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| Stage | What You’ll See On Route | Map | Distance (Miles) | Photos of This Leg |
| 1. |
Hampton Court Palace to Staines The start is inside the main entrance to Hampton Court Palace. The leg is mainly on the Thames Path. It crosses the Thames at two points, Hampton Court and Walton Bridges. Diverts on road, through Old Shepperton and then again along the Thames, past, Shepperton, Chertsey and Penton Hook Locks to finish just before Staines Bridge. More… |
Google Map01 | 12.7 | Photos 1 |
| 2. |
Staines to Boveney Mostly towpath and parkland - the route follows the Thames before crossing the road at Runnymede and climbing steps up a steep hill past the John F Kennedy Memorial at two miles. The acre of ground around the memorial is officially part of the United States of America. Soon the long trek through the Great Park leads to and around Windsor Castle before crossing the Thames to Eton and rejoining the towpath to Boveney. More… |
Google Map02 | 10.15 | Photos 2 |
| 3 |
Boveney to Little Marlow The route mostly follows the Thames Path for 10 miles. At times the path can be narrow, so beware of speeding pushbikes. Oakley Court and Bray Studios are soon visible across the river. Next is Bray village, then through Maidenhead, and Cookham to just after Bourne End where it turns right over a level crossing to Spade Oak. Here just opposite Old Thatch the route goes cross country through a nature reserve and around a lake to finish in the picturesque village of Little Marlow. From the church of St Mary Magdalene at Boveney stay straight on along the Thames Path for 4.5 miles to just after Brunel’s railway bridge at Maidenhead. More… |
11.0 | Photos 3 | |
| 4 |
Little Marlow to Great Kingshill This stage is tough, very hilly with many steep climbs and mostly off-road. The route goes up around the back of High Wycombe and through the Chilterns. It's a bit like a roller coaster, a long gradual climb at the start, many short sharp climbs and falls, but all in all six major climbs and each one a long and hard slog. However, you'll enjoy ever step of the way. The start is at the entrance to Wilton Farm. Just outside the entrance to "Emmett's Farm Shop". More… |
Google Map04 | 12.2 | Photos 4 |
| 5 |
Great Kingshill to Chipperfield This is the longest, one of the hilliest, most interesting and scenic legs of the relay. Over thirteen miles, much which goes cross country, through the rolling hills of the Chilterns. The stage starts in the village of Great Kingshill on south side the green and just over the Missenden Road (A4128) from Great Kingshill Village Hall. The route is mainly direct through Little Kingshill, the picturesque village of Little Missenden, along the banks of the River Misbourne through the grounds of the Shardeloes Estate to Old Amersham. It passes through the Chiltern Forest, Latimer and Flaunden villages to finish by the war memorial on Chipperfield Green. More… |
Google Map05 | 13.5 | Photos 5 |
| 6 |
Chipperfield to St.Albans At 8.4 miles, this is one of the shorter, but is no less interesting than any of the others. The route passes through Kings Langley, a large village in the Gade Valley, birth and resting place of Edward de Langley, the first Duke of York. Here we join the Grand Union Canal for a short distance before continuing east through fields and narrow country lanes through Bedmond and Potters Crouch to finish near the Abbey Cathedral at St Albans. More… |
Google Map06 | 8.4 | Photos 6 |
| 7 |
St.Albans to Letty Green The stage starts on the footpath next to the River Ver on the east side of Holywell Hill. For the first 0.65 miles the route follows the Ver-Colne Valley Walk – a 15 mile path along the rivers Colne and Ver to Redbourn just northwest of St Albans. It then joins the Alban Way to and through Hatfield. We pass the old mill at Mill Green then continue through the nature reserve at Commons Woods, just south of Welwyn Garden City, then join the Cole Green Way to finish the old platform of Cole Green railway station at Letty Green. More… |
Google Map07 | 12.0 | Photos 7 |
| 8 |
Letty Green to Dobbs Weir The stage starts next to the old platform of Cole Green Station on the Cole Green Way, a disused railway line which has been converted to a cycle path and bridleway. The railway opened in 1858 and connected Welwyn to Hertford, but was closed in 1966 as a consequence of The Beeching Report. The route follows the Cole Green Way to Hertford. It passes through the old part of this county town taking in the castle and grounds, then joins the River Lee Navigation through Ware to finish on the bank of the navigation at Dobbs Weir. More… |
Google Map08 | 10.65 | Photos 8 |
| 9 |
Dobbs Weir to High Beach From Dobbs Weir we follow the River Lee Navigation through Broxbourne, Waltham Abbey and past Enfield Lock. On this part of the stage it’s almost impossible to go off-course, unless you make a decision to jump into the river or take a path away from it. At Enfield Lock the course leaves the Lee Valley Walk and joins the route of the London Loop for over a mile, then turns left through Epping Forest to finish on the green at High Beach. More… |
Google Map09 | 10.2 | Photos 9 |
| 10 |
High Beach to Toot Hill The first half of the leg goes cross country through Epping Forest to Epping. At Epping Station the route joins the Essex Way for most of the way, passing through Coopersale Street and Coopersale, to the finish in the village of Toot Hill. Just before Toothill we divert from the Essex Way to take a more practical, yet no less interesting route for the last half mile to the finish. More… |
Google Map10 | 9.7 | Photos 10 |
| 11 |
Toot Hill to Blackmore The stage starts in the middle of the village of Toot Hill just north of the Green Man Pub at the junction of Mill Lane and Toot Hill Road. Apart from the first 1.3 miles the route is almost completely off-road. Just over a mile after the start we rejoin the Essex Way to and through Greensted and onto Chipping Ongar. Once again we divert off the Way to take in some of the sights and history of this old town. On leaving Chipping Ongar we rejoin the Essex Way for a short distance, before leaving it for one last time. We then follow St Peters Way through High Ongar and onto the finish at Blackmore. More… |
Google Map11 | 7.5 | Photos 11 |
| 12 |
Blackmore to Thorndon Park Sunday morning is an early rise for everyone. However, it's not just the vegetarians who don't enjoy their full English breakfast. Those that run the first stage also find it a problem. Yet from past experiences some do have it packed and transported to the end of the stage, where they can enjoy it after their run. Presently the stage follows narrow country lanes through rural Essex. The route south to Mountnessing, along Green Street and Trueloves Lane is typical of rural England. So peaceful with the scattered, well decorated houses and colourful hedgerows, acting as the only obstacles to block out the views of the surrounding countryside. More... |
Google Map12 | 10.9 | Photos 12 |
| 13 |
Thorndon Park to Thames Chase The stage starts on the road next to the car park of Thorndon Park Countryside Centre. As well as the park, it takes in many of the properties of the Thames Chase Community Forest, including Harts Wood, Donkey Plantation, Warley Gap, Codham Hall Woods and Franks Wood. We pass through Little Warley, Great Warley and skirt the outside of Upminster on our way to the finish at Broadfields Farm. Thorndon Park Countryside Centre is built from timber blown over in the 1987 storms in the park. More… |
Google Map13 | 6.9 | Photos 13 |
| 14 |
Thames Chase to Davy Down The stage starts at the Thames Chase Forest Centre, the headquarters of the Thames Chase Community Forest. It was built on the site of Broadfields Farm. The route passes through the old village of Cranham, then a nature reserve, Corbets Tey, Belhus Park, and Aveley. For the last two miles we follow the Mardyke Way to finish at Davy Down. Many of the original old farm buildings of Broadfields Farm have been preserved and put to use. The farmhouse is now offices. The 17th Century barn has a cathedral like feeling from the inside. More… |
Google Map14 | 7.9 | Photos 14 |
| 15 | Queen
Elizabeth Bridge to Lullingston Park The route goes south from the QE II bridge point at Stone. A few years ago this was a beautiful place to start from, but thanks to vandals it has now been sealed off by the local council. Maybe there will be some hope again in the future. The route passes through the outskirts of Dartford to join the Darent Valley Path south through the villages of Darenth, Farningham and Eynsford. Soon passing the Roman Villa remains at Lullingstone and the local castle to finish on the bank of the Darent River next to the Visitor’s Centre at Lullingstone Park. More… |
Google Map15 | 9.7 | Photos 15 |
| 16 |
Lullingstone Park to Tatsfield This stage continues south along the Darent Valley Path for almost five miles passing through the villages of Shoreham and Otford. There is one diversion of the Path just before Otford. At Otford the route also joins the North Downs Way, but diverts off the Way to take in Chevening Church and Park. Shortly afterwards following the Pilgrims Way along narrow country lanes, then back onto the North Downs Way, before diverting off-road again to Tatstield. To get to the start of the stage from Lullingstone Visitors Centre follow the path out onto Castle Road. More… |
Google Map16 | 13.2 | Photos 16 |
| 17 |
Tatsfield to Merstham Mainly off road and undulating. Along the Pilgrims’ and North Downs ways. Godstone Vineyard is on the right at 5 miles. At six miles the long climb up the steps brings us past Pilgrim Fort Camp and up to the viewpoint at Gravelly Hill. From here we continue along the North Downs Way, descending steeply to Merstham. The start is from Tatsfield Green with its pond, the inviting Old Ship pub and some old characteristic houses. More… |
Google Map17 | 10.5 | Photos 17 |
| 18 |
Merstham to Boxhill Unlike the previous stage which finishes at The Feathers pub, this one starts across the A23 in Quality Street next to the Cricket Club. The street has many interesting buildings and gets its name from play by J M Barrie, as two of the cast lived at the Old Forge. The leg follows the North Downs Way, cutting through Reigate Hill Golf Course at Gatton Park, past the Royal Alexandra & Albert School, and up on to Reigate Hill. At Buckland Heights we divert from the ND Way to stay on top of the Downs escarpment and finish near the visitor’s centre at Boxhill. More… |
Google Map18 | 8.55 | Photos 18 |
| 19 |
Boxhill to West Hanger The stage starts next to the Boxhill Information Centre and goes steep downhill along Zig Zag Road over the sleeping policemen, there to slow down motorbikes and not runners. On the right at the bottom of Zig Zag Road is Flint Cottage. This was the home of the novelist and poet George Meredith from 1867 until his death in 1909. Of all the people associated with Box Hill, none had a better feel for the place than him. More… |
Google Map19 | 10.4 | Photos 19 |
| 20 |
West Hanger to Ripley The car park at West Hanger is a popular picnic area and place to start a walk from. Silent Pool, Newlands Corner, St Martha's Hill and many other places are close by. The course rolls gently downhill, along narrow lanes, off the Downs, through the picturesque village of East Clandon and past Send Prison to finish at Ripley. More… |
Google Map20 | 5.6 | Photos 20 |
| 21 |
Ripley to Walton Bridge From the start we follow the Wey Navigation Towpath for five miles through Byfleet, New Haw and Addlestone to Weybridge then joins the Dessborough Cut on the Thames to finish at Walton Bridge. After two miles, the arm coming in from the left is the Basingstoke Canal; a footbridge crosses over to join its towpath on its way to Woking. Above our heads, to the right, the huge concrete construction carries the M25 and the rail bridge carries the Waterloo to Portsmouth line. More… |
Google Map21 | 8.4 | Photos 21 |
| 22 |
Walton Bridge to Ham From Walton Bridge we follow the Thames back to Hampton Court. Across the river you can firstly see Sunbury then Hampton. The Magpie Hotel in Sunbury High Street is where the first meeting of the Grand Order of Water Rats took place in 1889. From Hampton Court we continue along the Thames Path and over Kingston Bridge to Kingston-upon-Thames, staying with the Thames Path to finish at the Hawker Centre and just before Teddington Lock. More… |
Google Map22 | 9.15 | Photos 22 |
Green Belt
Relay
