Capital Ring 4. Crystal Palace to Streatham (& the source of "Peckham Springs"?)

 

Gill and I are walking around London via "The Capital Ring" (78 miles with 15 separate routes). While it is not a race and we can take as long as we want to complete, we have been busy lately with various other "commitments". So this post is more than a little late (we did the walk last month). Will try and catch up.

We started at Crystal Palace station and thankfully this was a short route (4.1 miles) since it rained and rained nearly all the way. Not so heavy that you had to give up but we were pretty soggy but it was not cold o windy for March. 

South London is surprisingly hilly in parts (by London standards). There was nothing too steep and some great views. This route was mostly suburban but lots of parks, commons and remnants of ancient forests (such as the Great North Wood). There was even a 19th Century mansion in Norwood Grove where we stopped for coffee (flasks) and treats under a tree while sheltering from the rain. 

When we came towards Streatham Common we were amazed at the wonderful "Rockery Gardens" which are well worth a visit. There used to be famous mineral water wells here which are now sadly unused (and reminded me not unkindly of another more modern, South London mineral water site, called "Peckham Springs")

Streatham Common is a real London "Green Lung" and it must be a fantastic community asset. We finished with a beer at the local Spoons (which now may be closed for a refurbishment so check). 

Will post more pictures of walk on Facebook 

Capital Ring Walk 3. Grove Park to Crystal Palace

Today Gill and I continued with our journey around London via the Capital Ring walk. We had started off in Woolwich during November and will hopefully finish 78 miles later in Beckton (not in one go!).

It took us about 1 hour to get to Grove Park (bus to Stratford since Lizzie line down, change Jubilee to London Bridge then over head to Grove Park). Route is 7.7 miles with extra 0.5 miles from station to start. 

The walk was mostly going through London suburbia but there were a number of parks and greenways. Highlight was Beckenham Place Park which had ancient forests and trails, wide open spaces and is a wonderful green lung for London. I enjoyed there a tasty (but somewhat pricey) egg, bacon and tomato roll with coffee. 

The weather was quite warm for the time of year (quite a few people in shorts and even tee-shirts) but it was overcast and we were lucky it didn't rain. The early spring blossom and flowers were marvellous and a reminder of the good things to come. 

It is a fairly long section of the ring walk but mostly flat with some up and downs. Lots of noisy Ring-necked Parakeets and squabbling grey squirrels. 

In another park Gill chatted to a family about their naughty dog, which refused to respond to their repeated calls to return to them, instead enjoying drinking out of a very muddy puddle. She afterwards recognised him as the actor, Paul Ready, from the sitcom "Motherland" (Kevin). 

At the end of the walk in the historic Crystal Palace, the kids seem to enjoy the victorian statues of dinosaurs.  Despite being on the "at risk" register of English Heritage they seemed to be in fairly good condition considering they are around 170 years old. 

The walk finished at the station and we took a similar trip back and are looking forward to our next leg, Crystal Palace to Streatham. 

Capital Ring Walk 2: Falconwood to Grove Park

Today, Gill and I completed the 2nd "Capital Ring" walk around London. Officially only 3.5 miles but our Zepp Life walking app claimed 6 miles. This included walks from local railway stations to start and finish but also getting a little lost and exploring the gardens in Eltham Palace. 

It was more built up than last week (no sunshine and much colder) but still very pleasant, mostly walking through parks, green lanes and footpaths. 

The highlight was stopping off at Eltham Palace, childhood home of King Henry V111 and the country home of the English monarchy for over 250 years, run now by English Heritage. We did not have time to tour the inside of the Palace, and had a disappointing experience with a grumpy and rude cafe manager but the other staff and volunteers were most welcoming. Will return in summer to explore further. 

The Courtaulds family bought and restored the site in the 1930s, using I assume their wealth obtained from their textile mills. I was brought up in North Wales and the mills in Flint and Holywell were major employers but when they closed,  it contributed to massive unemployment at the time. There are also serious concerns about the safety of these mills and the impact on its workers. 

We passed the home of famous cricketer WG Grace and the theatre named after another famous local boy, the comedian Bob Hope, who emigrated to America aged 4.  British comedian, Frankie Howard was also brought up near here. We then walked past the home of "Farmer Brown" who at the turn of the 20th century, dressed in smock and tall hat, who lived to the age of 102 "on a diet of whiskey, ale, steak and cigars". 

It took about an hour to get there and back via train from Forest Gate. You can get a route for free form google maps but we used Ordnance Survey app (subscription) and the guide book "The Capital Ring" by Colin Saunders. 

Check out further pictures on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/walksinandaroundlondon/

Capital Ring Walk 1: Woolwich to Falconwood

 

A few years ago Gill and I went on a series of linear walks around our city called the London Loop. This was in 24 sections and just under 150 miles. It was really great fun and we went to beautiful and historic parts of London that we had never been to before. It took us a couple of years to complete but was well worth it.

Today we began the Capital Ring. This is "only" 78 miles around London and there are 15 linear sections. 

We started off outside the Woolwich foot tunnel and walked along the Thames past the ferry. The weather was cold but there was blue skies and sunshine. This riverwalk is so impressive.

Then we left the river and walked through a series of parks, woods and common land. It is amazing how many green "lungs" London has and that they were so quiet, peaceful and surprisingly hilly. 

We stopped off for brunch in the Old cottage coffee house outside the historic Charlton House (I have been to UNISON away days here) . I had the best sausage and bacon baguette in my living memory. Recommended. 

We walked up along Woolwich Common which our guidebook said was used by British Army units to gather and camp before they would march down to Woolwich Arsenal to collect their weapons then go to the Thames to embark on their ships for overseas service. By coincidence as we walked across the common we could hear a (we assume) military band practicing playing music from the modern day Woolwich barracks. 

When we came across "Severndroog Castle" at the highest point of the walk, I was absolutely astonished that I have lived in London for 35 years and had never heard of or visited this place. I will definitely come back on a Sunday and go up to the top to view the 7 English Counties you can see from its viewing platform.  

We dropped down through more parks and woods walking along a bed of autumn leaves. One path was blocked by a massive tree blown down (snapped near its base) and we had to work our way through brambles. Thankfully, we were not wearing shorts. 

We finished off in Falconwood and took the train back home. 

I will post further pictures on Facebook.

I cannot wait until the next Capital Ring walk.