The Green London Way is a walking route of 110 miles length around London split into 18 sections. It follows much of the route of the 78 mile long Capital Ring but has some new sections. The Green London Way is largely the work of one man, Bob Gilbert, who is a supporter for the protection of urban open spaces and public access. His book, The Green London Way, outlines each section with detailed description of the historic and wildlife aspects of each section and is being used as I walk the route.
Sections 9-11 of the Green London Way are really tying the ribbons and cover walks I have done several times in the past. Section 9 in the book is a leisurely 3 mile stroll along the Thames to Kew so it seemed sensible to combine it with part of section 10 to Boston Manor, leaving the remainder of the loop to Greenford as an easily do-able second day out.
So arriving at Richmond station at 9.45 I made my way across Richmond Green and down to the river and was soon at Richmond lock where I left the Capital Ring route. It is quite a long time since I have walked this stretch of the south bank, indeed it might be as long ago as when I did the Thames Path 30 years ago.
The path along the Thames was quite pleasant through light woodland and soon Isleworth and its marina came into view on the opposite bank together with its church.
A little further along was the northern of the two markers for the Kew Meridian. The southern one is near Twickenham bridge but the view of the observatory from there is blocked by trees. Not the case for the northern one with a good view of Kew Observatory behind the obelisk pillars set up in 1769 for observing a transit of Venus across the sun at the time. Then Syon house which I have passed on my previous walks.
Now the estuary of the river Brent and Brentford dock come into view on the opposite bank and soon Kew bridge, which is the end of section 9.
Section 10 starts on the other bank of the Thames, initially following the route of the Thames Path but then rather than going around Brentford Dock takes a route through the centre of Brentford with its three churches, the Musical Museum and the Waterman's Art Centre with a couple of small parks for good measure.
So reaching Brentford Lock the route now follows that of Capital Ring section 7 along the Grand Union canal, which I last walked in July 2020. Past the large Glaxo Smith Klein conglomeration and the ever growing noise from the M4 until I came to Osterley Lock where I turned off. A pleasant lunch in the Harvester at Boston Manor then the tube back to Richmond and home.
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