Capital Ring section 7 page 1 CAPITAL RING Section 7 of 15 Richmond (Friars Lane) to Osterley Lock Section start: Friars Lane (Richmond) Nearest station to start: Richmond (District line, Overground and Rail) Section finish: Osterley Lock Nearest station to finish: Boston Manor (Piccadilly line) Section distance 3.8 miles plus 1.0 mile of station links Total = 4.8 miles (7.7 km) Introduction This is one of the easiest sections of the Capital Ring with the most riverside walks. It is level walking, mainly on firm towpaths and tracks and some grass. There are steps at Richmond Lock Footbridge, with a detour to avoid them, and some short slopes. The route takes in Richmond riverfront, Old Deer Park and observatory, Richmond Lock, River Thames, Old Isleworth, Syon Park, Brentford Lock and the Grand Union Canal. Note that in the London Borough of Richmond and on the Thames Path the signposts and way marks have a black background - not the usual green. There are pubs and cafes at Richmond, Old Isleworth, Brentford, Richmond, Syon Park, Brentford and Boston Manor and public toilets at Richmond and Boston Manor stations. There are Underground stations at Richmond and Boston Manor. Overground and National Rail services run at Richmond. There is also a National Rail station at Brentford, as well as buses along the route. 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 Capital Ring section 7 page 2 Walking directions From Richmond railway station, cross the main road at the zebra crossing outside the station and immediately take the Old Station Passage opposite the station. At the end of the alley turn left at a Capital Ring signpost, passing Richmond Theatre on your left. Continue past Little Green on your right, then cross over to the corner of the much larger Richmond Green. Take the left diagonal path across the Green. When you reach the other side, cross to the left-hand pavement of the road which continues in the same direction along Friars Lane. Go down Friars Lane until you reach the Thames Path and the main Capital Ring route where Section 7 starts. Turn Did you know? right along the towpath following the signs for the Capital Ring and Thames The towpath Path. Most of the signs from here to Brentford are shared with the Thames approaching Richmond Lock follows a raised Path. causeway, which was built out into the river in The main route from Friars Lane leads to Richmond Lock where there are 1766. The Old Deer steep steps. Follow the riverside path downstream. Pass beneath Park on your right, now Richmond railway bridge, built in 1908. The hexagonal access shaft on used for sport and recreation, was your right is used by the water authority, and is mirrored by an identical originally a Royal structure on the opposite bank. Hunting Park of around 370 acres, created by Continue beneath Twickenham Bridge, which carries the A316 Great King James in 1604. Chertsey Road, built in the 1930s through the Old Deer Park on the edge The white domed building is the King's of Richmond. Observatory. The line of obelisks was built in Continue to Richmond Lock. Cross the lock by the bridge and continue to 1778 to mark the follow the riverside path downstream, with the river now on the right. original meridian line. Alternative route from Friars Lane, to avoid steps To avoid the 20 steps either side of Richmond Lock, turn left where Friars Lane meets the riverside and then cross over the river on Richmond Bridge. On the far side turn right down Willoughby Road which later turns into Ducks Walk. At the railway bridge you rejoin the river. Keep ahead under Twickenham Bridge onto Ranelagh Drive. At the footbridge over Richmond Lock and weir keep ahead to rejoin the main Capital Ring route. 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 Capital Ring section 7 page 3 At the River Crane Walk noticeboard, continue to keep close to the river unless the path is flooded (which can happen at high tide) when an alternative route to the left as indicated by the signpost can be taken. The path ends at Railshead Road by a Capital Ring signpost, then follows Did you know? The large white building this away from the Thames to the junction with Richmond Road. Turn right is Nazareth House, a here and cross a bridge over the River Crane. Shortly after passing the former convent entrance to the 3rd Osterley Scouts Centre, turn right through a narrow gap established in 1890. It provided in the brick wall (there is currently no signpost). Go straight ahead along accommodation for the the paved path to rejoin the river with views of the White House (Nazareth aged poor and orphan House) and landscaped gardens to your left. Continue along the path to a and destitute children, metal gate leading onto Lion Wharf Road. especially girls. 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 Capital Ring section 7 page 4 Follow the Capital Ring/Thames Path signs to the Town Wharf pub Did you know? The path crosses the opposite. Here the path continues up onto the verandah overlooking the Duke of river and through the tables (it is a public right of way) to cross a small Northumberland's River, wooden bridge. Continue along the riverside path past a tall historic crane cut by the monks of and at the end turn left towards the road Syon to provide fresh water and the power for their flour mill. Further Turn right to cross the small stone bridge and follow the Capital Ring/ along on the right is the Thames Path sign along Church Street, rejoining the riverside by the London Apprentice pub London Apprentice. Follow the left-hand pavement past All Saints Church which dates from Tudor round a corner. times. 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 Capital Ring section 7 page 5 At a Thames Path signpost, cross Park Road to enter Syon Park by the Did you know? Syon Park belongs to gates on the right. the Duke of Northumberland. The Take the tarmac path to the right of the estate road as indicated by a famous 18th century Capital Ring/Thames Path sign on a low wooden post and follow it through Scottish architect, the park past two pavilions in front of the house and the visitor entrance. Robert Adam remodelled the interior When open, the garden centre has a café and a toilets. of the house. The grounds were laid out Bear slightly right to pass an ancient brick barn where there is a good view by Lancelot 'Capability' of the dome of the Great Conservatory on the right. Continue along a Brown. walled lane to exit by the Brent Lea Road gate. Cross at the pedestrian lights and turn right onto London Road. Walk along to the junction with Commerce Road, cross over to a signpost and join the Grand Union Canal 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 Capital Ring section 7 page 6 by the Holiday Inn at Brentford Lock. As the signs indicate, the Capital Ring Did you know? The wide canal basin now shares its route with the Grand Union Canal Walk and the Brent River was once lined with Park Walk (BRP). canopied warehouses, giving shelter for the Continue past the lock, over the little steel swing footbridge and then along loading and unloading the towpath past colourful barges and modern flats. of cargo - in use until the early 1980s. Now Pass under the railway line and the bridge over the A4 with the they are residential blocks of flats. Only one headquarters of GSK to the right. remains, and the path goes through it. Break point To leave Section 7 and reach Brentford station (0.7 km) climb the steps just before the bridge up to the A4, and turn right along the road. (To avoid the steps continue under the A4, past the wooden footbridge and take the ramp on your left by a signpost. Head along Transport Avenue and turn left onto the A4). Cross over at the traffic lights and turn right along Boston Manor Road to reach Brentford rail station. Did you know? The main route continues past Clitherow Lock and across the canal at Gallows Bridge has Gallows Bridge. 'Grand Junction Canal' written on it, which was Follow the towpath under the bridges carrying the Piccadilly line and the the original name M4 to reach Osterley Lock where Section 7 finishes. before it became part of an amalgamation of canals in 1929, now Next steps known as the Grand To get to Boston Manor underground station (0.8 km), take a signposted Union Canal. path to the right immediately after the M4 bridge and before Osterley lock. Go quite steeply uphill through the woodland and carry straight on to emerge at an exit gate from Elthorne Park. Cross Southdown Avenue and continue straight ahead along a drive to reach the main road. Turn right and Boston Manor station is a short walk along the road.