Richmond to Teddington Lock, Thames Path and Richmond Park – 16km / 10miles

Starting from Richmond station, we walk towards the Thames, and after about a kilometre join the Thames Path, a 184-mile/296km long national trail following the river Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton, south east London. We follow the Thames for about 5km. On our way along the second-longest river in the UK, we pass Ham House, a beautiful historic house with formal gardens, claimed by the National Trust to be “unique in Europe as the most complete survival of 17th century fashion and power”, followed by Eel Pie Island, named after eel pies served by the inn on the island in the 19th century and boasting very colourful past, and then Ham Lands Nature Reserve, a large area of grassland and scrub and an important nature conservation site. We then reach Teddington Lock, first opened in 1811, and leave the river behind, turning west, towards Richmond Park.

Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks and was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park. If we are lucky, we will get to see some of its 630 red and fallow deer, roaming freely within much of the park. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve, containing an abundance of wildlife such as woodpeckers, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, frogs, toads, stag beetles and many other insects, living in grasslands and woodland gardens among the varied landscape of hills. We take in the vast open spaces and continue walking towards Pen Ponds – a lake dug in 1746 and divided in two by a causeway. The lake makes a great place for water bird spotting. We follow the paths within the park for about 7km, then cross Petersham Common, and finally rejoin the Thames Path, and retrace our steps to Richmond station.

MEETING POINT: 10:40 at Waterloo station, underneath the main clock

COST: £8 payable on RSVP

TRAINS: We will be taking the 11:09 train from London Waterloo to Reading, arriving in Richmond at 11:28. You can also join this train at Vauxhall at 11:13, Clapham Junction at 11:18, or Putney at 11:22.

Train fare is not included The cheapest way to travel is by using your Oyster card – the cost of a return journey is only £6.40.

GRADE: Beginner – it is a 16km/10mile walk mainly on good paths, and it is mainly flat. There is only about 150m of total ascent in Richmond Park. 3.5 hours’ walking time + lunch.

START: 11:30, Richmond station, outside the main entrance

ESTIMATED FINISH: 15:30 – 16:00, but depends on the pace of the group

What to bring: lunch, snacks, water, suitable clothing and hiking footwear. Click here-
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