More Docklands

Another bright sunny day. Another Docklands walk.

The Pavillion, Thames Barrier Park

Took the Tube and DLR to Pontoon Dock and had a wander around the Thames Barrier Park. Went to the Pavillion Cafe and had a coffee and read the paper (The Wharf) sitting in one of the nice leather sofas by the huge windows looking over the park and barrier. The Pavillion is perfectly designed for this sort of weather - bright and spacious, but cosy, inside - and there are even some people sitting outside.

Walked along North Woolwich Road, and then Factory Road past the Tate & Lyle factory along the south side of the old North London Line. From the old Silvertown Station onwards this is now all a Crossrail site and they are doing a lot of work to resite the utilities, diverting Albert Road over the old railway route in the process. At the divert, had to cross over and contiue along the very restricted footpath along Albert Road to North Woolwich.

Riverside walkway opposite the former
North Woolwich Station

At North Woolwich headed down towards the river past the old North Woolwich station. The building is still there, but it is now boarded-up - the railway museum has gone. Walked up the stairs and onto the riverside walkway. This section of the riverside forms part of both the Capital Ring and Jubilee Greenway walking routes (but not the Thames Path, which terminates its North bank route at the Greenwich foot tunnel), although it is hardly salubrious. I hope they don't make Her Maj. walk this bit.

Walked east along the riverside path past the Royal Victoria Gardens to the slipway at Gallions Reach. Looking back towards Woolwich and the nearly setting sun I spotted a sun dog (just the left-hand one). Although you can continue on through the development, the light was fading so I decided to turn back.



Sun dog over Woolwich, from the riverside by
Royal Victoria Gardens, North Woolwich





Walked back to North Woolwich ferry terminal and got the next ferry over to Woolwich. Walked through the town centre, which didn't seem anywhere near as bad as I had expected given the trashing it got during the riots last August. Found myself at General Gordon Square which has obviously been totally redesigned and only very recently opened. I thought that it looked pretty good, although the water features are not yet working.  It is really just terraced lawns sloping diagonally across the square towards the new Woolwich Arsenal railway station and a large permanent video screen. But it seems to work.



General Gordon Square, Woolwich





 

Took the train from Woolwich Arsenal to Greenwich for a few pints with Dave at the Rose & Crown, and then dinner at Beachcomber.

Walk: Thames Barrier Park - North Woolwich - Gallions Reach - Woolwich Arsenal Station: 4 miles



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