Every footpath has its secrets, but the Thames Path is especially rich in the small, surprising stories that rarely make it into guidebooks. Behind its peaceful towpaths and postcard‑worthy views lies a jumble of eccentric characters, vanished ferries, rebellious wildlife, floating mishaps, and engineering oddities that have quietly shaped the route we walk today. Today we have part 3 of our collection of tales that celebrate those wonderfully unexpected moments—tiny fragments of history that bring the river to life and remind us that even the most familiar paths hold stories waiting to be rediscovered.
A Footpath Made of Old Doors
After extreme flooding in the early 2000s, a badly waterlogged section near Cholsey Marsh was made passable using whatever the community could find — which turned out to be several discarded panelled wooden doors. For a few weeks the official Thames Path briefly resembled a peculiar hallway snaking through the reeds.
The Bull Who Became a Celebrity
Near Ashton Keynes, a notably relaxed Hereford bull became an unofficial mascot for walkers. Dubbed Sir Mooington by local families, he would calmly ignore all humans but had a habit of blocking the stile. Walkers would simply wait until he lazily shifted, usually after being verbally encouraged like a stubborn dog. The National Trails team still gets the occasional nostalgic enquiry: “Is the friendly bull still there?”
The Swans Who Staged a Sit-In
A pair of notoriously territorial swans at Sonning once spent a whole week refusing to yield a narrow section of path. Walkers were forced to form small cooperative groups, inching past in single file while the swans glared regally.
Rowers: 0. Swans: undefeated.
The Postbox on a Pole
At a tiny riverside hamlet near Lechlade, the local postbox was once mounted exceptionally high on a pole. The reason? Seasonal flooding kept sweeping away the normal-height ones. Walkers often mistook it for an art installation or a joke… until they saw the waterline marks.
