Erith to Woolwich

After weeks of wind and rain it is finally getting sunny and warm again, so I decided to do the Thames Path south east extension walk from Erith to Woolwich that I had been planning for some time.

Walked to Deptford Station and got the 11:47 Southeastern train to Slade Green arr. 12:17.

Walk: Crayford Marshes, River Darent (Dartford Creek), Crayford Ness, Erith, Jenningtree Point, Belvedere Incinerator, Crossness Sludge Incinerator, Crossness Pumping Station, Cross Ness, Thamesmead, Margaret/Tripcock Ness, Royal Arsenal Woolwich. 11 miles.


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River Thames, Crayford Ness, near Erith, London

It is actually quite a varied walk. After walking down a short residential street from Slade Green Station you are soon on a rural country track across the ancient Crayford Marshes with their 300 year old willows and a 14th? century moated farmhouse. Then the path runs along the top of the embankment beside the River Darent (this tidal section also known as Dartford Creek) towards the flood barrier at the junction with the Thames. Great views of Dartford Bridge from here. Lots of wild flowers along the embankment, including an astonishing variety of purple, blue & pink clover and sweet pea. Rounding Crayford Ness the embankment path runs alongside the Erith saltings, with views to Erith and up Erith Reach to Belvedere and Barking.

After turning inland through a rather dusty industrial estate for about half a mile, the path finally turns back to the riverside near Erith town centre. Erith pier (former deep water terminal) seems quite popular on a sunny day like today, with lots of people fishing or just sitting around in the sun. Followed the riverside path on through the riverside gardens and then up and down along the top of the flood wall past the various gravel wharves.

Sludge incinerator, Crossness sewerage treatment
works, Erith Marshes, Belvedere, London

At Jenningtree Point I stopped for some lunch (the usual Anglo-Saxon bread & cheese, with tomatoes and mini salami). It feels quite isolated and slightly desolate out here, although it is right opposite the Ford plant at Dagenham on the other side of the river. It is actually quite peaceful, despite the industrial surroundings. A little further on are three sites of more architectural interest. First the Belvedere Incinerator (or more properly, the RRR - Riverside Resource Recovery) with its giant curved wave-like roof. Beyond that is the smaller but even curvier (almost eccentrically so) sludge incinerator. Then there is Bazalgette's Crossness Pumping Station with its romanesque buildings housing four giant beam engines. The site is currently undergoing restoration and development to become the Crossness Beam Engine Industrial Museum.

After Cross Ness proper, the path runs along the Thamesmead riverfront promenade, before becoming much more wild and natural towards Margaret/Tripcock Ness. From here, the view up the river to Woolwich and past the Thames Barrier towards Canary Wharf and the City is suddenly much more familiar. Approaching the new developments at Woolwich Arsenal, Woolwich almost seems like a gleaming metropolis after the sparse and semi-industrial landscape of the past few miles.

The Dial Arch pub, Woolwich

Finished-up at the Dial Arch (Young's) in the old Woolwich Arsenal for a very welcome pint of Waggle Dance sitting in the lovely shady park by the terrace outside.

Got the boat home from Woolwich Arsenal to North Greenwich, then North Greenwich to Greenland Pier, £5.40.

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Erith to Woolwich