Cookham - Riverside, Moor & Church

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Cookham Riverside, Moor and Church, with Explorers helping Bet Clumsy recover Holly Wood's priceless diamond and sapphire ring after it was dropped near the river.

The quest covers approximately 2 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll start at Cookham Moor, investigate the High Street, continue through the churchyard, follow the route towards The Ferry and the riverside path, then loop back towards The Crown and the car park.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route mainly follows pavements, but there are steps or a ramp onto a path at one point, no pavement along much of School Lane, and no pavements along Odney Lane or Ferry Lane.

Take extra care around moving vehicles in the car park and when crossing roads. One road can be very busy with a bend close by, and traffic can also be busy on Odney Lane, where there are bends in the road and no pavements. Two riverside clues will be inaccessible during flooding.

Getting There

By car: Begin at the National Trust car park at Cookham Moor, between The Crown (SL6 9SB) and the White Oak (SL6 9QE). The recommended parking is the National Trust car park at Cookham Moor (SL6 9QE). If you are not a National Trust member, the car park is currently cash (coins) only.

By public transport: Make your way to the National Trust car park at Cookham Moor, between The Crown and the White Oak, to begin the quest. The circular route returns to the same area at the end.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are available at the Sutton Road Car Park near Clue 5, making this a useful comfort stop early in the adventure.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join the treasure hunt. 🐾

The route includes pavements, road crossings, stretches without pavements along School Lane, Odney Lane and Ferry Lane, and riverside paths. Keep canine companions close around traffic, bends in the road and the river, and remember that two riverside clues will be inaccessible during flooding.

Food & Drink Stops

Treasure-hunting near the Thames is hungry work. There are plenty of places to grab a bite along the High Street, and The Ferry pub overlooks the river between Clues 9 and 10.

If the weather is fine, Cookham Moor or the riverside after Clue 10 are good picnic spots. Once the ring-hunt is wrapped up, you may also wish to enjoy a celebratory drink at The Crown at the end.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Sir Stanley Spencer Art Gallery

Between Clues 05 and 06, the Sir Stanley Spencer Art Gallery is well worth a visit. It is open daily, has over 100 works and hosts exhibitions, making it a strong extra stop for Explorers who enjoy a splash of art with their treasure quest.

Cookham Churchyard

The Trail goes into Cookham churchyard, where you can see Sir Stanley Spencer's gravestone. The route also passes the church itself and its unusual clock feature, so allow a little extra time if your crew likes historic details.

Cookham High Street

The quest spends plenty of time on Cookham High Street, with places to eat, the war memorial, the Stanley Spencer Gallery and several buildings and plaques connected with the village's history. Once the clues are cracked, it is worth slowing down and enjoying the village without having to inspect every clue-shaped possibility.

Cookham Moor and the River Thames Riverside Path

The adventure starts on Cookham Moor and later follows riverside paths, giving Explorers a greener and more scenic side to the hunt. The river section can flood, but in fair conditions it is a lovely place to linger, picnic after Clue 10 and look out for the Thames connections mentioned along the route, including Swan Upping.