CAPITAL RING 4

This is a different type of walk than the previous sections of the CAPITAL RING walks we have covered.  There is a certain amount of street walking but it is much reduced.

WIMBLEDON PARK

We start by crossing the road at Wimbledon Park station and turn right down Home Park Road.  After a short walk, we soon enter the Park.  There are tennis Courts and toilet facilities and a large lake that is used for various water sports.  We turn at the brick water-sports building and then immediately left, along side a fence and across the grass to the park exit.

We turn left along Wimbledon Park Road, keeping to the fence on the left.  There are residential houses on the other side of the road.  We cross the road at the CAPITAL RING sign and walk up Bathgate Road and right on Queensmere Road.  There are some interesting houses and blocks of flats here.

WIMBLEDON COMMON

At the end of Queesmere Road we turn right and cross the road at traffic lights.  Here we leave the street walking by continuing straight ahead on a wide footpath through an open wood into Wimbledon Common.  When the wood ends we keep ahead to Wimbledon windmill, the last remaining hollow post windmill in the country.  There is a small cafe here and more toilet facilities.  We bear right on a path downhill into woodland, at the bottom of which is Queensmere Lake.  Turn left, up a hill.  Take care when you cross the golf course at the top.  We pass an amazing tree and continue downhill.  Near the bottom we turn left; it can be muddy here!  Our path follows the Beverley Brook on our left and passes a bridge.  We cross the brook at the next bridge and fork right to the park exit.

We use the pedestrian lights to cross the two lanes of the busy A3.  Please do not press the button to change the lights unless the group is there.  You only get to enter Richmond Park when everybody has crossed the road.

RICHMOND PARK

We enter the park through the Robin Hood gate.  The park is the largest in Europe, covering 2,500 acres.  The park consists of open woodland and meadows.  Look out for wild deer, which roam everywhere.  The path gradually takes us uphill, at the top of which is a refreshment kiosk but no toilets.  We will probably stop around here for lunch.  We continue in the same general direction towards two lakes.  The White Lodge will soon appear: it was built in 1727 and now houses the lower school of the Royal Ballet.  We pass between the two Pen Ponds, stocked with fish for anglers.   Our route passes an ancient hollow oak tree, estimated to be 750 years old.  We follow the path across a road and leads us to a fine view.  We take a detour to Henry's Mound.  There is a protected view at the top, of St Paul's Cathedral, 12 miles away.  We return to the main path and continue downhill to leave the park through Petersham Gate.

THE THAMES PATH

We follow the path opposite until a T junction where we turn right, passed a small church cemetery.  We continue over Petersham Meadows until we reach the Thames Path, with Richmond Bridge in the distance.  We pass under the bridge and continue to the White Cross Pub.  Just after passing the pub, we reach Friars Lane which is the end of the walk.

There is a sign indicating the route to Richmond Station.  If the weather is fine you may wish to stay where you are for a while.