TP4
Thames Path - Walk 4
MONDAY 17TH JUNE 2019:. My original plan was to start from Richmond, where I left off yesterday, however, I am up early and I decide to back-track a bit to the start of Kew and walk along the North bank, making up for the fact that I cut through the Gardens yesterday…was that cheating? This does add about 5 miles so will make a long trek today, as compensation I will miss out a planned detour to King Henry’s Mound in Richmond Park. That gives a view back to London but I had that from the Kew Pagoda
Having fuelled up with a full English breakfast I take the short Tube ride and find my way back to Kew bridge, but remain on the North side and start my walk in the warm and pleasant weather. The river here is divided by an ‘ait’ (a long, narrow river island) and there is little water and a lot of mud at these tidal conditions on this side. Boats crowd the area, lots of birds saunter around and there is detritus scattered around the mud, but it all makes for an interesting scene
The routing is diverse, often hidden alleys and paths, nooks and crannies, sometimes moving away from the river, sometimes down onto a towpath. It is a bit disorientating but these routes are mostly sign-posted so basically I just do what I am told and it seems to work out - other than around Syon House, where I miss a turn through the estate and end up going around the outside on busy roads. Shame
I cross to the South bank over the footbridge at Richmond Lock, an arty structure with a practical purpose of regulating water levels in the upper Thames. This crossing takes me into a different environment, the more refined area of Richmond waterfront, then a general rural setting which continues for much of the day – a natural path following the river bank, often looking over to residential on the other bank. These are river-front houses, some quite large, many with their own dock and moored boat. Very nice!
Teddington Lock appears, this a point of significance for the Thames as it marks the end of the tidal river, from here the water level is controlled. I stop here for a break and enjoy a loll in the sun, then continue on through to the next feature point at Kingston, where it is necessary to cross the bridge to the North bank
There is more activity around here but this peters out to rural again, before I spy the distinctive features of Hampton Court Palace, made famous by Henry VIII. This is quite a spectacular pad, one I visited many years ago but would like to do again at some future point with my history buff wife. But for today I just take a peak, then cross Hampton Court bridge to yet again change banks
I have walked probably around 15 miles so far and am feeling it now – more so than normal. Perhaps because it is flat the walking motion is repetitive, when you are going up & down hills, maybe you use a variety of leg muscles…or maybe I am talking a load of nonsense!. Either way, from here to Shepperton is about another 8 miles. Yikes
The scene feels very English – rural setting, riverbank, boats, swans & geese, anglers, dog walkers and cyclists and…eventually, a lovely pub (The Weir), where I stop for a drink and snack
At Walton-on-Thames I could cross the bridge to reach Shepperton but I remain on the South bank and go as far as the alternate ferry that offers crossing, however, I do not take this as this is my end point and I leave the river and trek the final mile or so to Weybridge train station for my return journey to Gatwick Airport and then home
It has been a long hike today (23 miles), one on which my body has started to protest and my mind has started to drift given that the walk does become somewhat repetitive. The rural, riverbank setting is wonderful but it does lack a bit of variety after a while. Maybe shorter distance but including a visit into, say, Syon House or Hampton Court Palace, would have given a better balance
But I have had a fantastic 2 days, covering 40 miles or so of the Thames Path, making the journey from London city centre to rural England. I have certainly packed it in. The next leg is a natural day walk from Shepperton to Windsor, probably the last section that can be accommodated from London. This trip was 2 years from the prior walk, so….if, when, who knows??
