We were so lucky for this walk. It was a sunny day with blue skies. It was even more appreciated because it was sandwiched between never ending rainy and miserable days.  Eleven Polyramblers turned up for the walk (including me, the leader). 

I warned people that there were no toilets at the outdoor café where we were stopping for lunch. But this was made up by at least eight open toilet buildings along the way.  We did not visit them all.  Enough about toilets! 

We walked through Wimbledon Park, which was part of the grounds of Wimbledon manor house, one of the homes of the Earls Spencer.  After a steady climb, we reached Wimbledon Common.  We passed the windmill and the tearoom and walked down to Queensmere and then up again to cross the golf course. We continued through woodland and crossed the golf course again to follow Stag Ride.  It was so quiet that it was difficult to imagine we were in London.  We walked along Beverley Brook on Beverley Ride, crossed the A3 and entered Richmond Park via Robin Hood Gate.  It is the largest of London’s Royal Parks and a National Nature Reserve.  We followed the Tamsin Trail to the Broomfield Hill café which, as its name indicates, is at the top of a hill.  After lunch, we made our way to the beautiful Isabella Plantation.  The camellias were in flower so we followed the Camellia Walk and then walked along the stream to Peg’s Pond and the exit. If you want to see the rhododendrons and azaleas in flower in the Isabella Plantation, go on Patricia and Jennifer’s walk on 2 May.  

A herd of deer were sitting outside the plantation, so we said hello and continued our walk and reached Pembroke Lodge Gardens.  Pembroke Lodge is a Grade II listed Georgian Mansion originally named the ‘Molecatchers Cottage’, but it became the home of Prime Minister Lord John Russell.  The gardens are very well maintained and well worth another visit later in the year.  We passed King Henry VIII’s Mount, a prehistoric burial chamber from the Bronze Age and later used as a viewpoint for hunting and falconry. It is thought that King Henry VIII stood in this very spot when on a hunt. Soon after Poet’s Corner, we left Richmond Park and descended to the Thames after walking through Petersham Common Woods and Petersham Meadows.  We followed the Thames to Richmond Bridge passing Stein’s, a café serving Bavarian dishes and German beer for those who miss Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel. I lost and found a few Polyramblers as we were walking along the busy Richmond shopping street to reach the station at the end of the walk.  Part 9 of the Green London Way will be along the Thames.

Dominique

Photos by Ida and Nita