Rickin two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

Really enjoyed this very accesdible walk along the Thames Path and Capital Ring path. It was difficult to find footpath in places as it went across grassland. Lovely views, historical places and for majority car free.

** This is a very good route but with a couple of, to my mind, serious glitches: so good is it I have reworked it, hopefully glitch free, as Rickin four and would recommend using that. **

The route along the river and through Ham is excellent, however there is an inaccuracy about the plotting, as if the whole route line has shifted about 10 metres to the South-East, and I found it difficult in a few places to pinpoint the exact path to follow, which was frustrating. This is the main reason I've reworked the route, and awarded 2 stars.
I also feel one of the two road crossings at Petersham is potentially unsafe, although this may depend on the amount and speed of traffic at the time of crossing.

Apart from these points I thoroughly enjoyed the route, which is reasonably direct, has plenty of variety and interest, riverside, green spaces and refreshments too.

At high tide the river at Richmond may come across the path, the detour is the A307 Petersham Road between Petersham Meadows and central Richmond.

Interesting varied walk. Kingston end was a pleasant walk by the river Thames and middle through Ham was a mixture of quiet streets and footpaths through grass/wooded areas. Finally back to the river after crossing Petersham Fields. Warning if the tide is in then the tow path may be flooded so you will need to head into Richmond by the road at Buccleugh Gardens.

This is a beautiful route which partly follows the riverside and takes paths through Petersham and Ham, making it shorter and more varied than using the Thames Path all the way. You may have to detour off the riverside in Richmond at the start if it is high tide, as I did, - see the photo of Friar's Lane. You can easily continue along the main road as far as you need to, dropping back down to the riverside at one of several points, such as Richmond Bridge, Riverdale Gardens (///suffer.views.spaces) or at Buccleugh Gardens (///natively.having.mats), depending on how high the water is. The path along Richmond Riverside is mostly flat and smooth. For most of the way between Petersham Meadows and rejoining the towpath at Ham, the footpaths are flat, but not necessarily smooth, and in some places, although it is easy terrain, it could be muddy and slippery underfoot if it has rained a lot recently. Ham Avenues were very wet last winter, but you will see from the photos how dry it was the day I wrote this review. There are kissing gates at either end of Petersham Meadows but otherwise the route is obstacle free. Plenty of benches line the river sections and there are some on Ham Common, and there are places to have refreshments at the beginning and end of the walk, with a few options also along the way (several pubs/a kiosk). As well as the beautiful scenery including meadows, commons, lightly wooded areas and the river, you are likely to see ducks, geese, swans, other waterfowl and squirrels. Enjoy your walk.

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