Day 1 - the source to Cricklade, 12.8m

The Thames Path is very different from our previous long distance walks as it is downhill all the way. At 184 miles, it's also quite a it longer!  The weather was very different from the first days of our other walks, it was humid and cloudy rather than sunny, but at least it was fairly warm and it didn't rain.

The source of the Thames and some old folk at the source marker stone

The first challenge is to actually get to the starting point, the official source of the River Thames.  It is at the edge of a field two fields away from the nearest road.  We found a place to park one of our cars about half a mile away, so we began our walk by heading west to the source instead of east towards the Thames Barrier.  We took photos at the marker post and stone obelisk, and set off 'downstream' but the real source where you can actually see a small stream start to emerge is most of the way back to the main road!

Looking back at the source marker stone - and the first sign of the infant Thames

The path is very varied, crossing fields and through woods as it follows the growing steam. It was amazing to see how clear the water was and we were very pleased that there was only one really muddy bit, with notices from the landowner exhorting walkers to stick to the path! Needless to say no-one did including us.

A decaying water pump and the trickle that is the Thames

After about 6 miles the steam goes into Neigh Bridge County Park and a huge network of lakes begins. What we thought was the first of the many lakes turned out to be full of a crop with little blue flowers on - it certainly fooled us from a distance!  If you know what this crop is, do please let us know.

A field of something blue that fooled us from a distance and (inset) the crop close up

We had expected to see more of the lakes, but apart from a few places, for much of the time they are hidden behind hedges.  At first the path follows the Thames, going through, the lakes and Lower Mill estate, with it's award winning holiday homes and on to Ashton Keynes where we stopped for a very nice pub lunch at the White Hart.

Clockwise from top left - the approach into Ashton Keynes, a traffic hazard, and the White Hart 

 After lunch we wove our way through more of the of the lakes, hearing a powerboat engine in the distance.  Eventually we saw a ski boat and water skier through a gap in the trees. We also caught up with an Australian couple who are spending 8 days walking and are hoping to reach Windsor.  By contrast we are expecting to take 12 days!  The Thames however seemed to disappear and the path took us all over the place including through a field full of inquisitive young bulls.

One of many Cotswold Water Park lakes and the top end of Cricklade High St

Eventually Cricklade church came into view and we finally found the river again.  We walked thorough the meadows alongside the river, past a gauging station and a very messy farm until we reached our car which was parked in Cricklade High Street.