Thames Path at Purley
Purley-on-Thames, ReadingAlong the River Thames
Passable
Thames Path at Purley is currently passable.
The river’s 31 cm below the level where parts of this path can start to flood.
Updated Holding steady over the last 4 h
River level at the gauge
-0.01 mASDmeasured
River Thames at Mapledurham Lock · 45 m away
See Environment Agency’s own readings for this gauge
Flood lines for this path: parts can start to flood at 0.30 mASD · usually properly flooded above 0.48 mASD
The river’s running low for this gauge — below its usual range.
This flood line starts from this gauge’s measured history — the level the river only tops a few days a year. Reports of a flooded or passable day will tune it to the path itself.
Through the year
Over the past year the river reached the level where parts of this path can start to flood on about 19 days, mostly in January to February, but didn’t reach the level where it’s usually properly flooded.
At its highest the river stayed 2 cm below the level where the path usually floods properly.
From this gauge’s own record over the year to July 2026, measured against the level we estimate this path floods at. It’s a guide to the season, not a forecast.
About this path
The riverside National Trail between Pangbourne Meadow and Tilehurst, passing Mapledurham Lock on the Purley bank. The village beside it is one of the most flood-prone on the middle Thames — hit badly in 1947, 2003 and 2014 — and the path crosses the same floodplain, going under in major events.
Been down today?
A few seconds of local knowledge keeps this honest for everyone. No account needed.
Pick how it was first.
From people on the ground
No reports yet. If you’ve been down, you’d be the first.
Other paths nearby
The closest paths we track, with today’s status — handy if this one’s flooded.
Flood Path is advisory and not safety-critical — river readings come from public feeds with no guarantee, and conditions can change fast in heavy rain. Use your own judgement on the day.