Terms & Frequently Asked Questions
All participants are requested to take part in a safe way and to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone, so please.
Where can I park?
There is limited parking at Boulters Lock Car Park, which is pay and display, so please share transport where you can. Please note parking is not free on Sunday. There is also parking in the car park of The Shire Horse at food stop 2.
Are there toilets on the route?
Toilet facilities are available at base camp (Boulters Lock Car Park), Bray Church, Ockwells Park, The Shire Horse and the various pubs along the way.
Can we get refreshments on the route?
Water and soft drinks are available at all food stops. Tea and coffee can be had at the finish at Boulters Lock (proceeds to Rotary Charity Fund). There will also be a commercial coffee van based in The Causeway Car Park in Bray, and a charity refreshment stall on Firs Lane (near The Thatched Cottage Pub) being organised by a lovely member of the public who is raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Unit.
What MUST I bring with me on the day?
Can I bring my dog?
Of course you can, its always great to see our four-legged friends out enjoying the walk. Please note if you decide to do half of the route we cannot provide transport for your dog, as volunteers use their own cars for this.
What is the path like?
The path is a mixture of pavements and the Thames path itself so in wet weather it can get a bit muddy, so do take care on your walk.
Is the walk suitable for pushchairs?
Yes it is suitable for pushchairs and we love to have little people enjoying the day too. However the route does follow the Thames Path so at some points it becomes narrow and muddy, so please bear this in mind.
Do I have to raise money for charity?
No you do not have to raise money for charity in order to do the walk, however we do encourage you to use this as a fundraising event for a charity you are passionate about. Or perhaps for Rotary, so that we can continue our work in the local community. Please note even if you are not raising funds for charity you are required to bring a sponsor form with you.
Can I do a shorter walk?
If you don’t fancy doing the 13 mile route then there are shorter options. You can either start at Boulters Lock car park and walk to Food Stop 2 at The Shire Horse (7.5 miles), or you can start at The Shire Horse and walk to Boulters Lock. If you decide to stop at any other point then please inform a volunteer that you are abandoning the walk. We ask that if you do choose to stop early or only do half the walk that you arrange your own transport to return home or back to your car as we cannot guarantee transport.
Can I abandon the walk half way round?
Yes you can choose to stop at any point on the walk, but please ensure you retire on the Zuvolo App. Please click on the “Stop” or “Exit” button and then “Retire”. If you're not using the app you must inform a volunteer so we know you have decided to leave early. If you don't do this we will be out looking for you at the end of the day!
What happens if the river crossing is not operating?
On the rare occasion that we have to stop the river crossing due to bad weather or dangerous river conditions we will inform walkers on the day. You can still do the walk, following the old boundary of Maidenhead, by proceeding along the towpath to the M4 footbridge, you then walk back to Bray via Old Mill Lane. This adds an extra 1.6 miles to the walk.
Can I just turn up on the day?
Yes but please bring a completed registration form with you to speed up registration. When you arrive at Boulters Lock car park go to the New Walker Registration queue.
I want to register a group – how do I do this?
Registering a group is very easy to do, simply click here to complete the online form and to pay the £30 group registration fee.
What happens on the day – how do I to check-in?
If you have registered as an individual online then on the day please arrive at Boulters Lock Car Park between 9am and 10-30am. You will still need to check-in at the “Online Walker Check-in” desk at the start, as we need to keep track of you for safety reasons. If someone wants to join you on the walk and they have not pre-registered they will need to register on the day at the “New Walker Registrations” Desk and pay the entry fee.
If you are a pre-registered group then the above applies to you also, but go to the "Group Registration" queue instead.
What is the role of the group organiser?
As group organiser you are responsible for ensuring all your members have completed a sponsor form and that they have all the details needed to do the walk on the day. You are also responsible for registering your group on the day. Please note we will only register the whole group on arrival and cannot register individuals from your group to avoid confusion.
How many people have to be in the group to qualify for discounted entry?
To qualify for the one off £30 entry fee you need a minimum of 15 people in your group.
Is there a prize for the largest group taking part in the walk?
We do have a prize, in the form of a trophy, for the group that has the most walkers! Can you take on the challenge?
How far do we have to walk to qualify for the prize?
To qualify for the group prize the whole group must walk at least half of the route.
The organisers can accept no responsibility or liability for any loss or injury to property or persons involved in this event however caused.
- Download the Zuvolo App
- Park vehicles appropriately
- Be careful when crossing and walking on our roads
- Check on the weather and take suitable clothing
- Consider hydration and plan your refreshments, rests and toilet breaks
- Protect our environment, take your litter with you and look after your dogs
- Please be neighbourly and keep noise to a minimum
- Tell other people where you are going and at what time, so someone can raise the alarm if you do not return.
- Ensure your phone is fully charged before you go and consider taking a battery charger with you
- Carry emergency contact details with you (think about track and trace)
Where can I park?
There is limited parking at Boulters Lock Car Park, which is pay and display, so please share transport where you can. Please note parking is not free on Sunday. There is also parking in the car park of The Shire Horse at food stop 2.
Are there toilets on the route?
Toilet facilities are available at base camp (Boulters Lock Car Park), Bray Church, Ockwells Park, The Shire Horse and the various pubs along the way.
Can we get refreshments on the route?
Water and soft drinks are available at all food stops. Tea and coffee can be had at the finish at Boulters Lock (proceeds to Rotary Charity Fund). There will also be a commercial coffee van based in The Causeway Car Park in Bray, and a charity refreshment stall on Firs Lane (near The Thatched Cottage Pub) being organised by a lovely member of the public who is raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Unit.
What MUST I bring with me on the day?
- Wear comfortable shoes or boots, carry a lightweight waterproof
- Suitable clothing - warm & wet weather, as well as sun cream as you can never predict the British weather!
- Route Map (click here to download)
- Family Walk Route Map (click here to download the map)
- Water to keep you going!
- Your phone - make sure its fully charged!
Can I bring my dog?
Of course you can, its always great to see our four-legged friends out enjoying the walk. Please note if you decide to do half of the route we cannot provide transport for your dog, as volunteers use their own cars for this.
What is the path like?
The path is a mixture of pavements and the Thames path itself so in wet weather it can get a bit muddy, so do take care on your walk.
Is the walk suitable for pushchairs?
Yes it is suitable for pushchairs and we love to have little people enjoying the day too. However the route does follow the Thames Path so at some points it becomes narrow and muddy, so please bear this in mind.
Do I have to raise money for charity?
No you do not have to raise money for charity in order to do the walk, however we do encourage you to use this as a fundraising event for a charity you are passionate about. Or perhaps for Rotary, so that we can continue our work in the local community. Please note even if you are not raising funds for charity you are required to bring a sponsor form with you.
Can I do a shorter walk?
If you don’t fancy doing the 13 mile route then there are shorter options. You can either start at Boulters Lock car park and walk to Food Stop 2 at The Shire Horse (7.5 miles), or you can start at The Shire Horse and walk to Boulters Lock. If you decide to stop at any other point then please inform a volunteer that you are abandoning the walk. We ask that if you do choose to stop early or only do half the walk that you arrange your own transport to return home or back to your car as we cannot guarantee transport.
Can I abandon the walk half way round?
Yes you can choose to stop at any point on the walk, but please ensure you retire on the Zuvolo App. Please click on the “Stop” or “Exit” button and then “Retire”. If you're not using the app you must inform a volunteer so we know you have decided to leave early. If you don't do this we will be out looking for you at the end of the day!
What happens if the river crossing is not operating?
On the rare occasion that we have to stop the river crossing due to bad weather or dangerous river conditions we will inform walkers on the day. You can still do the walk, following the old boundary of Maidenhead, by proceeding along the towpath to the M4 footbridge, you then walk back to Bray via Old Mill Lane. This adds an extra 1.6 miles to the walk.
Can I just turn up on the day?
Yes but please bring a completed registration form with you to speed up registration. When you arrive at Boulters Lock car park go to the New Walker Registration queue.
I want to register a group – how do I do this?
Registering a group is very easy to do, simply click here to complete the online form and to pay the £30 group registration fee.
What happens on the day – how do I to check-in?
If you have registered as an individual online then on the day please arrive at Boulters Lock Car Park between 9am and 10-30am. You will still need to check-in at the “Online Walker Check-in” desk at the start, as we need to keep track of you for safety reasons. If someone wants to join you on the walk and they have not pre-registered they will need to register on the day at the “New Walker Registrations” Desk and pay the entry fee.
If you are a pre-registered group then the above applies to you also, but go to the "Group Registration" queue instead.
What is the role of the group organiser?
As group organiser you are responsible for ensuring all your members have completed a sponsor form and that they have all the details needed to do the walk on the day. You are also responsible for registering your group on the day. Please note we will only register the whole group on arrival and cannot register individuals from your group to avoid confusion.
How many people have to be in the group to qualify for discounted entry?
To qualify for the one off £30 entry fee you need a minimum of 15 people in your group.
Is there a prize for the largest group taking part in the walk?
We do have a prize, in the form of a trophy, for the group that has the most walkers! Can you take on the challenge?
How far do we have to walk to qualify for the prize?
To qualify for the group prize the whole group must walk at least half of the route.
The organisers can accept no responsibility or liability for any loss or injury to property or persons involved in this event however caused.