Capital Ring Stage 1
At the start in Woolwich
Woolwich to Grove Park
There was a good turn out for this 1st stage of the 72 mile Capital Ring Path.
Arriving in Woolwich we set out along the Thames passing the Royal Arsenal and former Dockyards set up by King Henry VIII. We had fine views of the Thames Flood Barrier and Millennium Dome.
There was a good turn out for this 1st stage of the 72 mile Capital Ring Path.
Arriving in Woolwich we set out along the Thames passing the Royal Arsenal and former Dockyards set up by King Henry VIII. We had fine views of the Thames Flood Barrier and Millennium Dome.
Explaining the route on the South Bank
Turning our backs on the river we walked through a mix of city streets and green spaces. An early park boasted a small farm where sheepgrazed. At Charlton Park the local youths were out playing football. Charlton House sat proudly here, a Jacobean manor house, now a community Centre. After Woolwich Common and South of Shooters Hill we came to a series of ancient woodlands. Oxleas Wood was a delight. As well as flora and fauna it held Greater London's highest point where Severndroog Castle, a folly, was erected in 1784 by Lady James of Eltham in memory of her beloved husband, William, who once attacked a pirate stronghold
in the island fortress of Severndroog, off the West coast of India.
in the island fortress of Severndroog, off the West coast of India.
London skyline panorama
Julian and the big gun
Directly below this we found the perfect lunch spot – a terrace with benches for all and amazing views over to the North Downs. Jack Wood and Castle Wood featured some formal parkland.
Heading on past Royal Blackheath in a south-west direction we came to Eltham Palace, one of England's foremost medieval royal residences and a venue for Parliament for some 200 years from the reign of Edward II. All that remains of this period is the 15th century bridge across the moat and the Great Hall. In the 1930s it was rebuilt by the Courtauld family with an Art Deco style interior.
We continued from here along King John's Walk where we enjoyed fine views of City landmarks including Canary Wharf, the London Eye, the Millennium Dome, St Pauls and Crystal Palace. A few more green spaces and streets to pass along and we found ourselves at Grove Park having enjoyed a memorable day out. Jenny
Heading on past Royal Blackheath in a south-west direction we came to Eltham Palace, one of England's foremost medieval royal residences and a venue for Parliament for some 200 years from the reign of Edward II. All that remains of this period is the 15th century bridge across the moat and the Great Hall. In the 1930s it was rebuilt by the Courtauld family with an Art Deco style interior.
We continued from here along King John's Walk where we enjoyed fine views of City landmarks including Canary Wharf, the London Eye, the Millennium Dome, St Pauls and Crystal Palace. A few more green spaces and streets to pass along and we found ourselves at Grove Park having enjoyed a memorable day out. Jenny
Signboard at Beckenham Place Park
Grove Park to Crystal Palace
Eleven resilient ramblers set off from St Albans railway station on a bright sunny morning retracing our journey to Grove Park. Our route was varied, ranging from suburban streets and sports fields to large areas of parkland where we saw parakeets in the wild, presumably having escaped from domestic captivity.
We arrived at Beckenham Place Park in time for lunch and had a fine view of Beckenham House which is now part of a large golf course. We continued through Cator Park and headed towards Crystal Palace Park, a 200-acre park named after the large glass and iron structure that was built in 1851 for the Great Exhibition. It was apparently three times the length of St Paul's Cathedral. It was moved here from Hyde Park in 1854, and destroyed by fire in 1936.
Eleven resilient ramblers set off from St Albans railway station on a bright sunny morning retracing our journey to Grove Park. Our route was varied, ranging from suburban streets and sports fields to large areas of parkland where we saw parakeets in the wild, presumably having escaped from domestic captivity.
We arrived at Beckenham Place Park in time for lunch and had a fine view of Beckenham House which is now part of a large golf course. We continued through Cator Park and headed towards Crystal Palace Park, a 200-acre park named after the large glass and iron structure that was built in 1851 for the Great Exhibition. It was apparently three times the length of St Paul's Cathedral. It was moved here from Hyde Park in 1854, and destroyed by fire in 1936.
Meeting the dinosaurs
We wandered through part of the park and found the dinosaurs which were designed by two scientists from the Natural History Museum and took two years to complete. These sculptures were very impressive and must have been an amazing sight for Victorians visiting on a Sunday outing.
We negotiated our way back on the train to St Pancras station and returned to St Albans following a very interesting and memorable weekend thanks to all the hard work and organisation put in by Liz and Malcolm. Alison
We negotiated our way back on the train to St Pancras station and returned to St Albans following a very interesting and memorable weekend thanks to all the hard work and organisation put in by Liz and Malcolm. Alison
Capital Ring Stage 2
Liz and Malcolm straddle the Greenwich Meridian
Highgate to Hackney Wick
This was to have been the first walk in January when weather prevented it taking place. Saturday was clear although a bit overcast and with no snow forecast the group set off from St. Albans. For me, as the leader, this was a personal adventure having lived in the area where we were walking. From Highgate the route followed an abandoned railway track to Finsbury Park where I played as a young boy. I did not know of the existence of this railway so that was new to me. In the park the boating lake was the same, but the toilets were a great improvement. Crossing Green Lanes I could look north into Harringay where I grew up.
The walk continued along the New River passing the old reservoirs now used as a sailing lake. The area used to be the water works for North London and the pumping station is a climbing centre with outside abseiling but we did not take part Clissold Park was the short lunch stop and we watched roe deer before continuing to Abney Park Cemetery where William Booth of Salvation Army fame is buried.
In Stoke Newington we saw members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in their Sabbath clothes. It was possible to give an explanation to the members for the clothing and their way of life in general. We moved on to Springfield Park for a well-deserved cup of tea, finishing via Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes to Hackney Wick.
The walk should have ended there but transport problems on Sunday meant that we walked further to the Dockland Light Railway Station. As well as a potentially shorter Sunday walk we also enjoyed excellent views of the Olympic Stadiums. Michael
Hackney to Woolwich
The general consensus was that day 2 of this section was not as green and varied as day 1. It could perhaps be characterised by the word 'sewerage,' not, fortunately in the odorous sense, but in the first few miles when we walked along the 'Greenway', a flat, straight path over the main sewerage outlet from East London into the Thames. We were rewarded on arrival at the Thames by the interesting sight of the outlet, alongside the flood barriers and storm drains, which one of our party, sadly unable to stop working even on a Sunday, delighted in taking measurements for a work project I prefer not to think about.
But don't let me put you off. The sun shone, Beckton Park wanders on for miles, the University of East London is an architectural gem, and the Olympic rowing Albert dock, and London City airport made impressive backdrops to the latter part of the walk.
Transport plans worked a treat again, thanks to Malcolm, and only nearly came adrift when the DLR train driver ousted Julian from the driving seat and went into manual mode, and the train refused to budge. Finally, we managed to avoid a 'domestic' by persuading Liz that waiting for the Woolwich ferry (which her grandma used to take her on for a treat) would be just a bit slower than walking under the Thames through the old Woolwich foot tunnel.
Hope you can join us next time. London is amazing! Tina
This was to have been the first walk in January when weather prevented it taking place. Saturday was clear although a bit overcast and with no snow forecast the group set off from St. Albans. For me, as the leader, this was a personal adventure having lived in the area where we were walking. From Highgate the route followed an abandoned railway track to Finsbury Park where I played as a young boy. I did not know of the existence of this railway so that was new to me. In the park the boating lake was the same, but the toilets were a great improvement. Crossing Green Lanes I could look north into Harringay where I grew up.
The walk continued along the New River passing the old reservoirs now used as a sailing lake. The area used to be the water works for North London and the pumping station is a climbing centre with outside abseiling but we did not take part Clissold Park was the short lunch stop and we watched roe deer before continuing to Abney Park Cemetery where William Booth of Salvation Army fame is buried.
In Stoke Newington we saw members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in their Sabbath clothes. It was possible to give an explanation to the members for the clothing and their way of life in general. We moved on to Springfield Park for a well-deserved cup of tea, finishing via Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes to Hackney Wick.
The walk should have ended there but transport problems on Sunday meant that we walked further to the Dockland Light Railway Station. As well as a potentially shorter Sunday walk we also enjoyed excellent views of the Olympic Stadiums. Michael
Hackney to Woolwich
The general consensus was that day 2 of this section was not as green and varied as day 1. It could perhaps be characterised by the word 'sewerage,' not, fortunately in the odorous sense, but in the first few miles when we walked along the 'Greenway', a flat, straight path over the main sewerage outlet from East London into the Thames. We were rewarded on arrival at the Thames by the interesting sight of the outlet, alongside the flood barriers and storm drains, which one of our party, sadly unable to stop working even on a Sunday, delighted in taking measurements for a work project I prefer not to think about.
But don't let me put you off. The sun shone, Beckton Park wanders on for miles, the University of East London is an architectural gem, and the Olympic rowing Albert dock, and London City airport made impressive backdrops to the latter part of the walk.
Transport plans worked a treat again, thanks to Malcolm, and only nearly came adrift when the DLR train driver ousted Julian from the driving seat and went into manual mode, and the train refused to budge. Finally, we managed to avoid a 'domestic' by persuading Liz that waiting for the Woolwich ferry (which her grandma used to take her on for a treat) would be just a bit slower than walking under the Thames through the old Woolwich foot tunnel.
Hope you can join us next time. London is amazing! Tina
The Olympic Village 2010: what will it look like in 2012?
Capital Ring Stage 3
The viewing platform on Wandsworth Common
Crystal Palace to Wimbledon Park
Seven of us met on Saturday 9th October for the 5th leg of the Capital Ring. Sadly, we were without Liz & Malcolm, due to illness, and Tina was upgraded into transport guru for the weekend and (phew) it all worked out OK. The weather, although not as beautiful as promised, stayed warm and cloudy, and we journeyed through urban parks with parakeets, a mixture of mostly grand private houses, posh Wandsworth, simply giving the prison a miss.
Entertainment was provided on the tube by Julia's version of how not to unzip your trouser leg and Mike managed not to get us lost. (Let's face it, it is so well sign-posted you didn't even need a map.)
Seven of us met on Saturday 9th October for the 5th leg of the Capital Ring. Sadly, we were without Liz & Malcolm, due to illness, and Tina was upgraded into transport guru for the weekend and (phew) it all worked out OK. The weather, although not as beautiful as promised, stayed warm and cloudy, and we journeyed through urban parks with parakeets, a mixture of mostly grand private houses, posh Wandsworth, simply giving the prison a miss.
Entertainment was provided on the tube by Julia's version of how not to unzip your trouser leg and Mike managed not to get us lost. (Let's face it, it is so well sign-posted you didn't even need a map.)
Winbledon to Osterley Lock
The Windmill Museum on Wimbledon Common
We managed to lose two by Sunday 10th and we can only shout loud and clear YOU ALL MISSED A SUPERB DAY! If you can only manage one, do this one.
We started off in Wimbledon Park of tennis queuing fame, past the mega-bucks houses surrounding the Lawn Tennis Club, and on to Wimbledon Common, a vast wooded play area for the 'yummy mummies' of Wimbledon, who were out in force. Where were you at 10.10 am on the 10th of the 10th?
Stopping only to spot the fungus, admire the endless games of footie, the Windmill museum, and the local café, we ambled through the park, crossed the A3 by the traffic light crossing for horses (press buttons at suitable height for the riders), and into Richmond Park. Another mega gem of the urban outdoors, the biggest urban park in Europe: dogs and deer, and a cloudless blue sky to eat our lunch on Henry's Mound, overlooking wooded West London.
We started off in Wimbledon Park of tennis queuing fame, past the mega-bucks houses surrounding the Lawn Tennis Club, and on to Wimbledon Common, a vast wooded play area for the 'yummy mummies' of Wimbledon, who were out in force. Where were you at 10.10 am on the 10th of the 10th?
Stopping only to spot the fungus, admire the endless games of footie, the Windmill museum, and the local café, we ambled through the park, crossed the A3 by the traffic light crossing for horses (press buttons at suitable height for the riders), and into Richmond Park. Another mega gem of the urban outdoors, the biggest urban park in Europe: dogs and deer, and a cloudless blue sky to eat our lunch on Henry's Mound, overlooking wooded West London.
Journey's end at Osterley Lock
Down onto the Thames river bank at Richmond, crowded with Sunday afternoon strollers, and on up the canal bank into Syon Park and more tea to revive us to reach our goal of Osterly Lock. London is amazing! Tina
Capital Ring Stage 4
Liz leads the way from Osterley
Osterley Lock to Kenton
Twelve enthusiasts enjoyed this penultimate 12-mile section, mercifully devoid of snow and one of the mildest of recent days. The first part was along the River Brent, past historic transport infrastructure including the six Hanwell locks on the Grand Union Canal and Brunel's Wharncliffe railway viaduct.
The lunch stop at Horsenden Hill with picnic tables (and commend-able toilets) provided a welcome break before we climbed the hill itself. Both this and the subsequent, famous Harrow on the Hill, afforded us excellent views all round, to the city and across to the North Downs.
We added extra distance to this day, ending at Preston Road Station, as it considerably reduced our travelling time on both days.
Twelve enthusiasts enjoyed this penultimate 12-mile section, mercifully devoid of snow and one of the mildest of recent days. The first part was along the River Brent, past historic transport infrastructure including the six Hanwell locks on the Grand Union Canal and Brunel's Wharncliffe railway viaduct.
The lunch stop at Horsenden Hill with picnic tables (and commend-able toilets) provided a welcome break before we climbed the hill itself. Both this and the subsequent, famous Harrow on the Hill, afforded us excellent views all round, to the city and across to the North Downs.
We added extra distance to this day, ending at Preston Road Station, as it considerably reduced our travelling time on both days.
Kenton to Highgate
The Capital ring marker at the start of Day 7
A different mix of people, but still there were ten individuals up for this final section. We arrived at the start in record time, despite the Jubilee Line being out of action, as Malcolm's Plan B swung into action and we walked the modest half mile between two stations instead! This meant we had climbed two of the day's hills, in glorious frosty sunshine, before enjoying morning coffee at the Welsh Harp Garden Centre.
The Brent Reservoir nearby looked beautiful, though none of us was tempted to swim. We neatly crossed our mainline railway and the MI and walked on just to the north of Brent Cross Shopping Centre to our lunch spot in Hendon Park.
At the North Circular we disappeared down to the Brookside Walk and followed a small river for some time, shadowing main roads that were largely out of sight. Hampstead Garden Suburb was picturesque to wander through despite the dampness in the air. Pressing on we suddenly arrived at Highgate Wood and by 3pm we cheered the completion of the ring, outside Highgate Station. The spare time we put to very good use by celebrating in a wine bar at St Pancras International! Liz
The Brent Reservoir nearby looked beautiful, though none of us was tempted to swim. We neatly crossed our mainline railway and the MI and walked on just to the north of Brent Cross Shopping Centre to our lunch spot in Hendon Park.
At the North Circular we disappeared down to the Brookside Walk and followed a small river for some time, shadowing main roads that were largely out of sight. Hampstead Garden Suburb was picturesque to wander through despite the dampness in the air. Pressing on we suddenly arrived at Highgate Wood and by 3pm we cheered the completion of the ring, outside Highgate Station. The spare time we put to very good use by celebrating in a wine bar at St Pancras International! Liz
The end!
On completing the Capital Ring
The final ‘legs’ were completed on 12th December, ending at Highgate station with a celebration drink at St. Pancras before catching the First Capital Connect train home to St. Albans.
At the time of writing only Tina and I have completed the entire 78 miles with a few extra added; however; others expect to complete the route by the AGM so we will be joined by a group to get our certificates and complete the passports.
The route takes in some of the most interesting areas of London outside the central area. At its closest we were 6 miles from the city and the furthest was 10 miles, the views often included Canary Wharf and the high office blocks. We saw the Olympic site in preparation as well as the development of the whole area. The high ridges around London afforded some wonderful views and we saw how the different ‘villages’ link together. What surprised everyone was just how much of the walk was through green open spaces, probably less than 10% was on roads and we came across parks that we never knew existed. Imagine walking alongside the North Circular Road on a very busy Sunday afternoon through one small park after the other, keeping the noise and smell at bay.
Both Tina and I walked through scenes of our childhood, Finsbury and Hendon Parks and reminisced at length. The whole experience was great fun and thanks to Malcolm and Tina the transport concerns never really materialised. The highlight was the day in Wimbledon and Richmond parks; it is being repeated as a Sunday walk in June, so do join us as it was great fun with plenty of coffee stops etc.
My thanks to Liz for suggesting the idea in the first place as a way of marking St Albans Rambler’s 20 years of walking; to Malcolm and Tina for putting up with us both; and to all those who joined us and took part.
Mike S
At the time of writing only Tina and I have completed the entire 78 miles with a few extra added; however; others expect to complete the route by the AGM so we will be joined by a group to get our certificates and complete the passports.
The route takes in some of the most interesting areas of London outside the central area. At its closest we were 6 miles from the city and the furthest was 10 miles, the views often included Canary Wharf and the high office blocks. We saw the Olympic site in preparation as well as the development of the whole area. The high ridges around London afforded some wonderful views and we saw how the different ‘villages’ link together. What surprised everyone was just how much of the walk was through green open spaces, probably less than 10% was on roads and we came across parks that we never knew existed. Imagine walking alongside the North Circular Road on a very busy Sunday afternoon through one small park after the other, keeping the noise and smell at bay.
Both Tina and I walked through scenes of our childhood, Finsbury and Hendon Parks and reminisced at length. The whole experience was great fun and thanks to Malcolm and Tina the transport concerns never really materialised. The highlight was the day in Wimbledon and Richmond parks; it is being repeated as a Sunday walk in June, so do join us as it was great fun with plenty of coffee stops etc.
My thanks to Liz for suggesting the idea in the first place as a way of marking St Albans Rambler’s 20 years of walking; to Malcolm and Tina for putting up with us both; and to all those who joined us and took part.
Mike S
