Stage 1 of 12 · Thames Path
Thames Head → Kempsford
Walking time measured on the mapped line (TrailSplits time model, moving time; within 22 % on four in five test legs). Outside Switzerland our walking times often run short of the times route operators publish; treat them as optimistic. Climb measured on the mapped line, on terrain heights.
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Route briefing
What comes next
Water, huts and access in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Thames Head
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-08-26
About 0 min in
27.8 km remaining
+28 m remaining
Access
1.2 km
Thameshead
Bus stop
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 18 min in
26.6 km remaining
+28 m remaining
Water
11.6 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 2h 58m in
16.2 km remaining
+14 m remaining
Water
12.7 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 3h 15m in
15.1 km remaining
+14 m remaining
Shelter
13.1 km
Shelter
Shelter
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 3h 21m in
14.7 km remaining
+14 m remaining
Water
16.7 km
Drinking Water
Water
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-08-26
About 4h 16m in
11.1 km remaining
+10 m remaining
Finish
27.8 km
Kempsford
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-08-26
About 7h 06m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Getting Here
Thameshead (bus stop)
1397m from trailhead · ~17 min walk
Getting Out
Kempsford School (bus stop)
45m from trail end · ~1 min walk
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thames Head → km 9.3 (91m) 89–110m | 9.3 km | +24m / -44m | 2h 23m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
km 9.3 (91m) → km 18.5 (80m) 80–95m | 9.3 km | +17m / -28m | 2h 21m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
km 18.5 (80m) → Kempsford 75–82m | 9.2 km | +16m / -19m | 2h 20m | 🏃 Highly Runnable |
| Total | 27.8 km | +28m / -55m | 7h 06m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Surface
Surface mapped for the full route in OpenStreetMap.
Surfaces measured on the stage's mapped line from OpenStreetMap tags.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Thames Path Stage 1: Thames Head → Kempsford is usually best from March to November.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for on the trail (94 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this stage, around 74–113 m. Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Mixed | Mixed | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed |
| Day / night | 7°/2° | 8°/2° | 10°/3° | 14°/5° | 17°/8° | 20°/10° | 22°/12° | 21°/12° | 19°/10° | 14°/7° | 11°/4° | 8°/2° |
| Rain, mm | 69 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 54 | 63 | 62 | 70 | 63 | 81 | 83 | 84 |
| Snow at high point | Frost | Frost | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Daylight | 8 h 17 | 9 h 56 | 11 h 46 | 13 h 49 | 15 h 35 | 16 h 38 | 16 h 15 | 14 h 42 | 12 h 45 | 10 h 47 | 8 h 54 | 7 h 51 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 27.8 km, 28m ascent, max altitude 112.9m, ~7h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestEstimated 2.8L; verify refill availability
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 1979 kcal burn
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🧴 SunscreenBasic sun protection
- 🧥 Light rain jacketWeather changes fast in the mountains
- 🔦 Headlamp7h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
Logistics
This route runs from Thames Head to Kempsford (27.8 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
🚏 Transit stops along this stage
- 🚌 Quakers Row 1.1 km off trail
- 🚌 Poole Keynes Turn km 3.9 · 632m off trail
- 🚌 Croft House km 8.1 · 183m off trail
- 🚌 Kent End km 11.5 · 1.1 km off trail
- 🚌 Windrush Lakes km 16.7 · 1.2 km off trail
- 🚌 Turning Circle km 19.8 · 541m off trail
- 🚌 Water Eaton km 22.7 · 779m off trail
- 🚌 Cross Tree km 27.8 · 261m off trail
🛖 Shelters
- Shelter km 13.1 · 1.9 km off trail
💧 Water Sources
- Drinking Water km 11.6 · 1.3 km off trail
- Drinking Water km 12.7 · 1.1 km off trail
- Drinking Water km 16.7 · 1.1 km off trail
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