Woolwich to Falconwood
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Capital Ring section 1 page 1 CAPITAL RING Section 1 of 15 Woolwich to Falconwood Section start: Woolwich foot tunnel Nearest station to start: Woolwich Arsenal (DLR or Rail) Section finish: Falconwood Nearest station to finish: Falconwood (Rail) Section distance 6.2 miles plus 1.0 miles of station links Total = 7.2 miles (11.6 km) Introduction This is one of the longer and most attractive sections of the Capital Ring. It has great contrasts, rising from the River Thames to Oxleas Meadow, one of the highest points in inner London. The route is mainly level but there are some steep slopes and three long flights of steps, two of which have sign-posted detours. There is a mixture of surfaced paths, a little pavement, rough grass, and un-surfaced tracks. There are many bus stops along the way, so you can break your walk. Did you know? With many branches and There are six cafés along the route. Where the walk leaves the Thames loops, the Green Chain there are two cafés to your right in Thames-side Studios. The Thames walk stretches from the River Thames to Barrier boasts the 'View café, whilst in Charlton Park you find the 'Old Nunhead Cemetery, Cottage' café to your right when facing Charlton House. Severndroog spanning fields, parks and woodlands. As Castle has a Tea Room on the ground floor and the latter part of the walk indicated on the maps, offers the Oxleas Wood café with its fine hilltop views. much of this section of the Capital Ring follows some of the branches of The route is partially shared with the Thames Path and considerably with the Green Chain. The the Green Chain Walk. Note that several of the parks traversed in the maps show other branches in green that earlier parts of the route are closed at dusk. are not part of this walk. Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring Updated May 2021 Capital Ring section 1 page 2 Walking directions Did you know? The walk starts by the southern end of the Woolwich foot tunnel, next to The Woolwich foot the River Thames. It then stays besides the river almost as far as the tunnel was built in 1912 Thames Barrier. and goes under the river to North Woolwich, which is the end of the With the river on your right, walk upstream from the foot tunnel to cross the Capital Ring Section 15. Woolwich ferry's approach road. At present, the stretch of path immediately The Woolwich Free beyond the approach road to the ferry is closed whilst a block of flats is Ferry, adjacent to the built besides the river. Therefore, turn left to the main road, then right at the foot tunnel entrance, takes vehicles and foot roundabout, and past the building-site hoardings until you reach the sign passengers over the ‘Mast Quay’. Turn right down the approach to the flats and walk through Thames and has been them back to the riverside. Turn left. operating for over 800 years. Head upstream along the riverside path. You pass two of the former dry- docks, now water-filled, and the Gun Drill Battery from when this area was a naval dockyard. Shortly after the cannons, and past a modern estate, the Did you know The Thames Barrier path reaches a flood defence wall. Either climb up and over the maritime- was proposed following themed Linkbridge 2000 for a good view of the Thames Barrier or use the a terrible storm in 1953 ramp to the left. which produced a tidal surge up the river; it drowned many people On your left you come to a Thames Path signpost directing you inland. and caused great Ignore this sign and continue by the river. The old route has been made damage. The barrier obsolete by the elevated walkway that you come to shortly. Follow this was completed in 1984 elevated section until it slopes down to end in a road (Warspite Road). and its huge steel gates can be raised in 45 Continue along Warspite Road and take the second right into Bowater minutes. There is a Road through large factory buildings. Leaving the buildings, and with the visitor centre off Thames Barrier to your right, turn left, just after the zebra crossing, to Eastmoor Street. follow Green Chain signs to the main road (Woolwich Road). Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring Updated May 2021 Capital Ring section 1 page 3 Cross Woolwich Road by the pedestrian crossing to enter Maryon Park. There is a public convenience in this park, see map for location. Just through the park's gate, turn left. The path then swings to the right, over a railway bridge, and into the main part of the park. Bear right before the tennis courts and right again having passed them to ascend 115 steps with white-painted handrails. This turn is only marked by a small waymarking post so keep a look-out. Alternative route For an alternative route avoiding the steps: keep to the left of the tennis courts and follow the Green Chain's signs through the park to the Maryon Road entrance (toilets to the right). Turn right into Maryon Road and right again at the church into Woodland Terrace, which becomes Thorntree Road. Continue to the top of the hill, past the houses, and re-join the Capital Ring at the large Green Chain sign to the left. Did you know The main route also leads to the large sign to the left in Thorntree Road. Maryon Park was Having climbed the steps walk through the grassed area in front of you and formed from sandpits. A cross over Thorntree Road to the sign. Pass the sign into Maryon Wilson nearby sandpit is now 'The Valley', home of Park, which was once part of the old Hanging Wood. Follow the tarmac Charlton Athletic path downhill to and through the children's zoo. Football Club. The park was a key location in Leaving the animal enclosures, turn left at the large footpath sign, and Michelangelo follow the path to Charlton Park Road. Cross and turn right to reach Antonioni's film Blow up. Charlton Park Academy. Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring Updated May 2021 Capital Ring section 1 page 4 The entrance to Charlton Park is through a gate in the wall immediately after Charlton Park Academy. There are footpath signs on both sides of the road indicating this small gate but they are often obscured by foliage. Within the park, and with Charlton Park Academy still to the left, continue until facing the playing fields. You see a large footpath sign before you. Follow the light green Capital Ring finger at the top. Turn right along the wide tarmac path. Charlton House is ahead. There is a public convenience to your right when facing Charlton House (see map). At the end of the wide path, now facing Charlton House, turn left to cross the park and then left again when you reach its far side. Follow the park's southern boundary to another large Green Chain sign. At the sign, turn right to leave the park, cross the road (Charlton Park Lane) and follow Charlton Park Lane to shortly take the first left into Inigo Jones Road. At the end of Inigo Jones Road cross Did you know? Charlton House, in the straight-over the T-junction to the railings of Hornfair Park. distance, was built in 1612 for Sir Adam Immediately after entering Hornfair Park turn right and then almost Newton, and is one of immediately left along a path to keep the fenced-off BMX track to your left. the best examples of Jacobean architecture Note that there is no signpost to indicate this important left turn. Once past left in London. It was the BMX track turn left, through a gate in the park's boundary, and then restored in 1878 by immediately right to reach a road (Baker Road). Turn left into Baker Road, Norman Shaw for the and shortly cross rightwards by the zebra crossing. Maryon Wilson family. Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring Updated May 2021 Capital Ring section 1 page 5 The crossing brings you to the large Green Chain sign on the opposite side of the road. Now head-over Woolwich Common, following the Green Chain and Capital Ring waymarkers. There are increasingly fine views to the left whilst crossing the Common and the distantly visible fields are in Essex. Having crossed Woolwich Common the path comes to a T-junction. Turn right, keeping the trees to your left. You come to a fork in the path, bear left Did you know? The Roman Watling here, and shortly you are beside a major road, Academy Road, with a large Street crossed Shooters Green Chain signpost before you. Follow Academy Road for 150 yards to Hill on its way from its crossroads with Shooters Hill Road. You see a red-brick building Dover to London. The diagonally opposite you and to its left (east) is the open grassland of name Shooters Hill may come from archery Eltham Common.