Short version of the 'Rotherhithe away from the River' walk, due to Southwark Park closing at dusk...
Length: 5.1 km to Bermondsey, a little longer to London
Bridge
Ascent: negligible
Net Walking Time: up to 1 ½ hour (plus time spent
at the Xmas Fair)
Meet: Surrey Quays Station (outside the gate line at street level) at 17.00 hours (Overground).
Finish: Bermondsey or London Bridge Underground.
Dropouts: Canada Water Underground and Overground
(3.2 km), Rotherhithe Overground (3.7 km). Bus stops are never
far away.
From Surrey Quays Station, we cut
across to Greenland Dock, one of the few remnants of the once ubiquitous
ponds and water channels of the Surrey Commercial Docks, used mainly for
timber and grain trading, before walking along the spine of the peninsula
through the enchanting Russia Dock Woodland, an infilled dock with
plenty of visible reminders of its past.
A short loop through the Stave Hill Ecology Park leads up to one
the finest low viewpoints in town: Stave Hill, a 9-metre artificial mound
with surround views to the Olympic Park, Canary Wharf, the City of London,
Westminster and most high points in South East London.
You then skirt around Surrey Water and follow the well-maintained
Albion Channel (more remains of the former docks and quays) to Canada
Water, currently one of London’s largest regeneration sites, before a final
loop through the historic Rotherhithe village and – for a short stretch – along
the Thames River, passing some famous pubs and ending back in Bermondsey.
At Albion Street, turn left to the Suomen
Merimieskirrko/Finnish Church’s Christmas Fair, which closes at 20.00.
Option at the end: walk on along the Thames through Shad Thames to Tower Bridge and the former Town Hall and on to London Bridge Station. On this last stretch you venture through the Winter by the River Fair, which closes at 22.00.
Eat/Drink: Some legendary London riverside pubs en route, plus a restaurant or two. Check the webpage for details. Plus many food and drink stalls at the Winter by the River Fair.
p.s.: This year, for reasons unknown, the Norwegian (and also the Swedish) Christmas fairs are on different weekends than the Finnish one t=short.54
1 comment:
7 met up a few minutes late (the 2 locals were last to arrive, having decided to catch a bus rather than walk) and on we went. Several had not been to Surrey Docks (Quays), so appreciated the views and sights even more. It was w=dry-and-warm-with-fluffy-clouds and we got to the Finnish church for 6 o'clock. There we were met by 1 who had been severely delayed and therefore started from Canada Water, 1 who had been a touch delayed so had caught us up (just) and 1 who had walked from home. N=10
The market seemed busier than in previous years and we all spent a fair amount.
On then (with 2 leaving), through Rotherhithe village and along the Thames (splendid views), passing The Angel and the Old Justice (1 other followed the Thames here towards London Bridge) to drop into The Gregorian. That's where I left them to go to a concert.
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