Spoke 6 Information Leaflet

km Route Directions Start From Dartford station turn right down service road 1 0.3 Cross Hythe Street at crossing, turn left on cycleway then turn right and continue on cycleway alongside Westgate Road crossing supermarket access road 2 0.5 Turn right onto Priory Road 3 0.8 1 Turn left onto cycleway alongside A2026 Victoria Road, cross then turn right onto Priory Road 4 1.3 1 Turn left onto Lawson Road 5 1.5 1 Turn right onto cycleway alongside A2026 Burnham Road 6 1.8 1 Cross at pedestrian island 7 2.5 1 Use pedestrian crossings to cross Crayford Way and A206 Thames Road at roundabout 8 2.6 1 Turn right onto Crayford Creek Road 9 3.2 1 Bear right onto trail Cray Riverway/London Loop 10 5.0 1 Turn right at path T-Junction 11 8.2 1 Turn right onto cycleway alongside Manor Road 12 8.6 1 Cross over at pedestrian crossing 13 9.0 1 Cross back then turn right onto Appold Street 14 9.2 1 Turn left then right to continue on James Watt Way 15 9.4 1 Bear right onto cycleway, then turn left at sea wall which becomes Wharfside Close 16 9.7 1 Bear left at roundabout, bear right onto cycleway and at top of hill turn right onto Erith High Street cycleway 17 10.0 1 Bear right onto West Street

km Route Directions 18 10.7 1 Bear right over pedestrian crossing onto cycleway then turn right onto Corinthian Manorway 19 10.9 1 Turn left onto cycleway which becomes Q14 20 17.0 1 Veer left to stay on cycleway 21 18.9 1 Veer left to stay on cycleway 22 21.5 1 Join Glass Yard then follow cycleway across Ferry approach road

mountain bikes. bikes. mountain

Surface: Mostly tarmac with one section of gravel/hard dirt tracks. Suitable for hybrid and and hybrid for Suitable tracks. dirt gravel/hard of section one with tarmac Mostly Surface:

Refreshments and Toilets: Cafes at Thames Barrier and Greenwich Naval College. College. Naval Greenwich and Barrier Thames at Cafes Toilets: and Refreshments

Access: Trains from London Bridge to Dartford. Dartford. to Bridge London from Trains Access:

Facilities

structure we see today. today. see we structure

it was being used as an offload point for large cargo ships and was replaced with the concrete concrete the with replaced was and ships cargo large for point offload an as used being was it

as a tourist attraction, it soon became obsolete as steam railways were introduced. By the 1950’s 1950’s the By introduced. were railways steam as obsolete became soon it attraction, tourist a as

since the 14th century, becoming toll-free in 1889. The parallel foot tunnel was opened in 1912. 1912. in opened was tunnel foot parallel The 1889. in toll-free becoming century, 14th the since

Erith Yacht Club. Behind that is Erith pier, London’s longest at 360m. Originally built in the 1840’s 1840’s the in built Originally 360m. at longest London’s pier, Erith is that Behind Club. Yacht Erith

The route continues along the Thames passing the Woolwich Ferry. A ferry has operated here here operated has ferry A Ferry. Woolwich the passing Thames the along continues route The

rewarded with views over the Thames Estuary, of the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and eventually of of eventually and Bridge Elizabeth Queen the of Estuary, Thames the over views with rewarded

After 6km, the route heads around Crayford Ness as a narrow, rough gravel track, but we are soon soon are we but track, gravel rough narrow, a as Ness Crayford around heads route the 6km, After and housing uses. uses. housing and

wagons. Eventually the factories closed in 1967 and the site was sold off in 1994 for commercial commercial for 1994 in off sold was site the and 1967 in closed factories the Eventually wagons.

Erith [11-17] [11-17] Erith

War II, but continued on a smaller scale into peacetime producing railway locomotives and and locomotives railway producing peacetime into scale smaller a on continued but II, War

carriages as well as proving ranges for new guns. The site was damaged during the blitz in World World in blitz the during damaged was site The guns. new for ranges proving as well as carriages

back to leisure traffic by removing much of the 2m of mud that had built up since that time. time. that since up built had that mud of 2m the of much removing by traffic leisure to back

depots, but there were manufacturing capabilities for ammunition, artillery pieces and gun gun and pieces artillery ammunition, for capabilities manufacturing were there but depots,

disuse and was effectively abandoned in 1986. Restoration efforts have now begun to open it it open to begun now have efforts Restoration 1986. in abandoned effectively was and disuse

World War I, it covered 1285 acres and employed 80,000 people. Much of the site was storage storage was site the of Much people. 80,000 employed and acres 1285 covered it I, War World

important transport route with 60,000 tonnes of cargo shipped in 1835 alone. However it fell into into fell it However alone. 1835 in shipped cargo of tonnes 60,000 with route transport important

Woolwich is reached, purchased by the Board of Ordnance in the late 17th century. At its peak in in peak its At century. 17th late the in Ordnance of Board the by purchased reached, is Woolwich

for migratory birds. Dartford Creek, which is the tidal part of the River Darent used to be an an be to used Darent River the of part tidal the is which Creek, Dartford birds. migratory for

Canary Wharf in the distance holding the eye. After 21km, the site of the Royal Arsenal at at Arsenal Royal the of site the 21km, After eye. the holding distance the in Wharf Canary

freshwater and salt-marsh grazing with over 27km of waterways which are important stop-offs stop-offs important are which waterways of 27km over with grazing salt-marsh and freshwater

designated a Quietway and runs on the elevated sea wall with the skyscapes and river views to to views river and skyscapes the with wall sea elevated the on runs and Quietway a designated

The route soon leaves town and heads out to Dartford and Crayford Marshes – traditional traditional – Marshes Crayford and Dartford to out heads and town leaves soon route The Soon the industry is replaced by the housing estates of Thamesmead. The route has now been been now has route The Thamesmead. of estates housing the by replaced is industry the Soon

Dartford and Crayford Marshes [9-11] [9-11] Marshes Crayford and Dartford

Woolwich [21-22] [21-22] Woolwich

divorce. Today only the gatehouse remains which we pass on Priory Road. Road. Priory on pass we which remains gatehouse the only Today divorce.

also be run up. up. run be also

VIII, who then built his own manor house on the site, before giving it to Anne of Cleves on their their on Cleves of Anne to it giving before site, the on house manor own his built then who VIII,

is magnificent and worth catching an open day to view, at which the restored steam engines will will engines steam restored the which at view, to day open an catching worth and magnificent is

the Dominicans and Franciscans built a priory and hospitals here. These were dissolved by Henry Henry by dissolved were These here. hospitals and priory a built Franciscans and Dominicans the

it was restored to its Grade 1 listed Victorian glory. Whilst the outsides still look drab, the inside inside the drab, look still outsides the Whilst glory. Victorian listed 1 Grade its to restored was it

ford”. As such it was an important waystation for pilgrims and travellers – and in the 14th century, century, 14th the in and – travellers and pilgrims for waystation important an was it such As ford”.

caused it to be replaced and it fell into disrepair in the 1980’s. After efforts by conservation groups groups conservation by efforts After 1980’s. the in disrepair into fell it and replaced be to it caused

Street forded over the north-south River Darent – hence the derivation of its name from “Darent- from name its of derivation the hence – Darent River north-south the over forded Street

then pump it into the river on an ebb tide to be taken out to sea. Modern hygiene standards standards hygiene Modern sea. to out taken be to tide ebb an on river the into it pump then

Dartford has historically been at a traffic crossroads, where the Roman east-west route of Watling Watling of route east-west Roman the where crossroads, traffic a at been historically has Dartford

sewer system. It was designed to store the raw sewage from London south of the Thames and and Thames the of south London from sewage raw the store to designed was It system. sewer

a sewage works. No ordinary building, but the southern end of Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s Victorian Victorian Bazalgette’s Joseph Sir of end southern the but building, ordinary No works. sewage a

Dartford [1-3] [1-3] Dartford

The next section of river is industrial in nature – but with a surprising jewel at the 15km point in in point 15km the at jewel surprising a with but – nature in industrial is river of section next The

Crossness [19-20] Crossness Guide Route

I have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness. However, all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. To the extent permitted by law, I accept no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes. Walking and cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces. Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.

Map Key Oyster Wheel Route Guide

Spoke 6, Part 1

Dartford to Tower Bridge

Using NCN 1 and 13

Spoke 6 uses National Cycle Network Route 1 to travel between Dartford and Greenwich where the foot-tunnel crosses the River. It then heads past Millwall Docks and Canary Wharf before joining Route 13 which takes it to Tower Bridge. It is 38km long and has negligible ascent. Under wheel it is largely tarmac except for the initial section around Crayford Ness. Roads are generally minor, although a small number of more major ones have to be navigated in Dartford and Erith. Overall its about 3 hours of cycling, plus time for stops.

Distance: 38.9km (Part 1: 21.5km) Total Ascent: 13m (Part 1: 7m) Cycling Time: About 3 hours © Tim Boden, 2020

km Route Directions 23 22.3 1 Veer left, then a U-turn and left to continue on cycleway 24 22.9 1 Join Warspite Road then turn right onto Bowater Road 25 23.4 1 Continue on Unity Way then bear right onto cycleway before turning right and left to reach river wall 26 24.1 1 Join Riverside then continue on cycleway

km Route Directions 27 25.0 1 Turn left, then right and right again onto cycleway which becomes Olympian Way 28 27.9 1 Turn right, continuing on cycleway 29 28.4 1 Turn right, continuing on cycleway 30 29.5 1 Join Ballast Quay then bear right onto cycleway Highbridge Wharf becomes Crowleys Wharf and Crane Street 31 29.9 1 Turn left onto cycleway Park Row then right into Old Royal Naval College then turn left at river wall 32 30.3 1 Bear right to continue on cycleway then left through Park gates, and take Greenwich Foot Tunnel. NOTE: No cycling through tunnel 33 30.8 Continue on footpath Douglas Path then Cross A1206 Manchester Road into Millwall Park 34 31.4 Veer left, head up slope and turn right onto East Ferry Road

km Route Directions 35 31.8 1 Turn left through subway onto cycleway around Millwall Dock 36 32.2 1 Turn left onto cycleway Pepper Street over Glengall Bridge then cross over Millharbour onto Tiller Road 37 32.9 Turn left onto A1206 Westferry Road then turn right onto Arnhem Place 38 33.1 Turn right then continue on cycleway which becomes Canary Riverside 39 34.5 1 Turn right onto Three Colt Street 40 34.7 13 Turn left onto Narrow Street 41 35.4 13 Continue on Narrow Street then straight on cycleway 42 36.3 13 Cross Glamis Road and follow cycleway around Shadwell Basin and through Wapping Woods and alongside canal 43 38.0 13 Turn right onto Wapping High Street then turn left onto St Katharine's Way 44 38.8 Turn left onto A100 Tower Bridge Approach End 38.9 Reach Tower Bridge

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has survived World War II bomb damage, with over 4,000 people using the tunnel each day. day. each tunnel the using people 4,000 over with damage, bomb II War World survived has

or at at or

Greenwich foot tunnel whose lifts lower us 50 feet below the river. It was opened in 1902 and and 1902 in opened was It river. the below feet 50 us lower lifts whose tunnel foot Greenwich

Oysterwheel.wordpress.com Oysterwheel.wordpress.com Australia to Britain for 10 years and is now a museum. Nearby we take the entrance to the the to entrance the take we Nearby museum. a now is and years 10 for Britain to Australia

produced prior to the introduction of steam power. She held the record for transport from from transport for record the held She power. steam of introduction the to prior produced

Leaving the site we pass the Cutty Sark, one of the last and hence fastest tea clippers to be be to clippers tea fastest hence and last the of one Sark, Cutty the pass we site the Leaving

Cutty Sark and Greenwich Foot Tunnel [32] [32] Tunnel Foot Greenwich and Sark Cutty

route then please consider donating to my JustGiving page. This can be found from my website website my from found be can This page. JustGiving my to donating consider please then route

produced this guide with the aim of raising money for Pancreatic Cancer, so if you’ve liked the the liked you’ve if so Cancer, Pancreatic for money raising of aim the with guide this produced

using the unspoilt courtyards for films and TV. TV. and films for courtyards unspoilt the using

I hope you have enjoyed this cross-section through the maritime history of the Thames. I I Thames. the of history maritime the through cross-section this enjoyed have you hope I

variety of educational, cultural and business purposes and production units can often be seen seen be often can units production and purposes business and cultural educational, of variety

establishment until the Navy left in 1998. Since then this World Heritage Site has been used for a a for used been has Site Heritage World this then Since 1998. in left Navy the until establishment Request A

Civil War. They continued as the hospital until 1873 and then continued as a training training a as continued then and 1873 until hospital the as continued They War. Civil

which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I had been born, but which fell into disrepair during the English English the during disrepair into fell which but born, been had I Elizabeth and VIII Henry which the base of Tower Bridge, opposite the entrance to the Tower of London, and here the tour ends. ends. tour the here and London, of Tower the to entrance the opposite Bridge, Tower of base the

private housing and restaurants, together with a thriving the marina. Route 13 then finishes at at finishes then 13 Route marina. the thriving a with together restaurants, and housing private in palace royal earlier the replaced buildings These above. hill the on Observatory Royal the to

Thomas Telford in 1827, but which was a commercial failure due to its smaller size. It is now now is It size. smaller its to due failure commercial a was which but 1827, in Telford Thomas up views with Seamen, for Hospital Royal the as 1692 in Wren Christopher by designed College,

Hermitage Basin. The route then skirts around the edge of the final dock, St. Katherine, built by by built Katherine, St. dock, final the of edge the around skirts then route The Basin. Hermitage Naval Royal Old the of grounds the reaches route the mark, 30km the At centre. town the in

wall can still be seen alongside the southern edge of the canal just before it comes out into into out comes it before just canal the of edge southern the alongside seen be still can wall buildings surviving oldest the are which 1613 in built almshouses of group a Hospital, Trinity the

closed they were filled in and became housing and commercial properties, although the old dock dock old the although properties, commercial and housing became and in filled were they closed as well as houses, public busy and historic of number a past is town the into approach initial The

specialised in luxury commodities such as ivory, spices, coffee and tobacco. When the docks docks the When tobacco. and coffee spices, ivory, as such commodities luxury in specialised

Greenwich [30-31] [30-31] Greenwich

On reaching Shadwell Basin, we enter the old London Docks which occupied 30 acres and and acres 30 occupied which Docks London old the enter we Basin, Shadwell reaching On

developments taking shape, however the riverside path is now open all the way to Greenwich. Greenwich. to way the all open now is path riverside the however shape, taking developments London Docks [42-43] [42-43] Docks London

such as the 2012 Olympics and ATP World Tennis Finals. Beyond here, there are still waterside waterside still are there here, Beyond Finals. Tennis World ATP and Olympics 2012 the as such

in 2007 into one of the world’s biggest indoor music arenas as well as hosting sporting events events sporting hosting as well as arenas music indoor biggest world’s the of one into 2007 in stairs that give access to the foreshore. foreshore. the to access give that stairs

evidence of its history are the waterside pubs such as the Prospect of Whitby and the watermen’s watermen’s the and Whitby of Prospect the as such pubs waterside the are history its of evidence repurposed was attendances disappointing after but space, exhibition Dome Millennium the as

of the docks ensured it remained derelict until redevelopment in the 1980’s. Today the only only the Today 1980’s. the in redevelopment until derelict remained it ensured docks the of originally constructed was This Arena. O2 the past mark, 26km the at then, and car cable Line Air

19th century. The district was devastated by World War II bombing and the subsequent closure closure subsequent the and bombing II War World by devastated was district The century. 19th Emirates the under developments, housing modern past riverbank the follows route The reached.

community until squeezed out by the Docks and associated warehouses that were built in the the in built were that warehouses associated and Docks the by out squeezed until community is Peninsula Greenwich the before wharves industrial of area another is Barrier the Beyond

Heading onwards to join Route 13, we enter Wapping which existed as a distinct maritime maritime distinct a as existed which Wapping enter we 13, Route join to onwards Heading

Greenwich Peninsula [27-30] [27-30] Peninsula Greenwich

Wapping [41-42] [41-42] Wapping

centre has a café. café. a has centre

year and even with current rates of sea-level rise, is expected to be useful until 2060. The visitor visitor The 2060. until useful be to expected is rise, sea-level of rates current with even and year to the north was repurposed to business use and became the commercial district of Canary Wharf. Wharf. Canary of district commercial the became and use business to repurposed was north the to

downstream to Tilbury, and they were closed in 1981. The land around it and West India Docks Docks India West and it around land The 1981. in closed were they and Tilbury, to downstream per times 2-3 used be to expected originally was It running. been has cycleway the which along

1868 primarily for timber and grain cargoes. Traffic declined through the 1960s as it moved moved it as 1960s the through declined Traffic cargoes. grain and timber for primarily 1868 defences flood downstream the with conjunction in surges storm from protect to tide high at

On arrival in the Isle of Dogs, the route heads through Millwall Park to Millwall Docks, opened in in opened Docks, Millwall to Park Millwall through heads route the Dogs, of Isle the in arrival On raised be can it 1982, in Completed reached. is Barrier Thames the 23km, at afterwards, Shortly

Isle of Dogs [33-39] [33-39] Dogs of Isle [24-25] Barrier Thames

Map Key Oyster Wheel Route Guide

Spoke 6, Part 2

Dartford to Tower Bridge

Using NCN 1 and 13