LOOP footpath 2 – Bexley to Orpington

Walking the London Outer Orbital Path, section 2 (and a bit of 3) on 19 April 2019.

Wallington flood 2016

Aftermath of a flash flood under the railway bridge over Manor Road in Wallington, London, on 7 June 2016

Thames Path – Putney to Richmond

A walk along the section of the Thames Path National Trail, heading upstream from Putney to Richmond, on 11 March 2018.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

It turned out that the annual Head of The River Race rowing competition was underway, so there were lots of boats on the river, and hundreds of spectators on the path between Putney and Mortlake.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

My only experince of rowing is watching the Boat Race, so it was quite strange to see so many people who were out on the banks of the River Thames for the actual sport rather than just for the beer…

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Apparently the race was a dead heat.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

This section of the Thames Path path follows the river bank all the way, with no diversions around blocks of flats, building sites or gravel handling facilities.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

There is the option to follow either either bank of the river, but the general consensus in the guide books seemed to be that the south side is the better choice, so that is the one I went for. It is also not insignficantly shorter, thanks both to the curvature of the river and following the bank more closely.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

There is little risk of geting lost on this section of the Thames Path, even without signposting.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Not far before Kew Bridge is a pair of sound mirrors. They are not quite as impressive as the listening ears at Dungeness in Kent.

Sound mirrors - Kew

Passing the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

A view to Syon House on the opposite bank of the river.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Much of the route is lined with trees, although aircraft heading for Heathrow airport are rarely out of earshot.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond
A pink building on a grey day.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Richmond comes into view.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

That’s a more stylish way to travel. Lilian is a motor yacht built 1916 by Pettersson in Stockholm.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Richmond is reached. I had planned to keep going on along the river to Kingston, but this seemed far enough for one day.

Thames Path - Putney to Richmond

Memorial effigies at Lingfield church

Memorials at the church of St Peter & St Paul in Lingfield, Surrey, photographed on 21 January 2017.

The impressive tomb and effigy of Sir Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough.

And that of his son Reginald, 2nd Baron Cobham.

And the second baron’s son Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough and his wife (was he officially the third baron or not – sources seem to disagree?).