2012 Richmond-Kingston-Tide end town here	2011 Regents Canal here	2010 here - The Thames	2009 here - The Wandle

2012 Young’s & Fuller’s The Thames path between Richmond and Kingston.  No rain on our parade!  Please click here for more pictures

2011 The Regents Canal Walk from Stepney to Camden- photos & itinerary from Carol

 The Half Moon Pub, Stepney Green – The Starting Point of the Walk – after breakfast, off course and the garden of The Half Moon

• Ready to go – The ‘Gangs’ all here and The start of the canal at Mile End
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• Mile End Lock and Some of the modern artwork along the canal at Mile End
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• The garden’s design at Mile End and some of the History of Regent’s Canal
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• First stop – The Palm Tree & The ‘Wetlands Nature Reserve’
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• More modern artwork and The Hertford Cut to Lee Valley
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• Lock gates in action + The entrance to Victoria Park, Hackney
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• An extra ‘WOLF’ along the way Bridge name and number [through the graffiti]
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• A  ’Wind in the Willows’ look plus bench  & ‘The Dove’ at  Broadway Market
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• Acton’s Lock and a friendly character along the way
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• Local people??? with Modern development
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• The Rosemary Branch – this place actually served the pints in JUGS!!
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• A  view along the canal but now a diversion to the Wenlock Arms was called for.
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• A very short walk took us to The Narrow Boat, Islington + Wharf Road Bridge – approx halfway along the journey
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• Old wharf cranes and one of the picturesque locks on the canal
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• Islington Tunnel warning notice & the entrance to The Islington Tunnel
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• Follow the plaques along the route of the tunnel – we stopped at The Glasshouse [Wetherspoons] for lunch, but the reflection of the sun prevented a photo being taken. (here’s what it looks like)
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• The end of the Islington Tunnel [or is it the beginning] BEWARE OF THE BULL
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• Maiden Lane Bridge history Downstream end of St Pancras Lock
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• St Pancras Lock The Constitution, St Pancras Way
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• We entered The Constitution through the low back entrance Last pint of the day
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• The Oxford Arms – our last watering hole Camden Lock at night
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Thanks again to Carol Randall for the excellent narrative in pictures

2010 The Thames Path from Putney to Chiswick -8 Pubs

Geoff produced his tour guide again to gently stroll from Putney to Chiswick, interspersed by eight pubs, three world cup matches and an England win (in the rugby!)

The Eight Bells - just on the Fulham side of Putney Bridge on the line of the original bridge - and excellent place to start.  Good beer (once the Pride came back on) and very friendly staff.

The Crabtree - Large old style comfortable pub but very modern too with an outside barbeque.  Beer good, food a bit more pricey.  Atmosphere very good - and inhabited by locals.  Nearest to Craven Cottage

The Chancellor’s - a proper pub.  Just two locals in for a quiet pint and crossword when descended upon.  Right opposite the Riverside studios and full of ZCars and other prints, plus Chris Evans of course.  Then there’s a footy bar, highlighted by a charity match and a great picture of Besty in Fulham gear.  Didn’t find our why the RCMP were (mounted) outside the pub though.  Great toastie.

The Blue Anchor - established 1722, as was one of the beers, but that was soon sorted, together with the dispute about Harry Kewell being sent off for deliberate (was it?) handball with a local woman who obviously knew more about the laws than the rest of the pub.  A human crab appeared over the river wall (with a scull for a shell)

The Rutland - modernised and more bland inside.  We didn’t stay long

The Dove - nooks and crannies and a great terrace overlooking the river.

The Old Ship - smart, and with a free beer offer.

The George & Devonshire - always dependable Fullers.  Mind you, only the Mawson Arms is closer to the brewery see the brewery here

and then a bus to Richmond

plus - mentioned in despatches - the Cafe opposite Putney Bridge Tube station for a precautionary fry-up (travel secretary)

Pictures

1. The Eight Bells -rumour has it the landlord is a Wolves fan!  Good brekky cafe nearby Putney Bridge Tube Stations.  89 Fulham High St, London, SW6 3JS

from the 8 Bells to the Crabtree via Craven Cottage

The Crabtree

The Chairman takes himself

en route to The Chancellor’s

The Chancellor’s

The Blue Anchor

The Rutland

The Dove

Peter being asked for tickets for the Stoke match already

Pint sized sombrero!

Nice pint of Pride Dave?

Parting of the ways at Hammersmith

Including the photographer!

The Old Ship

The George & Devonshire

The Wandle 2009

London Wolves summer event has been centred around the River Wandle which runs into the Thames.  It used to have over 90 water driven mills but many many more hostelries!   If you’d like to know more about the Story of the Wandle Trail click here

We started at Waterloo (c/o the Wellington opposite Platform 4) to catch the tube to Colliers Wood where last year’s walk finished, in the Colliers Tup, a real rugby pub, full of South Africans and Lions.

Dave and Derek approved though, but it was better inside with good beer, although the SA girl on the right was playing Cluedo!

Only a brief stop here though before Geoff got out his map and we were under way.  Past Wandle Park and over the river

Wait a minute; that looks like a pub over the river!  Riverside Free House seems a good clue.  What good luck! I’ll have a pint of Bomber please.

Sadly, there’s no rest for the wicked.  Now which way is it?  The zoo?

and across the tram track, but it’s always 3 miles to Carshalton

and so into Morden Hall Park

Are we there yet? Well it’s the Surrey Arms.  “Oh No! Not the Surrey Arms” says Dave, worst Beer in Morden.... but it was ok in the end and the Rugby was on there too.  But no food and it’s three hours past lunch time

Back on the trail then

Still 3 miles!

Is that Dr Who in the river; it looks like the Tardis parked over there?

wrong way                                                                                      I’m a Baggie.   Boing! Boing!

This is a-Maze-ing       it’s the third time we’ve been here                 I tell you Geoff it’s that way.  GPS doesn’t lie!

escape from Morden Hall Park.  Well, it looks like we’re here... And the first pub we walked past! The Crown Merton

But the next one was fine - Youngs pubs everywhere here.

but still no food.  Carol does a deal with the pub next door - the Cricketers.  MNX never tasted so good, especially with the Ordinary.

Why is it called The Cricketers? - Could be something to do with the view.  And next door is the museum

on to the bus then, but it’s been really hard work

so, a final pub - the Castle in Tooting

The Story of the Wandle Trail

The River Wandle has two sources, in Waddon and Carshalton, and flows to join the River Thames at Wandsworth. In its industrial heyday, it was Britain’s ‘hardest working river’, with over 90 mills along its banks.  The Wandle Group, the Wandle Industrial Museum and the riparian London Boroughs have developed the (20 km/14mile long) Wandle Trail. The Trail allows local people to enjoy the heritage interest and flora and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of south London’s most industrialised landscape.  The route description guides walkers from south (East Croydon) to north (the River Thames), but is easy to follow in either direction. We have included estimated walking times for each section.  In places, the ground is uneven, making the Trail difficult for wheelchair users. However, the Wandle Trail Partners are committed to making it safer and more accessible for all users. Improvement work is in progress. The text describes alternative routes for wheelchair users and people with limited  mobility, where necessary.  The map shows both walking and cycling routes, which coincide for much of the way but differ in places. It also shows links to other cycle routes and public transport. Part of the Trail is National Cycle Network Route 22. The Wandle Trail Art Programme is providing numbered gateways, viewing platforms and distinctive waymarkers. A travelling ‘waste wall’ will be the focus of community rubbish collection events.  Visit www.wandletrail.org for further information.  The Wandle Trail partners (the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, Groundwork Merton and Sustrans) have published a map leaflet from which this information is extracted. The idea developed from the Wandle Industrial Museum’s earlier map and ‘The Wandle Guide’, published by the London Borough of Sutton for the Wandle Group is here http://www.merton.gov.uk/wandle_trail.pdf