Walk No 13 –   From Richmond, at the western end of the District Line to Barnes via the Thames Path and Richmond Park

Distance

10 km (6 miles)

Underfoot

Good paths throughout

Outward Journey

District Line to Richmond or mainline train from Waterloo - about 30 minutes from Central London

Return 

By train from Barnes

Points of Interest

Thames Path, Richmond Park

Refreshments

Pubs and cafes at Richmond, cafe and refreshment kiosk at Pembroke Lodge

Public Toilets

At Richmond Station and Pembroke Lodge

Shortening the Walk

Catch a bus back to Richmond about 1.5 km from the end

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What to Expect From This Walk

This is a lovely walk which makes best use of the beautiful countryside near Richmond.  It starts across Richmond Green and then uses the Thames Path to connect with Richmond Park. The traverse of the park makes up about half the walk.  The final part of the walk makes use of the Beverley Brook Trail to reach East Sheen and Barnes.

 

 

 

1. Cross the road at the pedestrian lights in front of Richmond Station and go ahead through an alleyway. Turn left and walk along a road called Little Green. Very soon, you see Richmond Green on your right. Take the diagonal path which cuts across the centre of the Green. Cross over a small road and continue in the same direction to the far corner of the Green. Enter Old Palace Lane and follow it down to the River Thames, passing the White Swan pub.  

2. Turn left and pass under Richmond Bridge. Continue along the riverside and enter Buccleuch Gardens. Do not take the well-worn path which goes off to the right. Instead, continue on the paved pathway. Ignore some steps on the left and go ahead to a small gate, signposted Petersham. Walk across a meadow and go through a gate into an enclosed path. Walk to the end of this and continue for another 100m on a small road. Look out for a Capital Ring sign on a brick wall indicating a pathway to the left.

3. Turn left and follow the path to a road. Cross the road and enter Richmond Park. Go left, diagonally uphill, following the signs for the Capital Ring and Pembroke Lodge. As you climb the hill, a fine view opens up behind you. Near the top, go up some steps and through a large metal gate. Turn right. There is a rose garden to your left and another chance to admire the view over West London. Go ahead along the path to Pembroke Lodge, a Georgian mansion which has a popular café.

4. Turn left, go around the lodge and exit through its main gateway into a car park with a refreshment kiosk. Go through the car park and cross a road. Turn right along the verge and walk as far as the first track going left. Turn left here to follow the track along the perimeter of a wood. Where the paved track swings left into a works depot, go ahead, still along the edge of the wood. Continue until the track 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. Go over a crossing path and then turn right on a larger track which leads down to the lakes. Walk down towards the lakes. Just before reaching them, turn left to walk along the edge of one of the lakes.

5. At the corner of the lake, turn right and continue beside the water. When you reach the end of the lake, go straight ahead uphill to reach an asphalt road. Turn left and pass in front of the aptly named White Lodge. Walk for another 200m to reach a junction with a road which goes back right at an acute angle, marked White Lodge Only.  At this point leave the tarmac and turn right on a path going off towards the trees. Follow the path as it swings right, then left, then straight on through the woods, always parallel to a large open section of the park which you can see to your left. In a clearing with several fallen tree trunks, turn left onto a crossing path which  after 500m leads you down to the vehicle road crossing the park. Turn right and follow the road across the Beverley Brook. Exit Richmond Park by the Roehampton Gate and immediately look out for a Beverley Brook Walk sign pointing left.

6. Turn left and follow an enclosed path, with the wall of the park on your left and the brook on your right. Go through a gate, swing right and continue walking alongside the brook. The view opens out on the left, across 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 250m the path leaves the brook and leads you between allotments to reach a road (Hertford Avenue). Turn right and follow this road until it reaches Upper Richmond Road (the A205).

7. If you wish to shorten the walk by taking a bus back to Richmond Station, turn left here to find the nearest bus stop and catch a no. 33 or no. 493. Otherwise, turn right and cross the road. Walk for 800m to the traffic lights at the junction with Vine Street. Take the path which goes diagonally left across East Sheen Common, signed as a footpath to Barnes Station, with mainline trains to London.

 
Information on Things You Will See

 

Richmond Green is said to be one of the most beautiful urban greens in England. It is square in shape and roughly twelve acres in size.  On the north-east side there is a smaller open space called Little Green. Both are overlooked by a mixture of period townhouses, historic buildings and municipal and commercial establishments including Richmond Theatre.  It has a long history of hosting sporting events. In the 16th century tournaments and archery contests are known to have taken place.  More recently cricket has been the sport of choice and matches have occurred from the 18th century up to the present day. 

The Thames Path is a National Trail which runs between the source of the river near Cirencester in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton a distance of 296Km (184 miles).

Richmond Park, was created by Charles I in the 17th century as a deer park. At 2,360 acres it is the largest of London's Royal Parks and is of national and international importance for wildlife conservation.  It is a place of many walkers, cyclists and horse riders and is home to roughly 630 red and fallow deer which roam freely through the park.

White Lodge is a Grade I listed Georgian House.  Formerly a Royal residence, it is now the home of the Royal Ballet Lower School instructing students aged 11 to 16 years. In the mid 18thC the lodge was frequently occupied by Queen Caroline, the consort of George II.  It was built as a hunting lodge for George II and was completed in 1730.

Pembroke Lodge is another listed Georgian mansion.  It is located on high ground with views across London and the Thames Valley. It has 11 acres of landscaped grounds. The building was once the home of the British Prime Minister John Russell and was the childhood home of his grandson, the philosopher, Bertrand Russell. It is part of the Crown Estate and is now run as a catering facility, conference centre and wedding venue. Situated on Poet’s Corner in Pembroke Lodge Gardens lies the Ian Dury bench, in memory of the rock star best known for his songs Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick and What a Waste.

Beverley Brook rises in Worcester Park and flows north east to join the Thames at Barn Elmes between Barnes and Putney. It is 14.3Km (9miles) long.  In Richmond Park it creates a water feature much used by deer and smaller animals.