waymarker posts.

A special mural by artist Vickie Amiralis is also being painted on Mill Meadows Pavilion in Henley-on-Thames during May.

Ms Gutteridge said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with enthusiastic and experienced walk leaders from local Ramblers groups, regular Thames Path users and the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames.”

The relay is being organised in partnership with the Drinkable Rivers Foundation.

Li An Phoa, founder of the foundation, walked the Thames Path from source-to-sea in 2023, which gathered momentum for the ‘Mayors for a Drinkable Thames’ action network.

Li An Phoa and co-initiator of the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames James Manthel said: “During this walk we hope to strengthen the connection between the people and communities along the Thames.”