The Capital Ring Walk consists of fifteen segments that completely encircle London. The total distance is about 125 km, with each segment consisting of from 7 or 8 km to 15 km or so, easily manageable in two or three hours. The start and finish of the segments coincide with Underground or rail stations. Maps and guides for each segment are available here.

We will organise this as a group, walking every two or three Sundays, weather permitting, with an 11 AM start, and either conclude with a lunch somewhere at the end of the walk, or stop along the way. Perhaps in the warmer months we can plan on a picnic.

We will not walk in the rain, or if there is a strong likelihood of rain or similar foul weather.

Participants are encouraged to make comments and post photographs. If a walk is to be postponed because of bad weather, this will be announced on the blog a few hours before the start.

10 March 2013

Richmond Bridge to Osterly Lock

Daffodils in Richmond

Starting in coffee shop at Richmond train station.

Quaint tower in Richmond.


There were a few snowflakes in the air and it was quite cold as we set off on the twelfth of our segments of the Capital Ring walk around London. There are three more segments to go until we finish. Today we were joined by my brother, Michael Schabas, and my sister-in-law, Veronica Lam.
Start of Thames towpath.
Today’s walk was from Richmond Bridge, at the farthest west point on the circuit. It is the point where we cross the Thames. We did this many months ago at the easternmost point, and our last seven walks have taken us through south London.
The path begins at Richmond rail station. The town itself, which sits beside the river, is lovely and quite chic, with fancy boutiques and beautiful homes. Despite the wintry feel because of the cold weather, the city looks like it is spring, and the daffodils and blossoms are starting to come out.
Over the bridge, to north bank of Thames.
We walked along the towpath beside the Thames for a fair distance, passing under the Twickenham Railway Bridge. To the right is the Old Deer Park, which further on joins Kew Gardens. The Old Deer Park is used used for sport and recreation but was originally a Royal Hunting Park of around 370 acres, created by King James I in 1604.The towpath is on a raised causeway that was built in the river itself in 1766. There are some obelisks which were erected in 1778 to mark the Meridian before it was moved to Greenwich.
Obelisk in Deer Park marks old Meridian.
At Richmond Lock we crossed the river. Very high tides were expected today, and we might have been wading through water had we come here a couple of hours later. The path follows the river and then it leaves the Thames and heads north.
We passed the London Apprentice pub which dates from Tudor times. By tradition City apprentices would be rowed with their senior craftsmen to this famous inn to celebrate the receipt of their indentures, entitling them to full journeymen’s wages.
The London Apprentice.
Then the path continues to Syon Park, which is a huge estate belonging to the Duke of Northumberland. There is what looks to be a gorgeous mansion, but it was closed for visits. There is also a lovely garden centre, and we stopped there for a cup of tea.
At Syon Park there is a plaque commemorating Richard Reynolds, who was the chaplain of Syon Monastery in the 16th century who managed to get his head chopped off by Henry VIII.
Lock on the Grand Union Canal.
Start of the Canal at Brentford Lock.
The path continues to Brentford Lock, which is towards the end of the Grand Union Canal. It turns north and follows the Canal for several miles. At the start, there is a big basin, with new housing. Twenty or thirty years ago, it was lined with warehouses, but only one remains.
We continued along the towpath, passing under the major roads that head west to Heathrow Airport and beyond. The Canal is quite lovely, and there was a lot of wildlife: swans, mallards, geese and so on.
Boston Manor Underground station.
We saw lovely pubs in Richmond and around the river, but Boston Manor, at the end of the walk,  was a bit desolate and the only places to eat around the Underground stations were Chinese takeaways. So we took the Underground to King’s Cross where we had a great lunch in the Parcel Yard, which is a great pub and restaurant atop the train station.
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