Find the Source of the River Thames at Thames Head
It’s surprisingly hard to work out where the source of the Thames is. Is it bubbling Lyd Well? The marker stone in Trewsbury Mead? Or Seven Springs, some 14 miles further upstream?
Lyd Well
Lyd Well bubbles with surprising force,
pumping water through the surrounding fields.
Somehow it’s still easy to miss, hiding in a clump of trees,
behind a dry stone wall and a pool of water during wetter months
This is a seasonal spring so be careful with the timing of your visit. It is magical when bubbling but less impressive when dry.
I have found it flowing in March
but not this August, even though it’s been such a wet summer.
Trewsbury Mead
If you continue along the path from Lyd Well, over the fields,
you will eventually come to a meadow known as Trewsbury Mead
and the Source of the Thames marker.
The Source of the River Thames…
This source is marked with a stone
and a sign post – only 232 miles to the sea!
…Or Is It?
The ultimate source of the Thames is disputed with some saying the source furthest from the mouth of the Thames is Seven Springs in Gloucestershire.
If you take Seven Springs as the source, it adds a further 14 miles to the length of the Thames.
Seven Springs is a compact and easy place to visit for a paddle. It also flows throughout the year.
Old Father Thames
In 1936, a statue of Old Father was placed in Trewsbury Mead to mark the source of the Thames.
Sadly, it was vandalised and moved again to St John’s Lock, where it can still be found today.
The Paths…and Stairs!
The paths leading to the source of the Thames are easy to walk on but are not surfaced and can be a little uneven
There is a steep flight of stairs that you have to go up to cross the A433 crossing.
I have taken a double buggy up these stairs but would not do it again.
The stairs are very steep and lead straight on to the A433, which runs along the top.
This isn’t a very busy road but it is fast – the cars fly past – and it’s not somewhere you would want children to stand around while you fiddle with a buggy.
Further Information
Nearest Town: Kemble or Coates, near Cirencester
County: Oxfordshire
Nearest Postcode: GL7 6BS or GL7 6NZ
Opens: Daily
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, eat at the Thames Head Inn (GL7 6NZ) or The Tavern Inn (GL7 6AX).
Facilities: None.
How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: I wouldn’t take a buggy because of the steep flight of stairs next to the fast road.
Parking: Lay-by on the A429 – as you leave Kemble heading towards Cirencester, look out for a lay-by on the left and right of the road on a bridge over the river (GL7 6BS takes you roughly there). Alternatively, have a meal at the Thames Head Inn and then walk from there.
Cost of Parking: Free
Information Written: March 2017 and August 2023
Ratings
Our visit to the source of the River Thames at Thames Head or Trewsbury Mead between Kemble and Coates, near Cirencester, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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