Promenade de Chertsey a Addlestone le long de la Tamise

The Chertsey to Addlestone Walk is a perfect autumnal escape, offering a scenic route along the Thames Path with a festive twist as you near Crockford Bridge Farm. As you journey through the calm scenery of the River Thames, this walk ends at the farm, which hosts its popular Pumpkin Festival and pumpkin-picking events during October. Whether you want to enjoy the Halloween atmosphere or explore the countryside, this walk perfectly balances nature and seasonal activities.

Looking for a Halloween walk, I came across Crockford Bridge Farm in Addlestone, Surrey. I plotted the route and scouted it, and after a few alterations, here is the final version.

Happy walking!

Logistics of Chertsey to Addlestone Walk

Map of Chertsey to Addlestone Walk

Do you want to do this walk? Download the free GPS map below by clicking on the download button. You can upload it onto your preferred navigation app by following my step-by-step guide ici.

Highlights of the Chertsey to Addlestone Walk

Chertsey to Addlestone Thames Path Walk

Maintenant que nous avons couvert les bases, passons à la marche !

Chertsey

We start our walk in Chertsey, one of the oldest market towns in England. Nestled in the Borough of Runnymede, Surrey, the town has a history dating back to the 7th century. Its significance stems from a variety of historical events, landmarks, and local legends that have shaped the town’s identity.

Among the main landmarks, you find the Chertsey Abbey, founded in 666 AD. It was one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in England and played a pivotal role in the town’s development during the medieval period. It was dissolved in 1537 under the orders of Henry VIII, who used its stones for the construction of his palace in Oatland, near Weybridge. Though only fragments of the abbey remain today, it is still regarded as a crucial part of Chertsey’s history, symbolizing the town’s medieval power and influence.

As you approach Chertsey Bridge, an elegant 18th-century stone structure, you’ll spot the memorial statue of Blanche Heriot. The statue depicts a young woman clinging to a bell, commemorating a local legend. According to local folklore, Blanche was a young woman whose lover was sentenced to execution. As the curfew bell rang, signalling the time of his execution, Blanche heroically clung to the clapper of the bell, delaying its tolling long enough for her lover’s pardon to arrive. 

Dumsey Meadow

On the far side of Chertsey Bridge, you’ll find yourself at Dumsey Meadow.

This unspoiled stretch of Surrey’s natural landscape, nestled along the River Thames, experiences annual flooding that enriches the soil with essential nutrients. As a result, it supports a diverse array of wildlife and plant species, earning its status as a Designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Largely untouched by modern development, this pristine habitat preserves a rich variety of flora and attracts important pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a vital hotspot for biodiversity.

Grazing was introduced in Dumsey Meadow as a crucial management practice to preserve its delicate ecological balance. As you walk through the meadow, it’s common to encounter grazing cows and horses. These livestock play an important role in preventing dominant plant species from overrunning the area, which promotes the growth of a wide variety of wildflowers. Additionally, grazing helps to stop the meadow from reverting to scrubland, ensuring it remains an open and thriving natural habitat.

Continue your walk alongside the Chemin de la Tamise until the trail ends at Ferry Point.

The Ferry

Ferry Point is a scenic and historically significant location where the Thames meets the River Wey, just 100 yards from Shepperton Lock. To continue your journey, you’ll need to take a short ferry ride across the River Thames to reach the Weybridge bank. This ferry service has been running for over 500 years, making it an integral part of the Thames Path for walkers and cyclists.

But before, make a stop by the Ferry Coffee Shop, an ideal spot for a break.

Historically, the Shepperton ferry dates back to the 14th century, originally operated by Shepperton Manor. Over the centuries, it has played a key role in the local community, even being mentioned in H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. The ferry continues to be an essential service today, operating every 15 minutes on request.

Thames Lock Stable

Once across the river, you’ll walk through a small island with residential housing. On the far side, you’ll reach Thames Lock, where you’ll discover a wooden cabin. This cabin, originally an old stable, has been transformed into a mini museum dedicated to the River Wey Navigation, offering a glimpse into the waterway’s rich history. Here is a snapshot of what you can learn when visiting it.

Les River Wey Navigation, completed in 1653, is one of England’s oldest artificial waterways. Created by Sir Richard Weston, a visionary landowner, it was designed to improve trade routes, allowing goods like timber, coal, and grain to be efficiently transported between Guildford and Weybridge, where the Wey meets the Thames. This early navigation system paved the way for Britain’s future canal network, making it a critical innovation in the history of water transport.

In its early operation, horse-drawn boats were used to transport goods along the river. Horses would walk along towpaths, pulling heavily laden barges, a method that remained popular until mechanized transport took over. Overnight, the horses would rest in stables like this one.

Beyond its historical significance, the River Wey is a haven for wildlife. Its calm waters and surrounding wetlands provide habitats for a variety of species, including kingfishers, herons and otters.

The Wey Navigation

You now leave the Thames Path and join the Wey Navigation towpath.

Les River Wey stretches for approximately 90 km (56 miles), flowing through Hampshire and Surrey. It begins from two sources: one near Alton in Hampshire and the other near Haslemere in West Sussex, which merge at Tilford in Surrey. From there, the river passes through historic towns like Guildford and Godalming before joining the River Thames at Weybridge.

The Wey Navigation Towpath offers a scenic 20-mile (32-km) route from Weybridge to Guildford, with 12 locks along the way. Nowadays, the navigable section of the river is managed by the National Trust.

You’ll soon arrive in Addlestone, our final stop, but keep reading—there’s a Halloween surprise waiting for you!

Addlestone

The walk ends in Addlestone, home to the ancient Crouch Oak, believed to date back to the 11th century. Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth I once picnicked under its branches.

Upon reaching the lock, you’ll likely be struck by the sound of running water beside the residential building on the riverbank. You’ve arrived at the site of Coxes Mill, originally established in 1776 as an iron mill. However, due to the disruptive noise of ironworking, the Earl of Portmore converted it into a silk and corn mill. While silk production soon declined, the corn milling operation thrived until it ceased in 1982.

The mill was powered by the man-made Coxes Millpond, constructed in the 1770s to regulate water flow to the mill, ensuring a consistent supply while the lock was in use.

Today, Coxes Millpond has become a diverse natural habitat, where you can admire the alders and willows lining the banks, adding to the area’s peaceful charm.

Crockford Bridge Farm

Walk past the Coxes Millpond and arrive at the Crockford Bridge Farm, where the Halloween spirit awaits you. But before we delve into it, let’s get some background about the farm:

• The farm occupies around 80 acres
• It is one of the oldest continually farmed properties in Surrey and is mentioned in the Domesday Book
• The name ‘Crockford’ comes from the discovery of Roman pottery at the bottom of the nearby ford
• The farm has been owned by the Smith Family since the 1970s

The farm hosts a Pumpkin Festival and a Pumpkin Picking event.

The first one has grown over the last 25+ years into an immersive, family-friendly experience. This year’s festival, running offers a unique blend of storytelling, entertainment, and creative pumpkin displays.

There’s also an opportunity to enjoy treats from the Hot Chocolate Shack and food from street vendors, alongside a selection of Italian gelato from a local gelateria. Additionally, a Pumpkin Boutique is open to the public, selling hand-harvested pumpkins and squashes.

As for the latter, visitors can explore the pumpkin fields, choose from a variety of homegrown pumpkins and squashes in different shapes, sizes, and colours, and enjoy photo opportunities with fun displays and quirky installations. During the weekends, visitors can enjoy food from pop-up street vendors like Killa Waffles and The Dough Shack.

Note: both events are ticketed.

Once you visited the farm and made the most of the Halloween activities, make your way to Addlestone Station, which is approximately 20 20-minute walk away.

Happy Halloween!

Final Thoughts on the Chertsey to Addlestone Thames Path Walk

In conclusion, the Chertsey to Addlestone Walk offers more than just scenic views and local history—it’s a great way to get into the Halloween spirit, especially with the festive activities at Crockford Bridge Farm waiting at the finish. Whether you’re there for the fresh air, the pumpkins, or just an excuse to wear your favourite Halloween costume, this walk has something for everyone. Remember, the only thing scarier than the spooky decorations might be realizing you forgot to book your pumpkin-picking tickets in advance!

And you, what is your favourite Halloween walk? Let me know in the comments below.

Cette promenade vous plaît ? Épinglez-la !