Getting There
Sat Nav: SL8 5PS
Northbound route only
Leave the M40 at Junction 3 and take the 1st exit northbound to take the A4094 signed Bourne End.
At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Boundary Road.
Continue along the A4094 and at the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A4094 (Cores End Road).
Continue forward to enter Bourne End and at the mini roundabout turn right onto the A4155 signed Marlow (The Parade).
Enter Well End and turn left onto Coldmoorholme Lane.
Pass at the brown ‘No through road' sign, and park in the Spade Oak car park, or on the lane if you are not patronising the inn.
Return to M40 Junction 4
It is not possible to rejoin the M40 northbound at Junction 3. To continue travelling north, it is necessary to return via Junction 4.
Turn right out of the car park.
At the T-junction, turn left.
Take the 1st exit at the mini-roundabout.
Continue to a roundabout to take the 3rd exit, signed A4010 Aylesbury/Wickham A404.
This road leads directly back to Junction 4.
Spade Oak Nature reserve and River Thames Stroll
Fortified by an excellent repast at the Spade Oak, we found two walks here.
Walk 1 – Spade Oak Nature reserve (circular walk) 45 minutes
If your dog is a keen and compulsive swimmer, then we strongly suggest that you choose the second walk, as when we came here (May 2007) the water was infected with blue and green algae which can be harmful to dogs.
From the car park, turn right up the lane and then left at the Public Footpath sign. At the metal kissing gate, follow the footpath sign to the right before the gate. Walk with the road a short distance away to the right and a field to the left. Cross the wooden footbridge and turn left at the next public footpath sign to walk away from the lane. The path emerges into a field, where you walk with the hedge and trees on the left.
Continue to follow this path into the next field, and continue on the path until it bears away into woodland to the left. Cross the metal footbridge and follow the yellow permissive path waymarker to the left. This section comes out at the lake, where you turn left to walk with the water on the right.
Shortly after passing a picnic table and lifebuoy on the left, follow a yellow waymarker to cross a footbridge to the left. Cross the field to go through the kissing gate and to return to the Spade Oak car park.
Walk 2 - Thames-side stroll - 35 minutes or longer
Leave the car park and turn left to go downhill to the green public footpath sign. Turn left onto upper Thames Way.
At the white sign, follow the direction of the footpath sign to bear off to the right of the track. Go through a wooden kissing gate, and then cross the railway line with care. Follow the path round to the left as far as the Thames river path.
Turn right here to pass a row of what we could only describe as ‘datchas' on the right. The track then opens out, and the full breadth of the Thames can be seen on the left.
Follow the path to enter Spade Oak Meadow, and then the walk may be continued along the river bank for as long as you choose.
Retrace your steps to return to the Spade Oak car park.
Facilities
At the Spade Oak, where well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the garden seating area. This is a popular gastro-pub, with a sophisticated and up-market clientele. On warm summer weekend mornings, many a labrador and his owner will be starting off the day here with fine coffee and the newspaper. Dog water is provided.