Richmond Park

Two short walks

Young gull, St James Park, London

It’s been another week of catching up with friends, so there’s been more talking over cups of tea in cafes than walking, but one of the catch-ups was in London. We met at Victoria station, and because we were both cold and hungry, we quickly went to Wetherspoons inside the station for lunch!

Having warmed up, we set off in the direction of Buckingham Palace and through Green Park. Once in St James Park we soon found our way to the big cafe there and indulged in hot drinks and cake. I’m not sure I walked off all the calories after the vegan donut, but I tried my best when I said goodbye to my friend at Charing Cross station and headed over the Thames towards Waterloo.

St James Park

Heron

The Super Sewer work is going on all along the Thames, so parts of the Thames Path are inaccessible. This is badly needed, but I’ll be glad when the work is done.

Then there was the trip to Richmond Park yesterday with my son and his puppy. It was a dull, grey day, and all the photos look the same…dull! But at least we were in fresh air and we saw a Jay and Woodpecker. There were lots of parakeets too. Enjoy the photos.

Richmond Park

Rue

Parakeet feather

RSPB Big Garden Watch and a walk through Richmond Park

For the second year running I took part in the RSPB Big Garden Watch, which means counting the birds visiting your garden during one hour during the weekend just gone.

Somehow, I always choose the wrong hour! Normally, we have lots of birds in the garden. I bought them a super-duper bird feeding station earlier this month. I thought this one might deter the pigeons and squirrels. Hah! they soon sussed it out. One pigeon alights on the feeder, and as long as it keeps flapping, it can get the seed. His mates gather round the bottom to catch any seed that falls. They do the same when the starlings raid the suet feeder. The squirrel also does some acrobatics to get at the suet block. However, on Saturday, when I did my one hour count, the garden was mostly devoid of birds!

In my hour I counted four pigeons, one wood pigeon, two robins and two great tits. Other wildlife included the squirrel and a domestic cat. However, I did observe the great tits checking out the bird box in the garden next door. They went in to give it the once over. I wonder if they will be moving in soon.

A few days before the count I observed a parakeet on our bird feeder. That was a first. They do sometimes spend time in a nearby tree, but this gave me a chance to photograph it up close. All the photos were taken through the window, which isn’t ideal, but the best I could do. Next year I will choose a different time and see if I get a better bird count.

Well, it was there and was a photo oppoortunity

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Yesterday was a blue sky day, cold but beautiful. I don’t normally go walking or visiting places at the weekend because (a) it tends to be busier (I don’t like crowds) and (b) the trains and tubes are often disrupted due to engineering works on the lines. Even buses are less frequent. Sunday was really my last oportunity for a walk last week, and the day was too nice to ignore. So I set off by bus to Richmond Park, entering through the Kingston Gate. My aim was to walk to Ham or Richmond gate on the opposite side of the park than I have been walking before.

It was, as I knew it would be, busy. People out walking with dogs and family, joggers and cyclists. I couldn’t blame them. It was an ideal day. I arrived at the Ham Gate faster than I tthought I would, so I took a detour outside of the park and walked part of Ham Common. The common was quite muddy and I had walk round the edges of the worst parts. Once I accidentally set foot in a very muddy patch and heard the squealch. As I pulled my shoe away I felt the pull of mud dragging my shoe back in! It was also colder here as it was more shaded and wet. I eventually came out on the road that one way leads back to Richmond Park, and in the other direction to the main road where I could pick up the bus. I headed back towards the park on the other side of the road where the rest of the common lies.

There is a toilet block inside Ham Gate, but it was shut. I thought I must be close to Pembroke Lodge where there is a cafe and toilets. I used Google Maps to locate Pembroke Lodge and headed up the hill towards it. The car park was packed, and the queue for the refreshment hut was long. Luckily there wasn’t a queue for the loos. Afterwards, I decided rather than wait in the long queue for a cuppa, I would go into the Pembroke Lodge cafe. What a great decision that was. No queque here and I was able to find a table outside in the sunshine and drink my tea and eat a declicious slice of vegan carrot cake.

The lake just inside Ham Gate (next to the closed toilet block!)

Busy, busy. The queue is for the refreshment hut

Pembroke House where I had a much more civilised refreshment break!

Parakeets are everywhere in the park, but they are difficult to photograph

View from Kingston Hill towards the River Thames

Suitably refreshed, I set off back down the hill to pick up the path again. It wasn’t too long before I reached the Petersham Gate, but I turned right and back up the hill to eventually come to the Richmond Gate. From here there are the spectacular views from Richmond Hill. Drawn by the sight of the river, I took the steps down to the Thames Path. I had a short stop in a riverside garden before walking the short distance to Richmond Bridge. It was time to leave, so a quick double back to some steps up to road where I caught a bus. The walk was approximately seven miles.

Two walks – two different days

It was the least cold day of the week! Not sunny, but I was determined to do some walking last week. As it happened, I did two walks. The second one was on a bitterly cold day. I’ll come to that in a moment.

The first walk was in Richmond Park. I managed to drag my son along and we entered by Robin Hood Gate. My idea was to walk a different part than last time, and the aim was to exit at Richmond Gate. We walked to Roehampton Gate where we stopped for lunch in the cafe. Something hot before we ventured out again. From there we edged along the side of the park, finding all sorts of pedestrian gates I knew nothing about (I know mainly the main gates where cars and pedestrians have access). There was a trundle up a hill (I’m not good on hills!) for a nice view back towards Roehampton before the last push towards Richmond.

The first thing you see when you exit Richmond Gate is The Royal Star & Garter Home. Now dedicated at World Heritage Site, the home is accommodation and nursing for up to 180 ex-servicemen. Nearby is the RSPCA memorial.

Walking down Richmond Hill, you come to some magnificent views across the River Thames and towards London. We then caught a bus outside the Poppy Factory to go home.

View across The Thames from Richmond Hill

On the second walk, I retraced the steps of my old ‘lockdown’ route towards The Hamptons Wetlands and across the ‘horse field’. I left early, and the day was all blue sky and freezing! I wanted to photograph birds and, of course, horses. There were not as many birds at the wetlands that day. The heron and the Egyptian Geese weren’t there, but I did manage to photograph a Robin, Swan and gulls.

Robin – rather poor lighting and it wouldn’t keep still!

Not sure if this is heavy frost or light dusting of snow

Coming across the horse field, I was fascinated by a horse and foal. I spent rather too long taking photos and my poor fingers froze. But it was worth it.

On the way home I spotted a little Christmas tree (Conifer) outside a newsagents. I’d been looking for one for my writing/hobby room, so I bought it.

My wee Christmas tree. I’ve named her Mavis, and she is getting to know Basil!

Richmond Park – A Royal Park

The last time I was in Richmond Park we were in partial lockdown. This time I saved all my walking until I reached the park by taking the bus! I entered by the Kingston Gate and walked to the Isabella Plantation, exploring parts I hadn’t explored in years. I regularly used to come with mum and dad. This is, of course, a Royal park, and the biggest in London. The park is also the local haunt of Sir David Attenborough

Watch a short film about the park narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The day I walked was sunny with blue sky and the autumn colours were beautiful. I took with me my bridge camera, which is better for zooming in on subjects. These photos are a combination of mobile and bridge camera shots. Choosing a weekday meant that the park was quiet (I’m a great getter-away-from-people person!). After leaving the Isabella Plantation, I walked towards the car park where there is a small takeaway cafe. Here I was surprised to find that I could buy a vegan sausage roll and a soya hot chocolate. Things have really improved for me these days! I’m not sure how long the takeaway cafe has been here, but it wasn’t here when I was a teenager. It is a great spot for it.

May be an image of tree and nature — Bridge

Autumn reflections – Isabella Plantation

After fueling up, I considered my options. To return the same way I had come, or walk to the Robin Hood Gate and catch a different bus home. The latter seemed a good option, and that is what I did.

Looking towards Roehampton from Richmond Park

The park is well known for deer, but I didn’t see any. There were plenty of parakeets!

I think next time I should explore a different part of the park. Years ago, I walked around the perimeter of the park on a sponsored walk for Wildlife Fund for Nature. That stretch is around ten miles. I remember how easy that seemed back then. Nowadays my legs really know it if I walk that far.

It is wonderful to have such a gorgeous park almost on my doorstep. I have grown up with it, and hope I will continue to enjoy it for many more years to come.

Last week I went on a walk to Richmond Park. My walking companion knew a quick way through a couple of private roads, a route I have never taken before. It was indeed quicker. We entered by a gate I have never used before and soon we were crossing the park to the Isabella Plantation. These gardens were a favourite place for my family when I lived at home. My dad would drive us to Richmond Park regularly, and these gardens were always on the agenda.

The gardens have evolved over the years and now includes a new toilet block and signs. The day we went there was rather overcast and cold, but trees were coming into blossom.

Richmond Park is one of the Royal Parks and the largest. It dates back to 1272 when it was called Manor of Sheen. From its highest point you have an unrestricted view of St Paul’s Cathedral, twelve miles away. You can read a short history of the park here.

We stayed only a short while as we still had the walk back home, but now lockdown restrictions are easing it would be nice to revisit soon.

Came across this at the end of of one of the private roads! That was a new one on me.

An abandoned walk and Richmond Park

Last week when I left home for a walk, I had no idea where I might go. I only knew that I wanted to walk somewhere I’d not been before, or at least not for a long time. I ended up walking towards Beverley Meads, a place I’d not visited for about three or four years. It meant walking along a busy bypass to get there, and I was a little unsure of the way in.

However, the first part went well, as I followed the sign to Beverley Brook walk. But then came a part I didn’t remember. I was standing on a bridge off the busy bypass (where the photo above was taken). Google maps wasn’t helping much, so I used my instinct to get me there. It wasn’t long before I encountered a great deal of mud, and the path I needed was totally awash with it. I ended up back on the bypass trying to find another way in.

Not an inviting path! No way could I use this.

I came to Colliers Wood Football Club and wound my way round the side. Someone had laid plastic steps across the worst of the mud, and I made it into an area known as Fishponds Nature Reserve. As I crossed a bridge, I was faced with an astounding amount of mud! I tried to find some drier places, but my feet sank into it. Mud sucked at my walking shoes and went over the top of them. I found a boardwalk and followed it until the path ran out. Beyond was more mud. I knew when I was beat and I turned around and retraced my steps.

Back out on to the A3 bypass, and feeling defeated, I realised I was not yet ready to go home. If I kept walking, I would eventually come to the Robin Hood Gate entrance to Richmond Park. It was further than I thought, but there was not turning back.

Richmond Park, near the Robin Hood Gate entrance

Once I entered Richmond Park the noise of traffic was replaced by the sound of birds, especially the Parakeets. What are Parakeets doing here? Well, there are many stories of how these birds got here into this part of London, but possibly it is no more than a few escaped pets. However, they have spread to other parts of England, and if you want to know more about them, then click on this link.

Looking at the park map, I decided I would walk to the Kingston Gate. To walk around the whole of Richmond Park is about ten miles. Many years ago I did a charity walk around the park with my brother, but I’ve not done it since. Although the day was fast losing its brightness, it was lovely to walk surrounded by so many trees. Even in the park the recent rains had made parts of it muddy, but it was okay as long I kept to paths.

At the car park to the Isabella Plantation (a much visited place when I was younger) there was a cafe. This was new to me, but very welcome. I bought tea, but due to lockdown, the seating had been cordoned off. I considered walking to the Isabella Plantation, but I was conscious of the time. During winter I was sure the park closed around four-thirty, and it was already close to four o’clock. I was keen not to get myself locked in! So, I carried on walking towards Kingston Gate. Just before arriving there, drizzle began. Thankfully, I had an umbrella. I considered catching a bus home, but using public transport at present is not encouraged unless it is essential during lockdown.

My legs felt tired, and this was a longer walk than I’d set out to do, but as long as I didn’t stop, I was sure I could walk all the way home. And that is what I did. I am not sure how many miles I walked in all, but it must have been at least seven, maybe more. I’d walked non-stop for just over three hours. I felt much better in myself from being outdoors, despite the aching legs. To see a map of Richmond Park, click on this link.

On the walk home I saw these lovely flowers in a garden

The Royal Oak pub. It’s been many years since I’ve been in here.

Richmond Park

My friend and I were on a walk through Richmond Park when we heard that our part of the UK had moved into Tier Two of the governments three tier system of Covid 19 measures. This means households are no longer allowed to mix indoor, whether that is in homes or in pubs, restaurants or cafes.

Straightaway that meant some of the things we do we can no longer take part in. I cannot play play badminton with my friends, or meet my writing friend in the cafe where we sit and write for a couple of hours a week. These things only resumed about a month ago, and now that’s it, for however long.

It is even more important for me to get outside and walk whenever the weather permits, and unless complete lockdown happens again, that’s what I intend to do.

This walk was put off from the week before due to bad weather, but this day we were lucky. There were showers, but we managed to dodge them, and the sun came out frequently. There was a warning about the deer in Richmond Park – it is the rutting season – but we didn’t see one deer!

We began the walk at the Kingston Gate. My friend has walked the park many times so I was totally in her hands. We headed across towards Pertersham Nurseries, near Richmond. When we arrived it was busy. The place is much smaller than I expected, and there were queues for the shop. To eat there you had to book in advance. However, I had seen the price for the cafe online – £10 or so for a sandwich! We sheltered from a brief shower under an awning and then headed straight out again! We walked down to the River Thames at Richmond and had lunch at the veggie/vegan cafe caled The Hollyhocks, which sits on The Terraces, high up, with wonderful views across the river.

We lingered a while before heading back the same way. The changeable weather made for some dramatic skies and the autum coklours were wonderful. This time we headed uphill towards King Henry’s Mound where there is a viewing point into London. On a good day you can see St Paul’s Cathedral, 13 miles away. There is a law that this view must not be obscured, though planners have tried. I took a photo, not thinking I had captured anything as I couldn’t see the cathedral with my naked eye, yet my camera captured a ghostly white image of the cathedral with my lens on full zoom. Amazing.

We sat on a bench here and read ‘lockdown poems’ we’d written. What a view!

From King Henry’s Mound you can see St Paul’s Cathedral 13 miles away (just)

In the other direction you can see right across to Windsor apparently (though I couldn’t). There is a telescope you can use to pin point things. Afterwards we wandered around some gardens before heading back to the Kingston Gate.

It was a lovely day, even though my legs were aching like hell! Enjoy the photos.