A nice fine day today, and the trains were running, so Rocco and I headed off to Woolwich Arsenal (via Lewisham) to walk another section of the Thames Path:

We followed the same nice pedestrian route from the station to the Thames that we’d used when walking the Thames Path west from Woolwich:

And soon we were at Woolwich Pier, and headed east along the Thames:

Finally, we reached an unpaved section and a bit more greenery:

Then back to hard surfaces as we passed Thamesmead:

Across the river is Barking Riverside, which we visited in the summer:

Further on, we reached Crossness, home of the famous steam sewage pumping engines:

Then shortly afterwards, the modern equivalent:

As the route got more industrial, we passed many abandoned jetties:

Time for a break by Crossness Nature Reserve, with views of the Ford Dagenham factory across the river:

I’d watched barges with containers on heading up and down the river, these are moving rubbish from London to the Belvedere incinerator, which is also undergoing expansion:

The south bank of the Thames was becoming more industrialised, but the north bank more open by Rainham Marshes:

Nearing Erith, the Dartford Crossing comes into view:

Finally a short walk through Erith, which I last visited in 2016 for the start of my London Loop walk – see London Loop Walk 1 – Erith to Bexley

After a short wait at Erith station and a quick change at Lewisham, we were back home within the hour.

8.5 miles walking today.