Walk No 13 – From Richmond, a western terminus of the District Line, to Barnes via the Thames Path and Richmond Park
Walk Distance 10 Kilometres (6 miles)
Underfoot - Good paths throughout. Some roads.
Journey Time (from Central London to Richmond by District Line) 30 minutes. You can also reach Richmond Station by train from London Waterloo.
Getting Back to Central London By train from Barnes to Central London
Points of Interest Richmond Green, Thames Path, Richmond Park, White Lodge and the Beverley Brook.
Refreshments - Pubs and cafes at Richmond. Ice creams and drinks available at Pembroke Lodge car park.
Opportunities for Shortening This Walk Approximately 2Km from Barnes Station, you can catch a bus back to Richmond.
Walk Description
1. Cross the road in front of Richmond Station using the pedestrian lights and go ahead into an alleyway. At the end of the alley, turn left and walk along a road called Little Green. Very soon, a large grassy area (Richmond Green) appears on your right. Take the diagonal path which cuts across the centre of the green. Cross a small road and continue in the same direction to the far corner. Enter Old Palace Lane and follow it down to the River Thames (passing The White Swan PH)
2. Turn left and go under Richmond Bridge. Continue along the riverside path with many pubs, restaurants and tearooms on your left. The path takes a slight dog-leg and enters Buccleuch Gardens. Do not take a well-worn path which goes off to the right. Instead continue on the main pathway. Ignore some steps on the left and go ahead to a small gate, signposted “Petersham”. Walk across a wide meadow and go through another gate into an enclosed path. Walk to the end of this and continue ahead for another 100m to find a “Capital Ring” sign on a brick wall indicating a pathway to the left.
3. Follow this path out to a road. Cross the road and enter Richmond Park. Turn left, diagonally uphill, following the signs pointing to “Pembroke Lodge” and “Capital Ring” As you climb the hill a broad view opens up behind you. Near the top, go up some steps and through a large metal gate. Turn right. There is now a rose garden to your left and, on your right, a final chance to see the fine view over west London. Go ahead along the path to reach Pembroke Lodge which is a conference centrel and restaurant.
4. Turn left, right, and then left again to pass the lodge and exit through its main gateway into a car park. Go ahead through the car park and cross a road. Turn right along the verge and walk to the first pathway going left. Turn left and follow it along the perimeter of a wood (Sidmouth Wood). Where the paved track swings left into a works depot, go ahead on an earth track still along the edge of the wood. Follow this track until it reaches a five-way junction at which point, you can see two lakes in the distance. Take the right hand path of the three paths ahead of you. Cross a crossing path and soon join a major track which goes directly towards the lakes. Walk down to the lakes but turn left immediately before reaching them. Do not pass between them.
5. Walk along beside the lake. Across the water, in the distance, you can see a large white house. At the end of the lake, turn right and continue with the lake on your right. When the lake finishes go straight ahead slightly uphill to reach a broad paved driveway. Turn left and pass in front of the white house which is called White Lodge. Walk for another 200m to reach a junction with a road which goes acutely right.marked “White Lodge Only” Look for a woodland path going off right from this junction into the trees. Follow the path as it swings right, then left, then straight on through the woods but parallel to a large open section of the park which you can see to your left.
6. In a clearing with several fallen tree trunks, turn left onto a prominent crossing path. About 500m distant you can see a busy road used by cars to cross the park. Follow the path down to this road. Turn right and cross a bridge over the Beverley Brook. Exit Richmond Park by the prominent gate ahead of you (Roehampton Gate).
7. Upon exiting the park, immediately look for a sign “Beverley Brook Walk” which points left. Follow an enclosed path with the wall of the park on your left and the brook on your right. Go through a gate and swing right to continue to follow the brook. The scenery opens out on your left into a playing field. At the end of the field turn left on a paved path and continue to follow Beverley Brook on your right. After roughly 250m the path leaves the brook and goes between allotments. Reach a road and turn right. Follow this road (Hertford Avenue) for about 750m until it reaches a main road (A205).
8. At this point you can finish the walk by taking a bus back to Richmond Station. Turn left and catch a 33, 337 or 493 at the nearest bus stop. Otherwise turn right and cross the road. Walk for about 800m to the traffic light junction with Vine Street and take the path going diagonally left across East Sheen Common marked “Footpath to Barnes Station”. Regular services to London depart from Platform 1.
