A. It is an easy get in onto the river from outside Wokingham Waterside Centre. Turn right to paddle downstream towards Sonning Lock. This section is known as Dreadnought Reach.

B. As you go downstream to your left is the Caversham Rowing Lakes otherwise known as the Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake.

C. Sonning Lock is a particularly pretty lock. As you enter the lock area the canoe portage is on the right hand side near the lock gates. In the summer months there is the opportunity to buy snacks here. The entry point for paddlecraft (if you are not going through the lock) is just the other side of the lock but do take care carrying your craft through the gates. The portage is signposted well.

D. Once back on the water paddle under Sonning Bridge. This is a brick arch bridge, completed in 1775 to replace an earlier wooden bridge. It is only the width of one car so the traffic is controlled by traffic lights.

E. To the left of the bridge is the Mill Theatre. This Dinner Theatre produces all its own electricity from the old mill stream. To the right is the village of Sonning, with a few good restaurants.

F. As you leave Sonning you are once again out in the countryside with the occasional house on the bank.

G. About 1.5 miles downstream after Sonning you will see a largish turning off to the right and this is the entrance to St Patrick’s Stream - don’t go here, stay on the main river.

H. The river meanders interestingly, and on the hill ahead you can see Shiplake College. Before Shiplake lock is the College Rowing Club.

I. Your route is past the weir and water run-off. Keep on the left side of the river. The portage is just before the gates, on the right side, taking you alongside the campsite, and across the end of the site onto a pontoon.

J. Back on the river, the stream joining from the right is the River Loddon.

K. A long bend to the left, with a railway bridge and boatyards, brings the paddler alongside Wargrave village on the right side, with Wargrave Boat Club on the right before the village. Here, the George and Dragon pub and restaurant allows refuelling and has mooring places.

L. There are some beautiful houses on the run-in to Henley; many very old.

M. Marsh Lock, the next lock and weir, is unusual in that the lock is on the opposite bank to the towpath, so a long wooden bridge joins them right across the river.

N. Approaching Marsh Lock, the paddler needs to move to the right-hand side of a line of wooden posts, as the portage route is in this side channel. You cross the lock gates, and then carry your boat across Monkey Marsh Bridge to the left side of the river.

O. At the end of the bridge, it is 150 yds up Mill Lane to the car park, or take the Thames path, and cross a field.

P. Whilst in Henley, it is worth walking down the tow path to the town to see the sights, wander the shops and sample the cream teas.