The Thames Path is the gentlest of National Trails with very few natural slopes. Many places along it can be accessed by people with limited mobility such as users of wheelchairs or mobility scooters, parents with pushchairs or those using a walking stick.
For details about 12 short easy routes on the Thames Path, visit our Walks for All page
In recent years most of the stiles along the Trail have been replaced with gates. However there are still structures which will be barriers for many people with reduced mobility.
Select the area of the Thames Path you are interested in visiting from the right hand menu - we currently have information for the 54-mile/86km stretch from the start to Oxford but will provide details of areas downstream soon. Here you'll find information about structures so you can decide which sections of the Trail you can visit.
Please note we are not able to provide information about the condition of path surfaces, gradients or cross-slopes - these can change easily and are difficult to measure. Therefore be aware that although there may be no structure to prevent your access you may find the path surface difficult in places.
Please let us know how accurate and helpful this information is by contacting us by email
Below are examples of the types of structures that might prevent your access:
Footbridges: We give information where these are narrower than 1m and/or have steps or ramps steeper than 1:10 to raise them above the flood plain.
Small kissing gates: Too small to access for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs.
Medium kissing gates: Accessible to people using wheelchairs or pushchairs, but not to those using mobility scooters.
Large kissing gates: Accessible to people using wheelchairs or pushchairs and to those using mobility scooters with a RADAR key. Same dimensions as medium kissing gate but with gate opening with RADAR key.
Bristol field gate: This has a small gate incorporated into the wide gate with a step of about 150mm
Stiles: These include steps - there are very few stiles left on the Thames Path