Our next club Swim/Walk will be on Sunday 7th September and takes us west along the Thames, exploring a stretch that combines quiet riverside paths, a ferry crossing, a touch of Victorian theatre history, and one of England’s oldest canals. We’ll meet at Waterloo Station at 9:30am in time for the 9.49am train to Chertsey, ready to set off from the historic riverside town by mid-morning.

From Chertsey we follow the Thames Path as it winds its way through meadows and shaded towpaths. Midway, we’ll enjoy one of the day’s highlights, the foot passenger ferry at Shepperton, a short but atmospheric crossing that has been operating here in one form or another for centuries. It’s a gentle reminder of how people once moved up and down the river before bridges became common.

On the far side of the river we’ll pass the island that was once the home of Richard D’Oyly Carte, the Victorian impresario famous for staging the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. His island retreat became a gathering place for actors, singers, and writers of the day. While the house is private, the stop is a chance to picture the bustle of Victorian social life tucked away in this quiet corner of the Thames.

The route then joins the Wey Navigation, offering a change of scene as the wide river gives way to canal-side walking. Here we pass a beautifully preserved lock keeper’s cottage, old red-brick warehouses, and sweeping gardens of very grand houses that line the water’s edge. It’s an easygoing four-hour walk, with time to pause for photos, snacks, and hopefully a swim.

We plan to take the 6:21pm train from Weybridge back to Waterloo, arriving at 8:15pm. All in all, this is a walk that mixes riverside charm, canal heritage, and a little theatrical sparkle, the perfect way to spend a late summer Sunday.

Great day out. Here are some photos: