This is another of the walks in the book 'Exploring the Elizabeth Line' by Jeff Lock and is a circular walk from Woolwich Elizabeth Line station exploring Woolwich Arsenal, the Thames and Thamesmead. Much of this was familiar ground but the Gallions Park areas were new. The walk is around 4 miles.
Out of the station then along No. 1 street with the main Guardhouse, a statue representing Nike and the Royal Brass Foundary.
James Clavell Square with Assembly, an artwork by Peter Burke with 16 cast iron figures in a circle. Nearby Gun 28/10, one of the largest guns used by the Royal Artillery.
On to the Thames Path at Woolwich Pier. A small inlet has to be skirted around, adjacent is a ventilation shaft for the DLR.
Further along is Broadwater Lock and what remains of the former Royal Arsenal canal. This short canal was used to ferry supplies for the Arsenal but disused since 1960. The lock gates are concreted in and the lower stretches removed and filled when the new housing estate was built.
The route leaves the Thames here and explores Gallions Park, a pleasant wooded area with a large lake.
Past the lake a pleasant small river is followed to the exit of the park and along Foxglove Path.
Gallions Hill is an artificial mound created from rubble when they built the new Thamesmead estate. It was opened to the public in 2017.
A spiral path leads with a shallow incline to the summit where there are good views of the surrounding London.
Back down, Gallions Reach Park is entered, opened the same time as the hill and with smaller hills to explore. The path through here leads down to the Thames.
Back on the river and a fairly quiet towpath leads back to Woolwich.
Reaching the DLR ventilation shaft the river is left and the route takes me through more of the former Royal Arsenal. During this time I found myself watching the planes landing at nearby City Airport and when my camera accidentally switched itself to hybrid video mode I found I had a couple of clips of video. Enjoy, quality not good but I was not aware I was filming at the time! Lunch in the Dial arch opposite the station then back on the tube and train to home.