Thames Walk

Saturday, 10th November
7.46 Km (4 1/2 Miles) - 1hr 26m

 

So, the rugby season is upon us and, more importantly the QBE Autumn Internationals means that for four weekends I will be spending the weekend at Twickenham.  One of the problems (!) with these weekends is how to fill the void between breakfast and lunch !  Thankfully, walkit.com provided this walk at some point during the last season. Sadly I didn't record the walk then but am happy to share it now.

Luckily, we are able to stay in the Marriott Hotel which is part of the South Stand  at Twickenham so this is where the walk starts from.  The route is quite straightforward and mixes the urban with the river Thames

 and some rural views both down and across the river.  Start by going up the road, past the East Stand to the roundabout next to the Tesco supermarket.  Continue along Mogden Lane until you reach a main road.  Cross this to pick up Northcote Avenue until, once more a major road is encountered. Again, you cross this road and take a slight right to dogleg down another road (sorry, I've forgotten the name).  This street is followed until, almost by magic, the river appears next to Richmond footbridge.

From this point onwards the route is pretty straightforward as the path sticks close to the river, although it is at one point hidden from view behind houseboats.  The only difficult stretch is where the route crosses Richmond Road.  Here you need to pick up Cambridge Road before veering sharp left to pick up the river path once more.

At this point the vistas open out to reveal Ham Hill on the far side of the river and shortly afterwards Marble Hill House on the path side of the river. Not much further on the route diverts away from the river before emerging at a seating area next to the river at Twickenham itself.  Here we turn away from the river to the very busy Twickenham town centre and wander up to the Station where the stadium, and the walk end, comes into view.

This is a nice walk, and just the right length to "waste" an hour or so away from rugby!  I was lucky on the day that I walked as it had been raining quite heavily earlier in the day.  However, I was able to complete the walk without getting wet.   Some photographs of the walk give a flavour of the surroundings ! 

Oh ! and for the record England beat Fiji in the international that followed !