Route Section

Capital Ring

Section 6 (Wimbledon Park to Richmond Bridge)

Description:

A fine walk with glorious scenery almost wall to wall. Wimbledon Park is less well known than the Common but very pretty, with an impressive chalet-style cafe and a large lake where quiet watersports take place.

A longish uphill stretch along pleasant residential roads leads on to Putney Heath, then it is rough ground most of the way to Richmond. A fascinating windmill beckons you on to Wimbledon Common - it rises above a cafe, and has a museum attached. You drop steeply down past tranquil Queen's Mere, then cross a golf course fairway to join the Beverley Brook Walk for a while.

After crossing the busy A3 on a stepped footbridge you pass through Robin Hood Gate into Richmond Park, where you cross the Tamsin Trail and can expect to see several groups of red and fallow deer (do not approach them). After climbing steadily to the Pen Ponds, positively heaving with waterbirds, you pass Pembroke Lodge cafe and King Henry VIII Mound, of prehistoric origin, into Petersham Park, then descend to the meadows with a fine view of Petersham church, village and River Thames.

You now accompany the Thames Path National Trail downstream along the south bank beneath the grand buildings on Richmond Hill for the final stretch into Richmond, which surely has one of the finest riverside frontages along the Thames.

Interesting Places on or near the route:

Richmond Park
Wimbledon Park

Boroughs which the route passes through:

Merton
Richmond upon Thames
Wandsworth

Distance:

7 miles ( 11 km)

Start:

Wimbledon Park station (GR 253-721)

Finish:

Richmond Riverside (GR 177-746)

Recommended direction:

Southeast to northwest

Terrain and surface:

Some quite long and fairly steep ascents and descents, mainly on rough tracks or paths and grass. Steps on footbridge over A3. No stiles. 1.8km (1.1ml) beside roads

Signage:

Complete both ways. The logo is 'Big Ben' and text 'Capital Ring' in blue and green on white background.

Refreshments and toilets:

Pubs at Wimbledon Park, Kingston Vale, Petersham and Richmond. Cafes at Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park and Richmond. Toilets: Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Richmond