Richmond-upon-Thames

A wonderfully varied walk that could take you all day if you were to wander through the parks and stop to see the exhibitions. Quaint villagey courtyards to wide open parks, busy streets to quiet waterways....

Strider

I like the section along the Thames (the whole of the Thames is worth walking!), where you also cross the meridian....

Derick Rethans

The section in Richmond itself was really busy, especially near the station as the trains weren't going and there was a long queue for the bus....

Derick Rethans

Steps over railways, and by Chiswick bridge; steep bridge in Chiswick park (30%), but there are alternate paths; and the cemeteries, the Thames Path down by Chiswick bridge and Chiswick Park all close at dusk; a level crossing...

Strider

Mostly roadside walking with a couple of parks, but this well plotted route picks up lots of interesting places....

Strider

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...

Lizbiz70

- Of course the grounds of the Chiswick House are lovely. I also (somewhat hypocritically, perhaps!) wish the route took you down the Chiswick High Street, which is extremely lovely, instead of behind it through Chiswick Common...

mtormey

I loved that the route felt like it passed through a lot of different parts of Richmond Park and didn't just follow one "main path" while still being quite direct....

mtormey

The route skirts around the outside of Gunnersbury Park, this is so it can claim to be a 24 hours route, but as the gates were open I walked round on the inside path for a bit of extra greenery....

Jane Taylor

I often walk this section of the river between Richmond and Kingston and this maps it fine. Trains back to Richmond from Kingston run every half an hour....

Michael Stone

Excellent route - well marked and easy to follow, as well as being a very enjoyable walk. Slightly longer than the alternative Richmond Ealing route, but a much nicer walk with very little road walking....

jamiekirk

Almost entirely along roads, so not the most scenic walk, but accessible for all and does manage to avoid main roads for the most part....

jamiekirk

Riceal Two is an improved version of this route, so if you are reading this wondering which route to pick I am guiding to Riceal Two! This route is well conceived - riverside, parks, canal, extremely enjoyable and reasonably direct-ish - but has some inaccuracy at Boston Manor (pointed out in the first review) and can be improved with less road and more riverside at Isleworth (pointed out in the second review). I also found when I walked it that the safe road crossing at Pitzhanger (near Ealing) was not properly indicated....

Jane Taylor

The route picks out some green highlights of South West London, including the river Thames, the Grand Union canal, and a stack of parks including Syon, Boston Manor, Lammas and Walpole....

Jane Taylor

We're amazingly fortunate to have such a wealth of green spaces in Ealing and Richmond and this route takes you through six parks and along the River Thames....

Slow Ways Darren

Scenic walk along the Thames through the edge of the Syon estate and along the Grand union canal. Not wheelchair friendly. Potentially cycle friendly in good weather and with patience in toe paths....

Neil Reynolds

Between Ham House and Kingston there really isn't much until you get to Kingston although you will pass a YMCA which has a cafe a bit south of the Teddington Locks....

Byrney

Between Ham House and Kingston there really isn't much until you get to Kingston although you will pass a YMCA which has a cafe a bit south of the Teddington Locks....

Byrney

This route and Rickin Three (more or less the same route) between Richmond and Kingston is rather long-winded, and unless you really want to walk the whole way along the river I would recommend Rickin Four which cuts the river loop off....

Jane Taylor

Between this route and Rickin One I prefer Rickin One (the other one) because it crosses Richmond Green and has less traffic....

Jane Taylor

Good route - I walked this route from Richmond to Hounslow. There's a tiny swerve just after (or before if coming from Hounslow) Richmond Lock which can be ignored unless the tide is covering the path ahead (which it may for around 30 minutes or so twice a day.). In central Hounslow the route goes down the High Street which is a great place for a curry and charity shops....

Jane Taylor

Additional review to alert that part of this route across the Pen Ponds Causeway will be closed from 16th August - 4th October 2021 (dates subject to change) while the causeway is raised to cope with 'one in a thousand year' flooding. Maybe there will be a signposted diversion, otherwise refer to maps to steer around the closure, which will involve walking round the ponds. Still a 5 star route!...

Jane Taylor

However there is one unsafe road crossing at the A315 in Hounslow, and inaccurate routing at Redlees Park in Isleworth, and I think between them this is enough to warrant not taking this version of the routing forward, instead improving it in a new version....

Jane Taylor

** 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....

Jane Taylor

At Richmond and Kingston the route runs by the river, at Ham it cuts across the wide loop of the river with a mix of quiet residential streets and green common land, making a reasonably direct and interesting route with very little main road....

Jane Taylor

Cross the railway at North Sheen station (level crossing) and head past the old Mortlake Brewery towards Chiswick Bridge. Chiswick Bridge has a wide pavement, and it's a pretty good river crossing for pedestrians, great views of the Thames - this is the best place to watch the Boat Race finish. On the Chiswick side of the bridge the pavement narrows: it's only a short section, c 100m, but it's shared with cyclists, and they can go pretty fast as they come downhill off the bridge....

Jane Taylor

Richmond to Chiswick crossing the Thames at Chiswick Bridge. On the Chiswick side of the bridge the route goes down steps to the river and briefly joins the Thames path. Eventually the route crosses the railway at Chiswick Station (stairs) and heads into Chiswick House gardens (closed at dusk)....

Jane Taylor

Walk uphill to one of the lesser known park gates, and across the park to Robin Hood Gate and the A3, with opportunities to see fantastic urban wildlife. The meeting point creates a bit of a dog leg for anyone joining two routes together, and can easily be skipped altogether by crossing the A3 directly outside Robin Hood gate to reach Wimbledon Common, rather than walking to the meeting point, then crossing the A3 by footbridge....

Jane Taylor

I'm leaving a second (unfavourable) review, because despite being an excellent route in almost all respects, on reconsideration I don't think it should be included in the Slow Ways network, due to using a 'cut through' path by Queen Mary's hospital which isn't a right of way. So I'm flagging it. Please use Ricput 2 which has been corrected, it's a gorgeous walk through Richmond Park, with some very interesting architecture on the way....

Jane Taylor

This is a really nice route BUT there are one or two places where road crossings have not been well drawn, in particular crossing the A305 Richmond Road, which isn't safe at all. I have redrawn the route as Twiric 3, with accurate road crossings, please do use it, I will!!...

Jane Taylor

where the route crosses the A3004 St Margarets Road at St Margarets. I made a round trip to Twickenham and back from Richmond using Twiric 3 on the way out and Twiric 2 (this route) on the way back! This route (Twiric 2) is 200 metres more direct than Twiric 3 - it achieves this by crossing the Thames on the busy A316 Twickenham Bridge, rather than using Richmond Bridge (which is also busy in a different slow-moving urban traffic sort of way). There is an unsafe crossing where the route crosses the A3004 St Margarets Road at St Margarets....

Jane Taylor

The busy road leading to Richmond Bridge has lots of local cafes and shops. Across the bridge the route avoids most of the main Richmond shopping street, and instead goes past the bus station, then through the churchyard with magnificent 18th century tombstones....

Jane Taylor

From Richmond Station walk along the busy main street and head towards East Sheen on the same route as Ricput 2. Barnes Common has mostly well-lit paths, pass by Barnes Station (possible coffee stop) and continue on the path alongside the 'up' platform all the way to the main road (B306, Queen's Ride)....

Jane Taylor

To avoid the grass, when coming from Richmond, take the footpath directly in front of you once you cross the bridge, and turn left after the parking lot onto the main footpath that takes you past the tennis courts and Manor House, to the pond. You could alternatively, if you like unpaved stretches, take the signposted "nature trail" (if coming from Ealing, you'll find it at the bottom end of the pond you encounter when you first enter the park, which takes you down some earthen steps to a dirt track alongside the creek, and will take you out next to the grass section mentioned above. However there is no signpost if coming from Richmond, follow the angle of river until a side creek turns inland), where this end of the nature trail starts. For the Isleworth section, the Slowways route follows Richmond Road for a section - you can detour off this to follow the riverside path for most this section too, apart from very briefly having the rejoin the road to cross the River Crane....

Canadian in London

Ricput 2 sorts out that niggle, and also improves the route through the Roehampton estate with more green and less steep road (and a bus stop and shop). Possible mud on East Sheen common, but so far I've only walked this route when it's been dry underfoot....

Jane Taylor

I would also suggest that there is an option for the walk (if done from Ealing Broadway to Richmond) that takes you past a range of pubs and cafes at the end of your walk.......

Richard Baker

I loved walking this route between Richmond and Putney, it's got lots of off-road/greenery while staying reasonable direct, highlights include Richmond Park and East Sheen Common, very enjoyable. Toilets in Richmond Park, cafe near Roehampton Gate, and often an ice-cream van at Sheen Gate....

Jane Taylor

This is just to add one photograph omitted from the survey I submitted, of a rather narrow alley around 1/2 km from the Richmond end. The alley is about 75 cm wide....

Mrs D

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....

Philipj8

Once outside Richmond Park at the Richmond end there is good use of side road which meant that this was an enjoyable walk....

Philipj8

The unpaved ground was dry and therefore unable to tell how mud the path would be if wet however there were no signs to rutting. Most of the way was very quiet in pleasant surrounds....

Philipj8

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 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....

Rach

Easy walking which is suitable for all types of walkers and wheeled mobility vehicles. At the Twickenham end there is a new footpath currently being built which will add an additional benefit as this will be away from the traffic around the station....

Philipj8