As well as the Thames at Erith, highlights are Frank’s Park at Belvedere, and Lesnes Abbey Woods, including the abbey ruins. If continuing to Thamesmead, there is a good linking path from the abbey ruins area directly north, which connects to the Abbey Wood to Thamesmead Slow Way (Thaabb)! Because its not clear whether the Abbey Wood meeting point is at the low (street) or high (station) level, so if you are continuing on you may need a change of level...

Jane Taylor

Fly tipping (photo 4, as described by Daisy in her review) impeded but didn’t prevent access to the raised path at Crayford Creek, (photo 5), which is where you may encounter the rowdy dirt bikes....

Jane Taylor

Due to new housing need to follow Green Chain and Thames Path in Erith. Lesnes Abbey Park went to right , when could of gone straight on. Lots of green space....

Lizbiz70

This is the best combination with a good balance of green, (fairly) direct, easy to navigate, quiet roads and the reed beds along the River Cray creek and the riverside walk from where it joins the River Darent all the way into Dartford. As long as the dirtbikes aren't out this is a great walk in an upromising area, still good with them, particularly the peaceful approach into Dartford town centre along the river....

Daisy C

I really liked this route combination and the mix of old, new, industrial, residential & natural you see on the way. It was easy to navigate and fairly quiet too despite it being part of the Thames Path. Recommended!...

Dan Barron

It was clear which route to take through Martens Grove and although there was no trodden path in Barnehurst Op Sp, you just follow the scrub along the side of the park....

Daisy C

Yes, it is a bit smelly (for about half a mile) at Crossness, but it's not exactly the great stink, and only for about half a mile. There are few exit points from the eastern part of the route, until the Thamesmead residential section starts after Crossness, and it is isolated, but there was a steady trickle of (weekend?) cyclists, runners and dogwalkers, so it wasn't lonely....

Daisy C

It starts with an detour north, which lets you have a(n inexplicably) short walk beside the River Thames (no photos sorry). At about 2km into the walk, between Betsham Rd and Slade Green Rd, new housing has moved the public footpath away from the train tracks. I noticed long shallow steps at Slade Green footbridge and the footpath down to Priory Rd, Dartford, plus steeper ones up to Dartford Station (latter avoidable if you go a bit further down the road)...

Daisy C

Once it joined the Green Chain Walk at the eastern end of Lesnes Abbey Woods it was really easy to navigate as there are lots of fingerposts and wooden waymarkers all the way to the Thames and then back around to Erith Station....

Daisy C

But the problem I think is actually serious is right at the start outside Abbey Wood Station, it looks good on a map but in 3-D reality it's either impossible or off-putting. At the station exit there is a road in front of you so it's the obvious right turn to take, but if you do then you can't turn left onto Abbey Road as per the route unless you jump off the side of the flyover. After that you will get onto Abbey Road and can turn right but it's fairly busy and you'll need to cross, but the good crossing (pelican) is behind you, so you'd need to double back....

Daisy C

It’s also interesting to note that much of this stretch is part of the England Coast Path....

John Pestle