Three Rivers Ramble

Three Rivers Ramble

A three mile easy walking route between Staines and Wraysbury Stations, following riverside paths, public open spaces and field paths. Some stiles.

The walk - Map

From Staines Station ticket office turn left, pass footbridge and follow Station Path shortly bearing left under pedestrian subway into car park. Turn left on red tarmac path and follow around car park then turn left, heading towards the Thames Lodge Hotel, pass hotel car park and turn sharp left onto the Thames Path. Follow the past under Staines Bridge and continue ahead alongside the river past Church Island on your left. Turn left into Church Street and left again through iron gates into The Lammas Recreation Ground. Follow the river for approximately 100 metres before turning right on the central path to the gates on Wraysbury Road. Cross road with car, pass through metal barrier into Church Lammas following gravel path to the stile on the opposite side.

Cross Staines Reservoir Aqueduct and go ahead through the subway to the gate. (If field is muddy, retrace your steps through the subway and climb embankment to tarmac patch, turn right and continue ahead to Moor Lane, turn left and opposite the Swan Public House, continue at *). Push the gate open as far as possible and step over the chain. (This is Lammas Court, common land, to which the public have access for 'Air and Exercise'). Continue forward bearing slightly right towards the end house, and cross the hidden stile into Moor Lane. Turn left, and opposite the Swan Public House* turn right, onto the footpath. Pass through a kissing gate and cross the railway line with care, continue to the boardwalk, (If the footpath ahead is flooded, turn right over the Wraysbury River, cross stile, climb steps to bridleway track, continue at **), and keep straight ahead with the Wraysbury River on your right. At the end of the fenceline on your left, continue ahead on field-edge path to stile, climb steps to bridleway track**, turn left and proceed along tarmac road (Moor Lane).

Turn right under the M25 and at footpath sign on the left, cross stile into field keeping to left hand edge and cross stile in left hand corner. Go straight ahead following the footpath sign keeping overhead powers lines on your left, when almost at end of field, bear left into corner and cross stile. Continue on fenced path alongside the Staines to Windsor railway line, ignore stile on the left and continue on this path, alongside the Colne Brook and then up into Coppermill Road. Turn left, cross the bridge and left into Wraysbury Station. Trains run hourly back to Staines Station.

Points of interest

The London to Staines railway line was opened in 1848. The main station building and footbridge are little altered from when they were first built.
The Thames Lodge Hotel (formerly the Packhorse Hotel) was opened in the 17th century (or earlier) and was once named the "Woolpack" after the wool carrying barges. The cottages "Hook on" and "Shoot off" are being renovated and incorporated into the hotel. The towpath terminated at this point and horses towing barges upstream were unhitched and walked to the other side of Staines Bridge where the towpath recommenced. The barges were meanwhile hauled by a team of men upstream and then re-hitched to the horses.
The Memorial Gardens are a restful riverside haven and accommodates the Staines War Memorial.
Swan Upping. This is a 500 year old custom held in July each year. Two third of the swan population belong to the Crown and the remainder either to the Worshipful Company of Vintners or of Dyers. Each of these has an identifying mark and the object is to imprint the beaks of the season's cygnets with the same mark as their parents.
The old Staines Town Hall was built in 1880 in Flemish style (note: one of the clock faces has two figures "XI"!). It stands on the site of the approach to the original bridging point of the Thames.
Staines Bridge. When the Romans arrived in Staines in AD43 they named it "Ad Pontes" after primitive bridges that were already there. The Romans built a new wooden bridge, parts of which may have survived until 1808. The brothers John and George Rennie built the present bridge in 1832. It has since been reinforced and widened.
St Mary's Church. This Parish Church is first mentioned in 1179, although it may have existed a century earlier. The present church was opened in 1828.
The Lammas, formerly known as The Ashby Recreation Ground, originated from the Lammas fields (common land), one of which, Church Lammas, still exists. Lammas is a corruption of "Loaf Mass" and refers to the religious festival held on 1st August each year to celebrate the new harvest when a load of bread made from the first grain harvest is dedicated during a special service.
The London Stone (a replica stone), marks what was once the most westerly point of the City of London's jurisdiction over the Thames, it bears the inscription "God preserve ye Cittye of London AD 1285". The Lord Mayor of London made an annual visit by barge to the stone until 1857. The original stone now stands in the old Staines Town Hall. z (290) acre (290) acres was saved from enclosure under the 1814 Acts. Upkeep of the Moor is administered by a group of Moormasters elected by those who hold farrens or grazing rights, at sessions of the ancient Court Leet. The Moor has not been cultivated for 1,000 years and is listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Greenham Sand and Ballast Ltd currently owns it, but so far the company has not been granted permission to raise minerals on the site.
Wraysbury Reservoir was constructed in 1967 and has a capacity of 34,000 million litres. Each day 400 million litres of water are pumped from the River Thames at the Datchet inlet into this reservoir.
Coppermill Road, Wraysbury. This was named after the Coppermill just upstream from the bridge. The mill is said to have milled copper, grain, iron and even snuff at various times and, in the 19th and 20th centuries, paper. The mill was responsible in earlier times for upkeep of the river bridge, which probably explains the odd blend of ornate brickwork and utilitarian concrete. The mill site is now a derelict eyesore.

Group information

The Ramblers' Association aims to help everyone enjoy walking in the countryside, to foster care and understanding of the countryside, to protect rights of way, to secure public access on foot to open country, and defend the natural beauty of the countryside.

For details of membership, write to: The Ramblers' Association, 1/5 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2XX

Tel:2027 339 8500 - Fax: 0207 339 8501

Egham and Staines Conservation Volunteers was formed by a small group of local enthusiasts in 1986 with the help of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to whom we are affiliated. We meet once a fortnight throughout the year in the Runnymede and Spelthorne areas to perform a variety of tasks, all aimed at improving the local environment. Could you spare an hour or so on one of the Sunday tasks? No great skills are required. For details contact the Group Secretary, Norma Smith. Tel: 01784 454381.

Acknowledgements

Staines Group of the Ramblers' Association and the Egham and Staines Conservation Volunteers wish to acknowledge the generous funding given by the BAA Heathrow and DoETR, the support of Groundwork Thames Valley and the publicity of Middlesex County Press.

Follow the county code

Respect the life of the countryside
Fasten all gates that you find closed
Keep your dogs under close control, particularly when in fields, with cattle, sheep and horses
Protect wildlife, plants and trees
Take your litter home
Help to keep all water clean
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls
Make no unnecessary noise