North Greenwich - Woolwich

It is going to be a warm sunny day, so off for a walk. I'd intended to get the boat to Woolwich and walk back to Greenwich from there, but forgot that there are no daytime services to Woolwich during the week so went to North Greenwich instead and walked downstream from there.

Boat: 12:08 from Greenland to North Greenwich.
Walk: Thames Path: North Greenwich Pier - Emirates Air Line cable car - Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park - Anchor & Hope pub - Thames Barrier - Woolwich Dockyard - Woolwich Ferry - Woolwich Arsenal. 6.1 miles.


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North Greenwich pylon

I was quite impressed by the Emirates Air Line cable car which is due to open next week. The pylons are tall and slender with a sort of twin helix structure. Unexpectedly rather elegant. The south station is still surrounded by hoardings and temporary buildings, so it is difficult to see what it really looks like. Probably best to leave it a few weeks before coming back, to give them time to clear and do-up the surrounding area.

Had a wander around the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park. Very lush and green now, and quite secluded. It is a nice park, but feels rather too controlled - it is completely enclosed, and you can only walk on the boardwalks. I guess that's important for the water/bird life, but does make the experience quite limiting. Came across a few of the volunteers having their lunch in the gatehouse. They seemed a slightly odd bunch - can't explain why, but the warden seemed OK.

After skirting around the Greenwich Yacht Club, the Thames Path runs alongside the sand and gravel wharves on Bugsby's Reach. The conveyors run overhead to the large London Concrete site on the landward side. When I walked through there was a boat unloading sand, which, it being rather windy, did not make for a particularly pleasant experience.

Anchor & Hope pub

Just beyond the aggregate wharves is the Anchor & Hope pub. Situated in an entirely industrial area, this is a traditional docklands working-man's pub, but with outdoor seating right on the riverside. Inside it is quite welcoming and the staff were friendly. They have a couple of cask beers on offer (I had a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar), and serve decent-looking food. Even though this was a Wednesday afternoon there were quite a few people who had come to sit outside on the quayside and have lunch. Worth another visit I think.

Woolwich Dockyard

After enjoying my pint I strolled on to the Thames Barrier, after which the Thames Path takes a detour "inland" through a rather pleasant series of small urban parks (also part of the Green Chain Walk) to the main road. After a short section along the road, the path heads back towards the river through a modern housing development - I left the signed path at Harlinger Street and, ignoring the "Private Property" signs walked straight on the the riverside. The path then continues along the riverside to the Woolwich Ferry. Before that is the old Woolwich Dockyard. Largely redeveloped as a council estate in the 70's, what little of the original architecture that remains is similar to that on Pepys. There is a rather nice, but now sad looking, clockhouse, a gate and small collonaded gatehouse, and two rather impressive gun bastions on the river front, where I sat and ate my lunch. Unfortunately, it is all rather more tatty and run-down than Pepys, and for some reason there are an awful lot of police around. I saw at least four pairs of officers patrolling the riverside area on foot in the space of twenty minutes. To the east of the estate are two quite impressive ship docks which are clearly popular with anglers.

Woolwich Arsenal riverside

Continued on past the Woolwich Ferry and back along the riverside to the Woolwich Arsenal and the new developments beyond (more police patrols). This all seems quite pleasant on a warm summer afternoon, but I bet it's a bit bleak in more inclement weather. The Thames Path "south east extension" continues on from here, around Thamesmead to Crayford Ness on the Kent border. Maybe I will do that on another day. 

Walked back to the pier, and the intriguing sculptures, and down No. 1 Street past the Greenwich Heritage Centre and Royal Artillery Firepower! museums (and the Iraqi "supergun" and numerous other cannon), to the Brass Foundry and Dial Square. The new pub here - Young's the Dial Arch looks interesting - another one to visit on another occasion.

Walked up past Beresford Square to the (very busy) General Gordon Square, then back to Plumstead Road to get the bus (177) back to Greenwich.

Photo gallery:

North Greenwich & Woolwich