Woolwich to Falconwood

Capital Ring section 1

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CAPITAL RING

Section 1 of 15 Woolwich to Falconwood

Section start:
Woolwich foot tunnel

Nearest station to start: Section ﬁnish:
Woolwich Arsenal (DLR or Rail) Falconwood
Nearest station to ﬁnish: Section distance
Falconwood (Rail) 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 loops, the Green Chain walk stretches from the River Thames to Nunhead Cemetery, spanning ﬁelds, parks and woodlands. As indicated on the maps, much of this section of the Capital Ring follows some of the branches of the Green Chain. The maps show other

There are six cafés along the route. Where the walk leaves the Thames there are two cafés to your right in Thames-side Studios. The Thames Barrier boasts the 'View café, whilst in Charlton Park you find the 'Old Cottage' café to your right when facing Charlton House. Severndroog Castle has a Tea Room on the ground floor and the latter part of the walk offers the Oxleas Wood café with its fine hilltop views.

The route is partially shared with the Thames Path and considerably with the Green Chain Walk. Note that several of the parks traversed in the earlier parts of the route are closed at dusk.

branches in green that 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

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Walking directions

The walk starts by the southern end of the Woolwich foot tunnel, next to

Did you know?

The Woolwich foot tunnel was built in 1912 and goes under the river to North Woolwich, which is the end of the Capital Ring Section 15. The Woolwich Free Ferry, adjacent to the foot tunnel entrance, takes vehicles and foot passengers over the Thames and has been operating for over 800 years.

the River Thames. It then stays besides the river almost as far as the Thames Barrier.

With the river on your right, walk upstream from the foot tunnel to cross the Woolwich ferry's approach road. At present, the stretch of path immediately beyond the approach road to the ferry is closed whilst a block of ﬂats is built besides the river. Therefore, turn left to the main road, then right at the roundabout, and past the building-site hoardings until you reach the sign ‘Mast Quay’. Turn right down the approach to the ﬂats and walk through them back to the riverside. Turn left.

Head upstream along the riverside path. You pass two of the former drydocks, 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 path reaches a ﬂood defence wall. Either climb up and over the maritimethemed Linkbridge 2000 for a good view of the Thames Barrier or use the ramp to the left.

Did you know

The Thames Barrier was proposed following a terrible storm in 1953 which produced a tidal surge up the river; it drowned many people and caused great

On your left you come to a Thames Path signpost directing you inland. Ignore this sign and continue by the river. The old route has been made obsolete by the elevated walkway that you come to shortly. Follow this elevated section until it slopes down to end in a road (Warspite Road). Continue along Warspite Road and take the second right into Bowater Road through large factory buildings. Leaving the buildings, and with the Thames Barrier to your right, turn left, just after the zebra crossing, to follow Green Chain signs to the main road (Woolwich Road).

damage. The barrier was completed in 1984 and its huge steel gates can be raised in 45 minutes. There is a visitor centre off Eastmoor Street.

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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

Maryon Park was

The main route also leads to the large sign to the left in Thorntree Road. Having climbed the steps walk through the grassed area in front of you and cross over Thorntree Road to the sign. Pass the sign into Maryon Wilson Park, which was once part of the old Hanging Wood. Follow the tarmac path downhill to and through the children's zoo.

formed from sandpits. A nearby sandpit is now 'The Valley', home of Charlton Athletic Football Club. The park was a key location in Michelangelo

Leaving the animal enclosures, turn left at the large footpath sign, and follow the path to Charlton Park Road. Cross and turn right to reach Charlton Park Academy.

Antonioni's ﬁlm Blow

up.

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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 straight-over the T-junction to the railings of Hornfair Park.

Did you know?

Charlton House, in the distance, was built in 1612 for Sir Adam

Immediately after entering Hornfair Park turn right and then almost immediately left along a path to keep the fenced-off BMX track to your left. Note that there is no signpost to indicate this important left turn. Once past the BMX track turn left, through a gate in the park's boundary, and then immediately right to reach a road (Baker Road). Turn left into Baker Road, and shortly cross rightwards by the zebra crossing.

Newton, and is one of the best examples of Jacobean architecture left in London. It was restored in 1878 by Norman Shaw for the Maryon Wilson family.

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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 here, and shortly you are beside a major road, Academy Road, with a large Green Chain signpost before you. Follow Academy Road for 150 yards to its crossroads with Shooters Hill Road. You see a red-brick building diagonally opposite you and to its left (east) is the open grassland of Eltham Common. You should carefully cross this busy junction to reach Eltham Common but be aware that there is no pedestrian phase in the trafﬁc lights.

Did you know?

The Roman Watling Street crossed Shooters Hill on its way from Dover to London. The name Shooters Hill may come from archery practice or because the road was historically a haunt for highwaymen.

In A Tale of Two Cities,

by Charles Dickens, a stagecoach struggles up the muddy road of Shooters Hill.

Once on Eltham Common you ﬁnd a main footpath signpost next to the buildings. This directs you diagonally across the grass towards the woods. There is no path. Approaching the woods, Castle Wood, you see a smaller metal signpost pointing into them. The following 300 yards of path through the woods are a little steep and are stepped in places, at the top you are rewarded with a large Green Chain sign before you.

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Did you know?

Severndroog is an

Alternative route without steps

Instead of crossing Eltham Common go up Shooters Hill Road and take

eccentric triangular castle standing 70 feet high. It was built as a memorial to

the ﬁrst right. Follow this lane until you see a large Green Chain signpost on your left. This is the same sign as found at the top of the steps. Note that this detour is not sign-posted.

Commodore Sir William James, owner of the land in the 18th century. The East India

On the main route, turn right at this sign and continue along the lane, which leads to Severndroog Castle.

Company employed him to suppress pirates and he captured their fortress. His widow built the castle to

The Capital Ring goes to the right of Severndroog Castle and then descends 72 steep steps.

Alternative route without steps

The step-free alternative goes to the left of the building along a minor lane

commemorate him after his death in 1784. The building is open on Sundays and offers one of the very ﬁnest views anywhere in London.

and has Green Chain waymarkers; it joins the main route in the woods and can be muddy after wet weather.

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At the bottom of the main-route's 72 steps turn left towards the woods, Jack Wood, noting the view over Surrey to the right. Assisted by waymarking posts, make your way through these woods until bearing right at a clearing which reveals the garden and remnants of the former Jackwood House. Continue past the rose garden to your left to a T-junction. Turn sharp right here as directed by the Green Chain signpost before you. Keep a look-out for the wooden waymarking posts that guide you downhill through the woods for the next 200 yards, Emerging from the woods keep left and up to the Oxleas Wood café which has public WCs and an outstanding view over western Kent and eastern Surrey.

There is a major Green Chain/ Capital Ring signpost outside the café. Follow its Capital Ring 'ﬁnger' for 'Falconwood footbridge' into the 8,000 year old Oxleas Wood. Within the woods there are plenty of wooden waymarkers to guide you. Pass an open-air gymnasium to your left, and 180 yards after having left the café you come to a fork. Bear right here and make your way downhill. At the bottom you come to another large Capital Ring and Green Chain sign. At that sign turn right, proceed along the wide path for 170 yards, and then turn sharp left at a metal signpost just before a clearing of the woods. Continue through the woodland to a main road, turn sharp right, and cross Rochester Way to the large Green Chain signpost on the opposite side.

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Having crossed Rochester Way you enter Shepherdleas Wood at the signpost. Follow the path right-wards, parallel to the road. After 90 yards the path swings away from the road to the left. Follow the wooden waymarkers as the route arcs back on itself and avoid any right turns until you come to a large Green Chain/Capital Ring signpost in the heart of the woods. Turn right here and follow the markers through the wood for just over a quarter mile where a waymarker directs you left, out of the wood, and onto Eltham Park North.

Walk besides the pond to your left towards the large sign-post where you should turn left. Look to your right here for another ﬁne view, this time of West London. The path takes you back into the wood but beside the very busy A2, Rochester Way Relief Road which noisily sits in a deep cutting to your right. Continue besides the road's trench to another large Green Chain signpost and, to the right, a broad footbridge over the road, which marks the start of Section 2 of the Capital Ring.

Next steps

Either turn right to cross over the footbridge to begin Section 2 of the Capital Ring or go straight-ahead, beside the railway line and road, for 600 yards to Falconwood railway station.

Updated May 2021