Ashwal two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Ashwal here.

I walked from Walton-on-Thames to Ashford.
Jane Taylor describes this route very well.
Walking out of WoT to the river is along quiet well-to-do suburbs. Along and over the river is also lovely, I stopped for lunch in the Marina café which I can recommend. There's a nice nature reserve alongside the River Ash. Also another café inside Longacres Garden Centre.
The roads around the reservoir were monotonous despite the grazing sheep on the steep bank (you don't get to see the water) but there is no alternative.
The route then takes you past many shops in Ashford high street to the Station.
A fair amount of roadside walking but this route is a green as it could be with some really beautiful parts.
Steps (down to the Thames in WoT) and long grass make it difficult for wheels.

Walked Ashford to Walton.

The maker of Ashwal one asks if someone with more local knowledge can find a less roady option. This is my response!

This is a useful connecting route between communities north and south of the river Thames, and I rate it high at the southern end, but rather lower at the northern end.

Ashford is a major connecting node in the Slow Ways network, where a number of green belt routes pass through, but it does sprawl with limited ‘off road’ options, especially on the London side.

Setting off from Ashford station, the Ashford end can’t really be changed: it’s along busy B roads, mostly wide pavements, albeit with some pavement parking, which is the general way it seems nowadays. Some of this is alongside a reservoir, but all that is visible is a steep grassy bank firmly fenced off.

Eventually I reached Charlton, a secluded fringe-of-London village with amenities, including a magnificent thatched pub. Fields with horses - definitely in green belt country here.

This is where I diverted from Ashwal One (which stays on the road). The route now takes off down a side track - the cars are going to various suppliers’ sheds, but the walkers are going to wend a way through woodland to a rather nicely designed footbridge across the M3.

The path then goes by a nature reserve into Shepperton. I stopped off at the Bell Inn for an excellent refreshment; the back garden was lovely and peaceful.
The route passes close to Shepperton station - trains to Waterloo via Kingston - and through the main shopping area, which has plenty of coffee shops etc if you don’t fancy the pub.

I turned away from the high street along a footpath that eventually comes out by a loop in the river. From here there’s a mix of grassy path and pavement as far as Walton Bridge. Cross the Thames, and there is a curvaceous bridle path leading to the riverside. There’s a decent coffee shop with toilets by the marina which is good for people and dog watching.

The approach to Walton meeting point is up a flight of shallow steps.

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