Mapledurham Lock. Reading Amateur Regatta is held annually in June between St Mary's Island and Caversham Bridge. Reading Festival is held on August Bank Holiday at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue near Caversham Bridge. A temporary structure called Reading Festival Bridge links the site with parking and camping areas along the north bank open meadows during the festival. In these areas the Chiltern Hills can be seen in the background. On the south bank, after the farmed meadows, is Tilehurst, where the river veers briefly north with the two islands of Appletree Eyot and Poplar Island in the center of the river. The railway runs adjacent to the river for more than 600 meters on a high brick embankment to enable it to cut through the end of the escarpment further upstream, on which most of Purley-on-Thames lies. The Thames Path follows the southern bank. A footpath follows the north bank between Reading and Caversham bridges. There is an orphan section of the original towpath 1 km downstream of Mapledurham Lock, inaccessible except by boat. Sports clubs Reading Rowing Club Reading Canoe Club See also Islands in the River Thames Locks on the River Thames Crossings of the River Thames References External links Thames site Caversham Life, Living and Community Islands of the River Thames Locks of Reading, Berkshire Pedestrian bridges across the River Thames Locks on the River Thames Weirs on the River Thames