The Source of the Thames

My parents came for a visit this week and one day we decided to have an adventure and look for the source of the Thames. It turns out it is in a field called Trewsbury Meed just on the northern outskirts of the village Kemble not far from Cirencester in Gloucestershire.  The source is a spring called Thameshead and most of the time the spring is dry.  Water bubbles up from the ground only after a heavy rain. When we were there was no water to found – just a stone marker, and old Ash tree, and rocks and flowers that mark where that spring is. 

The easiest way to find the spot is to head to Kemble and look for the Thames Head Inn on 

Tetbury Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6NZ

Just inside the pub is a map that tells you where to walk to find the marker.  From here it is less than a mile walk to the source.

We started out about 500 yards further down the road at this marker

 then followed the walking trail through these fields. We headed toward the old farmhouse under the trees at the edge of the field.

 The path is not very well marked and the field is a bit muddy but you can see the tree and the marker from quite a distance.

 The words on the stone marker state:  "The conservation of the River Thames 1857-1974.

This stone was placed here to mark the source of the River Thames."

 This is the spot that starts the 184 mile Thames Path the the Thames Barrier in London. And these are my wonderful parents who taught me to love adventures, exploring, and walking. 

It was fun to find the unassuming and underwhelming source of the great Father Thames.  

Someday I would love to walk the whole path -- from Trewsbury Meed to the Thames Barrier in London.