How to walk from Staines to Shepperton: Thames Path Day 14

The walk from Staines to Shepperton was a bit shit. Thankfully it was only 6 miles.

What to expect on the walk from Staines to Shepperton

The first part of the walk out of Staines was quite nice. A wide path with river on one side, residential houses on the other. Although, it felt a little like this was just to get you to the beginning, to get you out of town and to the good stuff. Except, the good stuff never came. It just got worse. After this, about 98% of the walk you will be on path or green next to the road.

A narrow dirt trail with railing and road to the left and bushes and trees to the right, along the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

A road leading ahead, lined with strips of grass, with houses and bushes on the left, and the river just visible on the right.

When I did this walk we were still in a heatwave, which didn’t help matters. Walking the best part of 6 miles in extreme heat next to the road.

Looking across the other side of the river was nice. Really, you need to be walking sideways for this one.

A white duck with orange black sitting on the small pier over the river, on the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

Looking across the calm river to the wooden poles in the river and boats and trees, with their reflections, partway through the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

Looking over a bush tot eh river with ripples and barges moored to the other side, and big trees behind them.

Looking over the bushes to the river and small house boat on the other side with bushes and tall trees behind it, on the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

Logistics

Start: Staines-upon-Thames. Surrey.
Finish: Shepperton. Surrey.

Distance: 6.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1h 50min

Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Concrete, asphalt, path, road, a bit of grass
Time of year: I walked from Staines to Shepperton at the end of June

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Public Transport

Staines and Shepperton both have a train station with direct trains to London Waterloo in under an hour. They follow different route though, so you would need to buy two single tickets.

Amenities

Staines will have anything you need including public toilets. In Shepperton there is an artisan village shop and coffee shop by the river which looks nice. At Shepperton Lock there is a riverside refreshment hut. Also the Thames Court Pub just before the end of the river. As you head towards the station there is Sainsbury’s and selection of places to eat/cafes/pub etc.

A wooden refreshment hut on the other side of a neatly cut green, with a row of red flowers. There is a hedge on either side of the hit and big trees behind.

Other things to know

In Shepperton, if you are continuing on the trail, you can catch a ferry boat to take you to the other side of the river. It runs all year, however, it has seasonal timing. April-September it runs from 9am-5:30pm daily. The rest of the time it’s only open on weekends, 9-5 Saturday and 10-5 Sunday. It runs every 15min, but you can ring a bell to let the ferryman know you are there. At the time of writing. A single ticket is £3.30. Check here for up to date details though.

If you are doing this walk as a day trip, my advice would be to not end the walk in Shepperton, but continue on. The next section is much nicer (and about 6 extra miles). It would avoid you having a long road walk to the station.

There is an alternate (signposted) route if you can’t catch the ferry.

Accommodation

In Shepperton, the only thing I could find is the Warren Lodge, which is actually quite reasonably priced compared to all the previous sections of the trail. Not pet friendly. You can have a look here to see if anything else comes up since I looked.

In Staines I wouldn’t bother. I would stay in Windsor instead which is a short train ride away and much nicer and similar prices.

Map for the walk from Staines to Shepperton

Read the previous section here: Windsor to Staines Day 13

Route Description: How to walk from Staines to Shepperton

To get to the river from Staines train station, it’s about 5 or 10 min walk. When you get there, turn left to walk with the river on your right.

Looking across the road to the path through the short brick wall towards the river,. There are hanging flower baskets and a few bushes and trees on the other side of the wall.

Looking over the green bushes to the river with ripples, with boats moored to the other side and hoses behind them, at the start of the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

For quite some time you will be on wide path, with residential houses to the left and across the other side of the river.

A doe path leading straight ahead, with hedges and houses to the left and a strip of grass then river to the right. There is a person cycling on the path ahead.

You will pass by St Peters Church, and the trail will start to become a bit greener to reach a small field, and then gravelly dirt trail.

A big red brick walled church, at the start of the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

A path leading straight ahead on the left, with a green hedge on the left of it, and some bushes then the river to the right.

A large grass field with green and orange singed grass, with a path curving to the left. The field is lined with trees around the edges.

A wide gravel path lined with green leafy bushes and trees.

This was more like it, except….

You will then be on path with houses again. Not bad though. Pretty.

A wide path lined with strips of grass when walking out of Staines towards Shepperton. There are houses on the left and the river on the right, with a big tree and branches hanging into the frame.

Past the lock and maybe ice cream van, it’s road.

An ice cream van nestled under the trees on the side of the wide road.

Looking at a row of terraced houses, with front lawn with flowers in front.

Then a bit of path, then road again. I was starting to sense a pattern.

A wide dirt path lined with a strip of grass and brick wall on the left and bushes on the right, on the walk between Staines and Shepperton.

Looking over the neatly cut grass to the river with houses on the other side, on the walk between Staines and Shepperton. There is a big white boat moored to the other side.

Road, road, more road, and some green

You will then walk across green next to the road.

A large green with trail running through it. There is a road on the left, and trees of varying sizes ahead. There is a person walking on the trail ahead.

Looking across the green to the river with reflections from the trees and boats on the other side, on the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, the trail then runs along a narrow bit squeezed between the bushes and road.

This pattern continues. Green next to road. Narrow trail next to road.

A large green with railing and road on the left, and big trees ahead. There is a metal and wooden bench on the green.

A narrow trail through a strip of grass with railing and road to the left and bushes and trees to the right, along the walk from Staines to Shepperton.

I perked up a bit when I saw a bridge ahead. Something nice to look at.

Looking along the river to an archway bridge crossing it.

A wooden trail sign post with white acorn and yellow arrow pointing right to walk under the bridge. There is a tend with bikes leaning against it just before the bridge.

A meadow

Past the bridge is a meadow. This was more like it. Although, nearing the end of the walk between Staines and Shepperton, it was too little too late.

I saw a plume of smoke in the distance. The vibe for this walk.

Looking across the meadow to a plume of smoke rising up in the distance.

Past the meadow there is a nice bit of trail, taking you through the meadow mooring. But then you will be back on the road. Or a trail running next to it.

A wooden gate leading to a trail lined with bushes and hedges.

A narrow trail through the strip of grass, with railing and road on the left and river to the right.

The end of the walk between Staines and Shepperton

Past the lock you are in Shepperton.

Looking over the metal railing to the lock with white boat inside the lock.

A path leading ahead, with green bank to the right leading to the river. There is a big tree on the green bank next to the path ahead.

Now, there are two ways you can go here. The official route or the alternate route. If you are continuing on the walk, take the official route if you can. It involves catching a ferry. You will see a sign for it when you reach the end.

A wooden thames path sign pointing left and right.

The alternate route follows the road. Take this route if you are ending the walk here and catching the train (or if the boat isn’t running).

To get to the station, when you reach the end, turn left and walk to the end of the road. At the end, you will see a sign pointing left for the station. Ignore that, and instead turn right following the Thames Path sign.

A road leading ahead with pavement on the left and cars parked behind a metal fence. There is a line of cars parked along the right side of the road as well. There is a big blue sign on the left side of the pavement.

A road junction with a small apartment block on the other side. There is a thames path sign pointing right. — Turn right here

The road as it curves to the left with a church on the corner and cars parked below it.

Follow the road as it curves left by the church. When you reach the park, the Thames Path alternate route turns right, through it. To get to the station, continue straight on the road and across the roundabout. Keep going along the road, then at the junction, take a diagonal right. This will lead you to the station.

A sign pointing right for the Thames path with being green leafy trees behind it. — The alternate route. Stay straight on the road if you are walking to Shepperton Station.

Read next: Shepperton to Hampton Court Day 15