High Wood, Ashley Hill and River Thames Loop

This easy-going loop of about 17 km / 10.6 miles with roughly 200 m / 656 ft of ascent makes a varied countryside circuit from Hurley, combining riverside walking on the Thames Path with woodland tracks, open farmland, and a steady climb onto Ashley Hill. The route is best thought of as a long easy walk rather than a short stroll: gradients are generally gentle, but the distance means you will want comfortable footwear, water, and enough time to enjoy the views rather than rush them. The usual start point is Hurley Village Car Park, opposite St Mary the Virgin Church, Hurley, Maidenhead SL6 5NB. Several published versions of this circuit begin and end there, and the route commonly heads first toward Hurley Lock and the River Thames before looping south through High Wood and around Ashley Hill. (richardgower.com)

Getting to the start is straightforward by car, with Hurley lying between Maidenhead, Marlow, and Henley-on-Thames. Parking is typically used in Hurley village near the church and close to the High Street. By public transport, the most practical approach is usually to travel by rail to Maidenhead or Marlow and continue by local taxi, as Hurley itself does not have a mainline station. If planning without a car, it is worth checking current bus and rail connections in advance and then plotting the final approach in HiiKER. (richardgower.com)

The opening section is usually the gentlest part of the day. From Hurley, the route moves toward the Thames and picks up the riverside path near Hurley Lock, following the river westward for around 2 km / 1.2 miles. This stretch is flat, easy to follow, and often one of the most attractive parts of the walk, with broad water views, moored boats, waterside houses, and meadows edging the river. Across the Thames, walkers may catch sight of landmarks such as Danesfield House and Medmenham Abbey on the Buckinghamshire side, depending on the exact line taken and visibility. The riverside can be muddy after rain and occasionally busy with other walkers, anglers, and boat traffic in warmer months. (richardgower.com)

Climbing away from the Thames

Near Frogmill Farm, the route leaves the river and turns south toward the Henley Road, beginning the main climb of the day. This is where the walk changes character: the broad, level Thames-side path gives way to field-edge tracks, lanes, and woodland paths. The ascent is not severe, but it is the section where most of the 200 m / 656 ft of elevation gain is collected. Expect a gradual pull uphill rather than a single sharp climb, with short steeper moments depending on ground conditions and the exact variant followed. (walkingbritain.co.uk)

High Wood is one of the route’s key landscape features. As you approach and pass through it, there are openings that give fine views back across the Thames Valley, with Hurley below and the Chilterns beyond. This is a good place to pause, especially in clearer weather, because the contrast between wooded ridge, open farmland, and river plain becomes very obvious here. In spring and early summer, the woodland margins and hedgerows can be especially lively, while autumn brings stronger colour through the trees and often softer light over the valley. (ramblers.org.uk)

Ashley Hill forms the high point of the outing and gives the walk its most upland feel, even though this is still very much lowland Berkshire countryside. The paths around the hill and its woods are generally pleasant and quiet, with a mix of bridleways, woodland tracks, and field crossings. Some route descriptions note far-reaching views to the south and across the surrounding countryside, while others emphasize the panorama back toward Hurley and the Thames Valley on the descent. After wet weather, expect some sections here to be soft underfoot, especially where horses use the bridleways. (ramblers.org.uk)

Landmarks, landscape, and what to look out for

One of the appealing things about this loop is how many different landscape types it packs into a moderate distance. The Thames section offers classic lowland river scenery, while the middle of the route moves through agricultural land and mixed woodland. Around Ashley Hill and High Wood, look for mature trees, hedgerows, and open viewpoints rather than dramatic crags or exposed moorland. This is a walk of subtle scenery: shifting views, old lanes, and the sense of moving between river plain and wooded heights. (walkingbritain.co.uk)

Wildlife is typical of the Thames Valley and Berkshire farmland-woodland edge. Along the river, expect waterfowl such as swans, ducks, geese, and possibly herons or