Section 8 of the London Loop marks the start of the return journey for me and the last one south of the river Thames. The weather was absolutely glorious, with blue skies and sunshine that got warmer as the day wore on. The route took me from Ewell in Surrey to the historic market town of Kingston following the course of the Hogsmill River on its way to join the mighty river Thames. The source of the river is in Bourne Hall Park and for six miles it provides a green corridor for wildlife and humans, but not quite hiding the surrounding urban sprawl.
Bourne Hall looks a bit like a spaceship and must have been rather avante garde for Surrey when it was built in 1970. It hosts a library, local museum and possibly toilets but I arrived too early to explore. The lake is home to many species of bird, last time out I spotted a heron, but most of the locals were still roosting. There was plenty of birdsong all along the route which was pleasant. I think I spotted a pair of grey wagtails in the river.
The Hogsmill River was the inspiration for several painters and is particularly associated with Millais and his painting of the drowning of Ophelia. It would be pretty hard to drown there today as there was barely a trickle along the first part of the river. At one point walkers have to tackle a very low tunnel under a railway line, but I just laughed in the face of the height restriction, no worries for me. I wouldn’t call it a very picturesque river with more rubbish than water in some places, but it was very well used by the local dog walking community.
Several other walking routes follow the valley of the Hogsmill. The Hogsmill Valley Walk has been incorporated into the London Loop but officially starts at Kingston. There are plenty of information panels to enlighten you as you pass. The ThamesDown Link has been devised to link the Thames Path National Trail at Kingston with the North Downs National Trail at Box Hill and follows the Hogsmill Walk for several miles. At 15 miles this would be quite a tough day's walking especially if it finishes on top of Box Hill.
About half way along I had a sit down in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church which I think was in Old Malden. Not long after this, the London Loop takes a very boring trail around the less attractive parts of Surbiton as the river is currently inaccessible. It was a very long way from the Good Life. Eventually the river and Loop meet up and make their way together through the back streets of Kingston, which is certainly the largest town I’ve passed through to date.
The historic parts of Kingston are quite impressive; there is the Chair of Majesty Coronation Stone where many a Saxon king was crowned, giving the town its name (possibly); there is the tiny Clattern Bridge, still in use after six hundred years or so; the impressive Guildhall buildings and the Market Square with a golden Queen Victoria, ruling the roost over the Tourist office. The Loop veers down a rather dingy alleyway to bring you out onto the banks of the Thames and follows the Thames Path to finish the leg at Kingston Bridge. I enjoyed a well-earned lunch in a riverside pub before catching the train home. I’ll have to wait another six months before crossing back to the right side of the river.
Time for leg 3hr 15m Distance 8¼ Time for trip 8hr 15m
Walk log
Fares this leg £11.50
Section 08 Essentials
Section Map
Directions
Distance and time 7¼ miles 4hrs 30m
Walking conditions: Mostly level. Paths alongside the Hogsmill River can be muddy. The section from Berrylands Station to Kingston is suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs.
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