Sunday 22 October 2024
My intent when I came to England (following a couple of weeks in France and a few days in Scotland) was to visit my godmother in Hinchley Wood again. Unfortunately a hospital stay meant that this wasn’t possible but her brother and his wife very kindly volunteered to host me at their lovely home in Richmond-upon-Thames in South West London.
Garden from the kitchen
Richmond upon Thames is well known for its beautiful green open spaces and history as a favourite retreat for Royalty, including King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and King George III. Richmond boasts the longest stretch of the River Thames and it runs for over 10 miles through the borough, linking Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Town Centre and Kew Gardens with London.
I had visited Hampton Court Palace when I was here previously but not Kew Gardens for a long, long time. The area has so many wonderful parks and historic buildings so it is a delight to explore and all the walking paths along the River Thames and through parklands mean that this is very easy to do on foot.
The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames along its nearly 300km length. Almost the entire length can be walked and a few parts can be cycled (but a few sections are closed for an indefinite period). Many people do just a few sections at a time rather than the whole walk at once.
I walked a part of the section from Richmond to Hampton Court, from Twickenham Bridge and then turning inland at Ham House. It had rained heavily overnight so things were very wet and there wasn’t much activity on the river. The river is tidal downstream from Teddington Lock and the lower parts of these paths may be underwater if there is a particularly high tide, although the Thames Barrier protects London from catastrophic flooding.
Map of the area I walked
It was a lovely section to walk covering the more built up area of Richmond and then becoming more rural. There is an area called Petersham Meadows that is protected by a 1902 Act of Parliament to preserve the world renowned view from Richmond Hill. The cows grazing on the meadows have been featured in many of the famous paintings and photographs made of the view from Richmond Hill. Beyond the meadows is the Royal Star & Garter Home built to provide accommodation and nursing facilities for servicemen seriously injured during World War I.
Across the river I get a good view of Marble Hill – the last complete survivor of the elegant villas and gardens that bordered the Thames between Richmond and Hampton Court in the 18th century.
Ham House is a 17th-century house (completed in 1610) set in formal gardens. Unfortunately neither the house or gardens were open when I was there, but I was able to appreciate the surrounds as I skirted right around the house to the public walking path behind it. From there I could walk right through to Ham Common and then on to where I was staying.
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