Going for a walk
  • Going for a Walk
  • National Trails
    • The Thames Path
    • North Downs Way
  • Long Distance Paths
    • The Capital Ring
    • Wayfarers Walk
    • The London Loop
    • The Three Castles Path
    • The Great Stones Way
    • The Vanguard Way
  • Canal Walks
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk >
      • Reading to Calcot
      • Calcot to Woolhampton
      • Woolhampton to Hungerford
      • Hungerford to Great Bedwyn
      • Great Bedwyn to Pewsey Wharf
      • Pewsey to Devizes
      • Devizes to Bradford-on-Avon
      • Bradford-on-Avon to Bath
    • Grand Union Canal Walk >
      • Brentford to West Drayton
      • West Drayton to Croxley Green
      • Croxley Green to Berkhamsted
      • Berkhamsted to Leighton Buzzard
  • Rambles
    • Lockdown Walks
  • Further Afield
    • Switzerland
    • France >
      • Avignon
    • Gran Canaria
    • La Palma
    • Turkey >
      • Lycian Way
  • Photo Gallery
    • Thames Path Photos 1
    • Thames Path Photos 2
    • Thames Path Photos 3
    • Thames Path Photos 4
    • Thames Path Photos 5
    • North Downs Way Photos 1
    • North Downs Way Photos 2
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Photos 2
    • Three Castles Path Photos
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 1
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 2
    • Grand Union Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Vanguard Way Photos
    • Gran Canaria Photos
    • Avignon Photos
    • Lycian Way Photos

The Thames Path

Picture
Hampton Court
Picture
Houseboats at Hampton
PicturePath at East Molesey

Twickenham to Shepperton


Sunday 18 October 2015
 
           Glad to go walking again.  It’s been a tough week at work as we try to come to terms with the tragic loss of one of our professors.  He died in a fall while hiking in the Appalachian mountains, ahead of a conference he was due to attend.  The only comfort we can take from what has happened is that he died while doing something he loved.
          I arrived in Twickenham and promptly got swept up with the rugby fever. I enjoyed the expectant, joyful atmosphere ahead of the Scotland v Australia quarter-final.  Is that wrong so soon after a tragic event?  My guess is that Alexei who enjoyed life to the full would be horrified at all the fuss and tell us to get a grip and carry on as before. 
          After taking a few photos I left the crowd behind.  There was a tedious stretch along the Twickenham streets with just a short interlude walking through Radnor Gardens.  However, that was all forgotten when I was back by the river at Teddington Lock.  Along with many locals enjoying a stroll in the beautiful Autumn sunshine I crossed the footbridge and lock.  I learnt that this is where the tidal Thames ends.  On the other side of the river I walked in bright sunshine – both the footpath and the cycle path were busy all the way to Kingston.  Just before reaching Kingston I sat down on a bench eating my lunch.  My plan was to stop for a coffee in the huge John Lewis store located right on the riverside but I couldn’t find the café.  I did find the toilets though which was more important.  I continued my walk, crossing the bridge, and following the rather dull riverside path.  A wall, fencing and shrubbery completely obscured any views of Bushy Park or the Hampton Court parkland.  I walked quickly around the long bend of the river and then stopped for coffee and cake at the Hampton Court café.  I decided to push on now and try and walk all the way to Staines.  After crossing the bridge, I found East Molesey and the riverside path towards Sunbury Lock utterly delightful.  East Molesey was a hub of interesting shops and restaurants.  There was a café (and toilets) by the lock and I would have liked to stop but no time!  The tree-lined path was delightful and I particularly enjoyed and admired the elegant houseboats and villas on the opposite bank.  The light however was beginning to fade and I began to doubt that I’d make it to Staines.  At Sunbury Lock I stopped briefly for a drink and snack and then hurried on to Walton.  The clouds started to gather now and after crossing the impressive new bridge it started to rain – well, it was just a drizzle but that, together with me losing the way briefly, plus the fact that I didn’t bring any wet weather gear, made the decision to stop the walk in Shepperton easy.  After another detour (terrible signposting) I eventually found the station.  I had to wait half an hour for the train to depart but it was waiting at the station so at least I could sit down.  I had to change at Teddington and had another half hour wait.  On the train I was joined by a lovely Chinese Lady who asked whether this train was going to ‘Rishon’ – after the third time of asking I realised that she wanted to go to Richmond.  Her English was practically non-existent but I managed to explain that Richmond was the fourth stop from here.  I explained that I had to get off at Twickenham – two stops from here.  We managed some kind of conversation and I learnt that she is visiting her daughter who is studying at University.  She told me that I was a beautiful lady.  I think that’s what she said so I said that she too is a beautiful lady.  As the train approached Twickenham I was horrified to see hordes of Australian rugby fans waiting to get on.  I tried to explain that they were harmless and not to worry.  I said goodbye and left her to the hordes.  I hope they were kind to her and made space for her to leave the train at Richmond.  As for me I had another half hour wait for the train to Reading, this time in the ‘pleasant’ company of slightly inebriated Scottish and Australian rugby fans.  I gathered from the conversations around me that plucky Scotland unluckily lost to the Wallabies.  So glad when I finally got home after 10.  The journey from Shepperton took three and a half hours!


My Highlights:
  • Rugby fever at Twickenham
  • Teddington Lock
  • Hampton Court
  • East Molesey
  • Walton Bridge
 
Wildlife:
  • Ducks, geese and a variety of birds
 
Useful information
Transport: 
  • Train Reading to Twickenham
  • Return:  Train Shepperton to Teddington, Teddington to Twickenham, Twickenham to Reading
 Refreshments:
  • Pubs, shops, café’s and restaurants along the route
Public Conveniences:
  • Department stores, Kingston
  • Hampton Court
  • Molesey Lock

Picture
Near Sunbury
Picture
Walton Bridge

Click here for more photos from this walk
Continue to Section 5: Shepperton to Staines
  • Going for a Walk
  • National Trails
    • The Thames Path
    • North Downs Way
  • Long Distance Paths
    • The Capital Ring
    • Wayfarers Walk
    • The London Loop
    • The Three Castles Path
    • The Great Stones Way
    • The Vanguard Way
  • Canal Walks
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk >
      • Reading to Calcot
      • Calcot to Woolhampton
      • Woolhampton to Hungerford
      • Hungerford to Great Bedwyn
      • Great Bedwyn to Pewsey Wharf
      • Pewsey to Devizes
      • Devizes to Bradford-on-Avon
      • Bradford-on-Avon to Bath
    • Grand Union Canal Walk >
      • Brentford to West Drayton
      • West Drayton to Croxley Green
      • Croxley Green to Berkhamsted
      • Berkhamsted to Leighton Buzzard
  • Rambles
    • Lockdown Walks
  • Further Afield
    • Switzerland
    • France >
      • Avignon
    • Gran Canaria
    • La Palma
    • Turkey >
      • Lycian Way
  • Photo Gallery
    • Thames Path Photos 1
    • Thames Path Photos 2
    • Thames Path Photos 3
    • Thames Path Photos 4
    • Thames Path Photos 5
    • North Downs Way Photos 1
    • North Downs Way Photos 2
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Kennet & Avon Canal Photos 2
    • Three Castles Path Photos
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 1
    • Wayfarers Walk Photos 2
    • Grand Union Canal Walk Photos 1
    • Vanguard Way Photos
    • Gran Canaria Photos
    • Avignon Photos
    • Lycian Way Photos