We’ve had a five-week break since our last walk, and after a packed schedule of four walks in six weeks, I needed it! But it felt good to start planning again, getting back to the river and reconnecting with the people who join us along the Thames.

The lead-up to this walk felt more stressful than usual. Maybe it was the long break that knocked me out of rhythm, or that it landed in the same week as the announcement for our new Outdoor Coaching book launch. It was also set to be our biggest group yet. Eighteen people had signed up, which dropped to 15 during the week, climbed back up to 18 the day before, and then dropped again to 15 by the time we started. Managing the logistics, communication, coordinating cars for the return trip, and making sure timings worked kept me on my toes, and I’ve never been more thankful for our brilliant crew who help behind the scenes. I really couldn’t do it without them.

These walks are for people navigating change, often in their working lives, and they offer a gentle, supportive way to reflect, reset and take stock. The mix of movement, nature and conversation can have a really positive impact on mental health too, which is why we started the initiative in the first place. On this walk in particular, we had a few people in that space, so I’m really grateful that they got to experience the benefits.

This one was a bit different for me because my husband joined us. He’s supported these walks from behind the scenes since the beginning - taking on childcare, mapping routes on OS Maps, and being my sounding board when I’m stuck on logistics, so it was lovely for him to experience the day first-hand and get to benefit from the conversations and connection the walks offer.

We set off at 5:30am in the dark and didn’t see first light until around 7. Venus and Sirius were still visible in the early sky as we made our way down the various motorways. As we came off the M40 into Maidenhead, we drove through a beautiful stretch of road lined with autumn trees. The golds, ambers and oranges were glowing, giving the light an almost amber tint.

We met up with Ann, Caroline and Jonathan in Maidenhead before driving over to Marlow to start the walk. As people arrived and introduced themselves, it was lovely to see a mix of regulars, new faces, people encouraged by a friend to come along, and one person who’d found us while researching walking the Thames from source to sea.

Once everyone had arrived, we did the usual orientation and check-in. This time’s prompt was:

“It’s been five weeks since our last walk - the longest pause in our journey so far. The clocks have changed, the light’s softer, and nature’s starting to slow down for winter. Today’s walk is a bit of a pause. A deliberate step away from the usual busyness. It’s easy to forget how important it is to take a break, to step back and reset. As we walk, what might this break offer you, or what are you hoping to find in it?”

There were lots of responses beginning with the letter C - connection, curiosity, clarity. There was a shared sense of people arriving ready to connect with each other and disconnect from the day-to-day busyness. There was also a different energy with a group this size, an excitement and keenness to be in it together.

With a larger group, safety and navigation needed more attention, and I was grateful to have the crew on hand to help with that. There were natural pauses to regroup at crossings and junctions, but overall, the energy was great, with lots of connection and conversation throughout.

Marlow looked beautiful, and with Remembrance Sunday that weekend, the town had hand-knitted and crocheted poppies along the park railings. It was a lovely, thoughtful start to the day.

The first half hour was our usual informal chat while people settled in. Then we offered 1:1 coaching to those who’d requested it, while the rest of the group used nature-based coaching cards to spark reflections and deeper conversations.

We were slightly out of sequence for this stretch - finishing the last walk in Sonning and starting this one in Marlow. That’s because the Henley-to-Marlow route had originally been planned for the end of the Outdoor Coaching Conference in June, but had to be postponed due to the heat. It meant meeting the river out of sequence, which always shifts things slightly for me. As the only person who’s done every walk, I might be the only one who feels the river’s rhythm as strongly, but I really notice the difference when we break that order.

We reached Cookham by lunchtime and stopped at a group of benches under the trees overlooking the river. Just as we sat down, several swans took flight along the water, noisily skimming the surface - a lovely bit of lunchtime theatre.

We’d had a few light showers in the morning, which meant jackets on and off again, but the weather was kind overall. We even saw some blue sky and sunshine in the afternoon.

After lunch, we re-joined the river for a five-minute silent stretch of walking. It never fails to surprise me how powerful this part of the day can be. People always seem to tune in more deeply during the silence. And this part of the route was stunning. The trees on the opposite bank were ablaze with autumn colour, and the water was still enough to reflect the low sun perfectly.

I found myself reflecting during that stretch that I’m always drawn to what’s happening on the other side of the river. Maybe it’s because the vantage point is clearer and you get to see the full picture. Or maybe it’s a reminder to stay more present with what’s right in front of me.

Not long after, we spotted a heron standing still in a mossy, waterlogged patch on our side. Just watching. I’m always drawn to herons; there’s something about their solitary nature and quiet patience that pulls me in.

This was also the cleanest walk we’ve had in a while, which surprised me. The last route, through Reading, had been so full of litter we couldn’t pick it all up. This time, the more built-up areas didn’t feel neglected, which was a welcome shift.

We managed to get a group photo under a canopy of trees with the river behind us. It was lovely to see so many people walking together. I was struck again by how this journey is starting to mirror the river, growing in numbers and energy as we make our way to the sea.

We arrived in Maidenhead a little ahead of schedule and did our check-out. The main themes were connection and a sense of generosity. How a group of people, many of whom hadn’t met before, could come together with no fixed agenda other than to share an experience.

I felt proud to have played a part in bringing this group together, to reflect, gain perspective, and share openly with people they might never have crossed paths with otherwise. In today’s world, where so much connection is digital - which absolutely has its place; we couldn’t have run this project without it - there’s still no replacement for being physically present with others.

Expanding your world to include different viewpoints and sharing something real side-by-side creates a depth of connection you don’t get through a screen. And that in itself has huge mental health benefits.

The drive home gave me time to reflect. Bigger groups need more structure. With smaller ones, we’ve let the day unfold more naturally, but as numbers grow and we move into more built-up areas, I think we’ll need clearer waypoints and timings to keep the rhythm. I also felt the pace had picked up, which made it harder to connect with nature and bring in some of the quieter coaching elements I’d usually include.

That said, it was a brilliant group, welcoming, reflective, and open. I suspect bigger numbers will become the norm as we get closer to London, and we’ll flex the format to suit.

As we drove back north, darkness had already settled in. The nights are drawing in fast now. Over Birmingham, the moon was big and bright, two days after the full Beaver Moon. It hung in the sky with thin clouds drifting across its face, softening the glare but not the pull. Another quiet gift from nature. And a bonus of not driving - I wouldn’t have noticed it otherwise.

There’s now another five-week gap until the next walk - Maidenhead to Windsor on 12th December. In between, we’ve got the London book launch on 2nd December, which already has a great group of people attending. I’m looking forward to both.

If you'd like to join us on our Source to Sea journey, you can find the latest schedule and link to book here.