The weather has finally warmed up enough for me to continue the Capital Ring Walk.

It’s an easy and fast journey via Waterloo to Earlsfield Station, where I finished last December. Outside the station, it’s usual London busy traffic:

But suburban roads are soon reached, then the route crossed the River Wandle:
“The Wandle, which gives its name to Wandsworth, is one of the fastest flowing rivers in the London area with a drop of 200 feet in just ten miles. It powered many watermills which produced flour, metal, leather, paper, textiles and even gunpowder.”

More streets, then Wimbledon Mosque (built in 1977):

Then on to Wimbledon Park Underground station and the end of Section 5:

Section 6

Wimbledon Park itself isn’t far away:


“Wimbledon Park dates from the 16th century; then it formed part of the extensive grounds of the earliest Wimbledon Manor House and was used for deer hunting and hawking. It is more famous for its modern use, as across the lake you can see the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.”

All too soon, it’s back to suburban streets, albeit leafy and posh:

A busy road crossing leads to the countryside of Wimbledon Common:

With its famous Windmill:“Wimbledon Windmill is the last remaining hollow post flour mill in the country. In this unusual design the main body of the mill, with all its machinery, turned on a central post, through which a hole was bored for a drive shaft taking power to the machinery.”

And once some golfers had been dodged, Queensmere Lake:

Crossing the A3 was the next challenge, with a combined pedestrian/cyclist/horse crossing:Notice the conveniently high push button on the right for the horse riders!

Then we’re into Richmond Park:“Richmond Park is London’s largest Royal Park, covering 2,500 acres. It is a national nature reserve and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; it is also Europe’s largest urban park. It has some ancient trees with the oldest oaks some 700 years old.”

Including a “Very Old Hollow Oak Tree” with its own fence:

And a few deer sheltering under a tree:

A short detour leads up to King Henry’s Mound, with extensive views to the west:“Henry’s Mound is actually a barrow or burial mound, but legend says that Henry VIII stood here in 1536 waiting for a flare that would tell him that Anne Boleyn had been executed and he was free to marry Jane Seymour. From the top of the mound you can see St. Paul’s Cathedral through the telescope. This is a protected view – no tall buildings can be built to obscure the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, 12 miles away.”

If you click on this image, and look VERY closely, you can just see the white blob of St Paul’s Cathedral framed by the trees (it was clearer through the telescope!):

The route then drops down towards the River Thames:

and a footpath leads to Petersham Meadows, with boats in the background:

Then to the Thames Towpath itself and Richmond Bridge:

It was then a busy walk through Richmond to the station, and two trains home.

It was certainly nice having a Capital Ring walk that was mostly not on pavements or tarmac!

8.5 miles of Capital Ring walking today and 1 Geocache found.

For more information on the Capital Ring, see https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/capital-ring

A sunny (but cold) day today, so it’s back on the trains for another section of the Capital Ring Walk.

I returned to Crystal Palace, this time via Beckenham Junction.

Not surprisingly, the area is quite hilly:

Westow Park is soon reached:

More streets, then Upper Norwood Recreation Ground:

Allotments and a view across London near Biggin Wood:

Then the first bit of (almost) countryside, Biggin Wood:

Then more street walking, finally reaching Norwood Grove. The Great North Wood once covered all this area, hence the name Norwood.


The Grade II listed mansion, Norwood Grove, was built in the 1840s by Arthur Anderson, joint founder of the P&O Steam Navigation Company. It is now an education centre owned by Croydon Council.

Norwood Grove leads to busy Streatham Common:

The common, not surprisingly, leads to Streatham itself and the end of Section 4.

Section 5

The first bit of this section goes under the railway (The Sutton & Mole Valley line for those interested in such things):

and past an ornate “Southwark & Vauxhall Water Company” building:

More street walking, then the extensive Tooting Bec Common and (open!) Lido:

Tooting Bec Lido has one of the largest swimming pools in Europe holding a million gallons of water. It was opened in 1906 as a conventional pool, but rebuilt as a lido, Italian for beach, in 1936. Its iconic blue pools, diving boards and sunbathing areas have been used in films such as Snatch with Brad Pitt.

After this, more street walking through Balham:

This leads to the very pleasant Wandsworth Common:

Complete with a couple of small lakes:

After the common, it’s a long and boring walk to Earlsfield past Wandsworth Prison and Cemetery:

And a train to Waterloo from Earlsfield Station:

Section 5 actually finishes a mile further on at Wimbledon Park station, but Earlsfield is much easier for the journey to/from Orpington.

8.5 miles of Capital Ring walking today and 1 Geocache found.

For more information on the Capital Ring, see https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/capital-ring

Yet another sunny autumn day (though quite windy), so time for another section of the Capital Ring Walk.

It was an easy journey to the start at Grove Park, though all trains were suffering from perturbations due to the wind, leaves or snow (delete as appropriate).

The first bit of this section is mainly road:

Then away from the road towards the railway:

and across the railway:

More suburbia, albeit with some trees and grass!

Then a nice (though thin) stretch of woodland towards the top of Bromley Hill:

From here, it’s not far to Beckenham Place Park, a lovely mixture of fields and woodland:

All too soon, more roads, then an underpass under the railway at New Beckenham Station:

Next is Cator Park, a pleasant open space:

Mostly road now, leading towards Penge:

And finally, into Crystal Palace Park, glorious in the sunshine!

I took the shorter route via the dinosaurs, which I’ve not seen for 25 years – they’re a lot cleaner now.

The park includes a famous collection of 1850s animal sculptures and their surrounding landscape, known as the Dinosaur Park.

Then past the Sports Centre, which wasn’t even there the last time I was…

and the iconic 900′ high transmitter mast:

Then to Crystal Palace station, nicely located at the edge of the park. This has also been revamped since the last time I was there.

8½ miles of Capital Ring walking today and no Geocaches found.

Another sunny autumn day, so I find time for another London walk. The Capital Ring is a shorter (78 miles) “inner” version of the London Loop Walk that I finished earlier this year.

Two trains were needed to get to the nearest station at Woolwich Arsenal, then a short walk through Woolwich itself.

The Thames is soon reached; the Woolwich Ferry can be see on the right of this photo:

The walk officially starts at the Southern Entrance of the Woolwich Foot Tunnel – unlike the London Loop, it is possible to finish the Capital Ring at the start without using a boat.

The walk follows the Thames Path for a while:

Eventually, some green is reached at Maryon Park.
“Maryon Park, and Maryon Wilson Park, were once owned by the Maryon Wilson family of Charlton House. This park was formed from sandpits and another nearby sandpit is now the home of Charlton Athletic Football Club.”

For somewhere so close to a major river, it’s surprisingly hilly!

There is a small children’s zoo in Maryon Wilson Park:

And some nice autumn colours:

Charlton Park is next, just boring sports fields:

Then into something approaching open country as I walk across Woolwich Common:

After crossing Shooters Hill Road, I’m on Eltham Common:

With some interesting fungi growing on the steps:

Then into Castle Wood:

And Severndroog Castle:


Severndroog is an eccentric triangular castle standing 19 metres high. It was built as a memorial to Commodore Sir William James, owner of the land in the 18th century. The East India Company employed him to suppress piracy and he captured a fortress in India with this name. His widow built the castle after his death in 1784.

After the castle, the land drops away with extensive views to the south:

This is Castlewood Garden (Castlewood House is long gone):

Oxleas Meadow and the lovely Oxleas Wood are next:

But all too soon, it’s back to “normal” parks, this is Eltham North Park:

Section 1 officially ends here, with a link to Falconwood Station.

Section 2

The A2 Rochester Way needs to be crossed using a rather large pedestrian bridge:

There are so many waymarked walks here that some signs are quite extensive:

The route passes a preserved building that once supplied water to Eltham Palace:

Eltham seems to be devoid of footpaths, so it’s mainly road walking until Eltham Palace:

Then more paths past playing fields towards Mottingham:

The A20 Sidcup Road then needs to be crossed. This section used to be known as the “Mad Mile” before speed cameras became common:

Then yet more suburban streets and paths towards the Quaggy River:

Grove Park Station is soon reached after yet more road walking, and the train home.

11 miles of Capital Ring walking today and 6 Geocaches found.

For more information on the Capital Ring, see https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/capital-ring