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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: Celthedd on 20:32:31, 08/04/19

Title: Thames Path
Post by: Celthedd on 20:32:31, 08/04/19
I completed this walk yesterday over 13 days and was mostly a very lovely walk, between Tower Bridge and the Thames Barrier was quite frankly a terrible walk except the Cutty Ssrk, going in and out of housing estates in Millwall terratory, this walk should defiantly finish or start at the Tower Bridge. .. Rant over
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Rob Goes Walking on 20:37:20, 08/04/19
Good job. Got any photos?
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Celthedd on 20:55:57, 08/04/19
Will be posting daily blogs on my Youtube channel 'Trails And Ales from Wales' once I repair my laptop!
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 21:07:30, 08/04/19
I remember sampling Felinfoel’s Double Dragon when visiting in-laws in South Wales.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: astaman on 09:07:55, 09/04/19
I did this walk a number of years ago and enjoyed it greatly. I lived in SE London at the time so did the early stages as day walks from home. I started from further down the estuary so I could take in the marshes either side of the Dartford Bridge. It was more interesting then I think because there were more post-industrial landscapes then than there is now. They weren't picturesque but it was interesting and atmospheric. Also, the bit between Charlton and Tower Bridge is the least varied bit of the lower river - there are some of Anthony Gormley's iron people dotted around downstream of Woolwich. Well done though - look forward to the TR.
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: joncombe on 20:36:31, 09/04/19
I'm glad you enjoyed most of it.


I think you're being a bit harsh on South East London however. I really enjoyed most of the walk east from Tower Bridge to Greenwich. You have the beautifully restored old brick wharves and cobbled streets around Butlers Wharf, just beyond Tower Bridge, which is my favourite part.


Then Rotherhithe too I found full of character, with more old wharves, cobbled streets and traditional boozers, with the added interest of the Brunel Museum, too. It opened my eyes to an area I knew little about and had never considered visiting before.

Beyond Rotherhithe there are some grim parts I'll agree though also some places of interest such as Greenland Dock, which I quite enjoyed. Then you have Greenwich which I loved. The Cutty Sark yes, but well worth walking up the hill to the observatory too, where you have a wonderful view. Much of Greenwich is a World Heritage site, so I think to miss that out would be a real shame.


Beyond that, well I mostly agree with your assessment. The millennium dome/O2 or whatever it's called now is worth a quick look (though the view from the Thames path is mostly through a high metal fence, so not great), and the flood barrier also quite interesting to see. Though I'd go down to the north side of the Thames and see it from Thames Barrier Park (right beside a Pontoon Dock DLR station). If you are on the south side, the walk from the Thames Barrier to Charlton is seriously grim and I'd very much like not to do that again! So yes beyond Greenwich hop on the tube to the dome and the barrier and don't bother with the walk would be my suggestion too (but I think the bit from Tower Bridge to Greenwich is well worth doing).
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: astaman on 21:16:57, 09/04/19

Then Rotherhithe too I found full of character, with more old wharves, cobbled streets and traditional boozers, with the added interest of the Brunel Museum, too. It opened my eyes to an area I knew little about and had never considered visiting before.


Good points. I had forgotten about Rotherhithe, which is very odd as The Mayflower pub was once my local. The end of Brunel's Thames tunnel is also visible at the end of the platform in the tube station as well and nearby the Norwegian and Finnish churches that were part of their seamens' missions are interesting too. You have caused me to revise my earlier opinion - I lived there so maybe it is a case of familiarity breeding contempt.

Edit. Also the old lockup, part of the blue coat school and the 18th century church. I have been told that the front pews of the church are made out of timbers recovered from the breaking of the Fighting Temeraire but I have never seen evidence for this. Yeah, I was wrong about this walk.
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: astaman on 21:23:27, 09/04/19
Posted in error

Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Doddy on 17:00:24, 10/04/19
I did the walk it a couple of years ago and I also think you are a bit tough on that part of London, certainly a different to the fields early on and on the tow paths. Some big developments after Tower Bridge but Planners conditioned the path route on the water front. I was anxious with the route at the Hilton Hotel near Rotherhithe and asked the Concierge at the entrance if I was correct and he kindly took me through the grounds.
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: bricam2096 on 18:58:49, 10/04/19
I did the walk last year, thankfully starting at the Thames Barrier and doing the stretch between the barrier and Blackfriars Bridge on day 1. Better to start there than finish there, I feel.
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Celthedd on 20:51:05, 10/04/19
There was 3 diversions from the path on Sunday plus I was against the clock therefore I was destined not to enjoy the walk, a little harsh of me I guess considering the comments on here.
Title: Re: Thames Path
Post by: Celthedd on 12:12:32, 13/04/19
I did this walk a number of years ago and enjoyed it greatly. I lived in SE London at the time so did the early stages as day walks from home. I started from further down the estuary so I could take in the marshes either side of the Dartford Bridge. It was more interesting then I think because there were more post-industrial landscapes then than there is now. They weren't picturesque but it was interesting and atmospheric. Also, the bit between Charlton and Tower Bridge is the least varied bit of the lower river - there are some of Anthony Gormley's iron people dotted around downstream of Woolwich. Well done though - look forward to the TR.
I've started posting blogs on my Youtube channel .. Trails And Ales from Wales