Thames Path - Walton-on-Thames to Richmond

Today was Day 1 of this year's 3-day walk along part of the Thames Path. Following on from last year's 4 days walking West from Walton-on-Thames (see here), this year we started in the same place, but went in the opposite direction. Today we walked from Walton-on-Thames to Richmond (where we were staying).

Organised by Joyce, this is what she said...

"If you joined our 4 day break last March, then you will have already walked 40 miles of the Thames Path- one of 16 National Trails in the UK. The Trails - National Trails. You will remember that we alighted at Walton on Thames train station and over the 4 days made our way over to Shiplake - 40 lovely miles.  On this break I am hoping to add another 28- 34 miles as we have such good walkers ‘in tow’. 

Sunday 26th March  train to Walton on Thames and walk back to Richmond (approx. 13/14 miles). Views include Hampton Court Palace, Kingston Upon Thames. When we get back to Richmond we can hop on a train and head to Mortlake for the Women’s + Men's Oxbridge boat races at 4pm and 5pm if we have the energy! "

This was our route today.

There were 6 of us in all and we set out early this morning after losing an hour to the clocks going forward last night, getting a train at 8:30am from Richmond station. The weather forecast was for the rain to peter out later, but it was rather wet when we set out.

Here are a few of my photos.

We started by heading towards London to Clapham Junction, where we changed lines to a train to Walton-on-Thames.

We walked from the station to the river through the opulent houses and passed some pretty magnolia trees... our flower of the day, I think.

That road was closed last year too. We joined the Thames path at Walton Wharf, just along the path from where we started last year, but this time we were going in the opposite direction. In the 17th Century the amount of river traffic created the need for a wharf at Walton and this remained a place of great activity for hundreds of years. Goods arrived by barge towed by gangs of men or horses.

I was glad of my umbrella which almost succeeded in keeping my camera dry, although you may spot the results of the occasional rain spot on the lens.

The river was rather full and fairly raced over the weir by Sunbury Lock.

The Queen’s Swan Uppers begin their annual journey ‘Royal Swan Upping’ up the Thames here, every July, recording the swan population. 

In the 1700s there was a sort of weir here, made of wood planks and pilings across the river. This was intended to direct the main water stream into, and to scour out, the 'barge road.' There was originally one pound lock, built in 1812 by the Corporation of London, and to this day it retains its wooden operating beams (at the upstream end) to open and close the heavy gates. The chamber sides were made of timber and it was located in an old channel of the river. Records show it was fitted with a pair of centre gates although these were not actually used until 1838. Alongside is the new lock, built as recently as 1925. This has modern boater-friendly push-button facilities to open and close the hydraulically-operated gates. Both locks are still operating and both are in use at busy times such as Regattas.

We had a lot of puddle-dodging to do.

We passed a number of aits in the river today. This one had a bridge to it from the far side of the river.

By the path we came across a lovely blossoming of cheerful forsythia.

At Hurst Park we got a view across the river to St. Mary's Church, Hampton.

Time for coffee. We tried Mis Polly's at East Molesey Cricket Club, but they didn't have room for us inside.

But next door we found that Molesey Boat Club's Eight on the River café did.

They had some tempting treats on offer

Suitably refreshed, it was onward to Hampton Court. We crossed the river at Hampton Court Bridge.

There was a lot of people about, many bespattered with mud and sporting medals. It was the Hampton Court Half Marathon today.

No time to visit the palace, home of Henry VIII, today.

We saw many impressive houses along the riverfront. This glass one caught our eye.

There wasn't much river traffic but we did see the New Southern Belle paddle steamer.

After passing Thames Ditton, we approached Kingston-on-Thames This is St. Raphael's Catholic Church designed by the eminent architect Charles Parker in an Italianate style, with early Christian and Renaissance influences..

Another paddle steamer - the Yarmouth Belle, a traditional English side wheeler originally built in 1892.  

We crossed the  river again via Kingston Bridge. Looking north, we could see the railway bridge.

Joyce pointed out this cut from the river opposite, with its private marina.

Nearing Teddington, we decided it was time for our lunch stop and crossed the river via the footbridge at Teddington Lock to The Anglers.

But it was Sunday lunchtime and tables were reserved for diners. Just next door, though, we found the excellent Tide End Cottage pub. The name derives from the fact that below Teddington Lock, the river is tidal.

Passing the lock...

...we carried on past Ham Lands with great views down the river towards Richmond Hill. The impressive building at the top of the hill is the former Royal Star and Garter home. It was built between 1921 and 1924 to a design by Sir Edwin Cooper, based on a plan produced by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1915, to provide accommodation and nursing facilities for seriously injured servicemen.

The building, which is Grade II listed, was sold in April 2013 for £50 million to a housing developer, London Square, which has restored and converted the building into apartments. 

We passed Ham House...

...and Marble Hill, on the other side of the river.

It wasn't raining any more, but we weren't going to be sitting on seats like this one.

Now we were back in Richmond and the end of our stretch of the Thames Path for today.

Who wanted to go and watch the boat races? Well 2 minutes from the railway station with 2 minutes to get to the train to Mortlake that would just about get us there to see the women's race finish... if we got closes enough to see... and there would be an hour's wait in the cold and damp to see the men... we decided watching on TV would be  abetter option.

As we walked back to our hotel we passed One Kew Road. We would be back here for our evening meal in 3 hours time.

Thank-you Joyce for organising and leading us and to the rest of the group for the company.

You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and more of my photos here on Flickr.