Walking the River Mole at Hersham

The River Mole runs along the edge of Hersham, and within a few minutes of the village’s built-up centre the landscape turns to fields and meadow, much of it protected as Metropolitan Green Belt. It is one of Hersham’s genuine advantages over its larger neighbour: a working river valley on the doorstep rather than a short drive away.

The Mole at Hersham

The Mole is a smaller, quieter river than the Thames, and its character beside Hersham reflects that: meadow and farmland rather than a managed towpath, with paths that follow the river’s course rather than a single continuous engineered walkway. This makes it a genuinely different kind of walk to the Thames Path in Walton, less formal and less consistently maintained, but correspondingly quieter and closer to open countryside.

Connecting to the Thames at Walton

The Mole eventually joins the Thames a short distance from Walton, meaning it is possible in principle to walk from Hersham’s riverside meadows through to the Thames towpath and the wider network of riverside walks around Walton Bridge and Cowey Sale, linking the two rivers into a single, longer walking option for anyone prepared for a full day out rather than a short local stroll.

Wildlife

The Mole valley’s mix of meadow, farmland and riverbank supports a genuinely good range of wildlife, and the area’s water birds and waterside plants reward an unhurried pace rather than a fast circuit. Hersham’s ring-necked parakeets are also frequently seen and heard over this stretch of countryside, particularly towards dusk as the colony returns to roost. Nearby, reached from the Field Common area, Molesey Heath Nature Reserve adds a different kind of habitat entirely: a former gravel pit and landfill site naturally colonised by rough grassland and scrub, now home to burrowing bees and wasps and to birds including little ringed plovers and redshanks.

Practical notes

Riverside meadow paths beside the Mole can be muddy underfoot, particularly after rain, and are more exposed to seasonal flooding than the more heavily engineered Thames towpath in Walton; sturdy footwear is a sensible precaution rather than an overcaution. Formal car parking directly on the riverside is limited, and the practical starting point for most walkers is Hersham Green or the village centre itself, from where the meadows are within easy reach on foot. As with any riverside walking, check conditions locally after heavy rain before setting out, particularly if you intend to link through to the Thames towpath at Walton.