The next BOC retirees walk was also in London.. slightly down the Thames from where the December walk finished. It started at Putney Bridge and follows the Thames path (north side) past Craven cottage, and hammersmith bridge around to Chiswick. A diversion around Hogarth's and Chiswick houses, before returning to the Thames path up to Barnes bridge. Pub stop in Barnes before taking the shortcut across Barnes and Putney commons, before returning to the start along the south side Thames path.
As I would get to London on the train from Guildford, which needed a change at Clapham Junction, I determined to start there and walk to Putney along the south bank effectively joining the two walks together.
As an appetiser (and a warm down later) I chose to park at the park & ride in Artington and walk into the main rail station. I followed the same trace as the last time, which followed the Portsmouth road (A3100) past St. Catherine's chapel and the law school until I could head down St Catherine's footpath to Millmead and the river/ canal. Finally up to the station across the car park and the YMCA.
A wait on the station for the next train that would stop at Clapham Junction - there is only two an hour and one is a stopper. I arrived at Clapham Junction just after 9am and walked out the north entrance and onto the maze of local roads around the estates.
Through the Winstanley estate on the road of the same name. Then across the York Gardens park.
Over the A3205 and along the residential roads of Plantation wharf to the river bank.
Along the river bank path past the pier with its house boats, and under Wandsworth bridge. The path diverts around a construction site before going back to the riverside.
The path goes past a further "prestige" series of apartment buildings up to a recycling and rubbish processing plant. The path moved inland to get around this and up to the river Wandle/ Bell Lane creek.
Over the river/ inlet, before returning to the Thames banks. There were two piers of houseboats here opposite more "designer" apartments, as I moved into Wandsworth.
The path followed the edge of Wandsworth park (beside the river) to its end - between here and the Fulham railway bridge is all private riverbank
I had time before we were due to meet up for the main walk, so I followed a sign in the park to a WC (old man disease - see toilet, use toilet!) Unfortunately this was all around the park to where I had started - so I ended up doing a loop.
Back on track The Thames path goes through Blade mews to Deodar road, then I left the southern Thames path to cross the rail bridge to Putney Bridge station.
The Main event was following a "Fancy Free Walks" route and when I got to the station, there was no one around so I checked the email... We were to meet at the Rail station on the south side. So a hurried return over the rail bridge and zigzag through the back streets to Putney High Street and along to the station. Most of the party was waiting there, as I rushed up just on time!
Back along the high street and over the (Putney) road bridge. Now on the documented route, we turned through the gardens of Bishop's park. A stop at the WC for those who had not already found one, and along the Thames past Fulham Palace, before diverting around Craven cottage (for the football fans).
Back on the Thames bank to Rowberry Mead - where reeds were used to make baskets. Then on past Thames Wharf studios and the river café.
On the opposite bank was the Harrods furniture depository. Onwards past Fulham reach
Along past more architect design buildings and up to Hammersmith bridge. Riverside studios is here as well.
Under the bridge and away from the river through the mews and passageways. An interesting car display with flowers and veg outside a deli.
Now along the Stuart and Georgian houses. this was the first sight we had of flooding, with flood gates and debris on the road.
Leaving the river for a loop, first to Hogarth's house, behind an unaspiring wall, and beside gardens.
The house dates to the 1600's, then along the road to Chiswick house. Along its driveway, into the gardens.
Past the glass house, and the "small" house".
The little round garden and temple before crossing the ornate bridge
Leave the gardens beside the obelisk, and past the school playing fields and back to the Thames path. Past a boat club (there had been several earlier but most were underneath new buildings)
Along to Barnes bridge and over it to the south bank.. We stopped at the Bulls Head for lunch. They were very efficient and we only stopped for 90 mins.
Leaving the pub down Barnes high street reaching Barnes Pond. and then over the road to Barnes common.
Through the park (mainly on tarmacked paths, but there was some muddy sections.
Over Rocks lane and past the sports centre, into woods. Definitely more dirt tracks than tarmacked here. this is Putney Lower common. Then on Beverley Brook road
Over the brook bridge and along to the Thames - now the tide was in and the river full. Along the wide terrace beside the river - now flooded.
The terrace was really flooded as we reached several boathouses. We had to cut inland to get past them.
Finally along to Putney High Street and back to the railway station (a final climb up as a sting for the weary). I on the other hand had a reprise waiting once I got back to Guildford. The trains only had a few waits of 20 mins each at Putney and Clapham Junction. The train back to Guildford was packed and we had to stand.
The final lap was to reverse the morning walk back to the car park.
The track went around Spring Garden farm and over a cross paths and through a scrubby wood.
the path was wet but not deep mud as it crossed the woods and down to a stream.
A small navigation error led to me going up the wrong path at the stream and I walked on past the path to the grave. This meant I had to bushwhack over the heather and bracken, crossing a small stream and up the other side to get back n track.
Coming out of the wilder scrub onto the correct path at the grave - a circular stone wall around the memorial.
Continuing on up the slope - trying to find the dryer sections - until the path reached a car park off Crowborough road.
The rain eased off here but I kept the waterproofs on. Turned over the top of the hill and curved around to Duddleswell.
The track left the open areas and moved through the woods at the side - slightly more muddy and narrow. The track came to a gate onto the B2026, just above the Duddleswell Tearoom.
On the other side of the road the track followed a wide track that dropped through the woods to meet up with the Wealden Way.
I left the wide track onto a footpath through the gorse and heather winding down to some houses.
A further bit of bushwhacking past the house as I could not find the marked path. This came out onto a wider track dropping to a stream. Over this and up the far side until a path angled off through the brambles.
Behind Fairwarp farm, the path followed the edge of some houses into the village of the same name.
On a back road out of the village until a path that cut back to the car park beside the church.
