RICHMOND to KINGSTON

This will be a walk in the park: Richmond Park.
We go the usual way from Richmond Station: across Richmond Green to what remains of the old Richmond Palace, then follow the river upstream until we are below Richmond Hill. We climb the steps to the top of the Hill. This is the steepest hill on the walk. But it only takes a minute! The view from the Hill is famous and is protected by law. We will then walk down to the Petersham Gate and continue towards the Ham Gate until we are below Pembroke Lodge. We visit the Lodge, but the main attraction is the view from the back. Please bring a picnic because the restaurant is always very busy and best avoided, unless the weather is unkind. We continue to the Ham Gate and from there make the easy climb to the Thatched Cottage and the panoramic view over Kingston. We then walk on quiet grassy paths to the 82 steps down towards the finish at Kingston Gate, where there is a range of buses to various destinations or a 15-20 min walk to Kingston station about a mile away. Toilets are available at the start, Pembroke Lodge and Kingston Gate (card payment) FINISH: circa 15:30. It will depend mainly on the weather and the pace, which will be set by the slowest walker.