Local parks and gardens

My usual walking companion and I decided to do something local and simple this week and, in doing so, demonstrated yet again just how much open space and natural beauty there is around us.

We met, as usual, at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park because it is about a half hour walk from home for both of us.

From there we took the long way around the edge of the park to Roehampton Gate. There is a shorter route to the gate but that is mostly on grass paths and is actually slower.

After Richmond Park it was bit of a trek along a busy road to Barnes Common and then a left turn between the two railway lines in to Vine Road Recreation Ground where we crossed Beverley Brook for the second time.

The Thames was not far away and we took Barnes Railway Bridge across to Chiswick and then along the river in Dukes Meadow before cutting inland a little for Chiswick House and Gardens where we stopped for coffee and cake.

Cafes are an important feature of my longer walks and this one is one of the best.

We then took a route through the posh houses of Grove Park to rejoin the river at Strand on The Green.

We crossed at Kew Bridge, using a recently opened tunnel to avoid crossing the traffic, and made our way in to Kew Gardens, we are both members so this cost us nothing.

We had done about as much walking as we wanted to do at that point so we went straight down the Broad Walk and visited the shop before leaving via Victoria Gate where we did not have to wait long for a 65 bus.

We covered 18km, a respectable if not particularly long distance, in under four hours, including the break. And in those four hours we spent most of the time in green spaces and/or walking beside the river. I am lucky to live here and I know it.