On a cold morning with a fresh north easterly wind 20 loiterers joined Tony H at Acton Town Station to follow him on a ride across SW London.
Leaving the station a long line of cyclists headed off down Bollo Lane, apparently following the course of the Bollo Brook. One of London’s lost rivers it was a headwater of Stamford Brook, another lost river. Our route took us around Grove Park, over the Great West Road and on into Chiswick House Park. We cycled alongside and over the lake before leaving the park and on to join the River Thames on Chiswick Mall near Chiswick Eyot. We followed the river on through Furnival Park, under Hammersmith Bridge, and by Thames Path and quiet roads, past Craven Cottage, to Bishops Park and Fulham Palace Park, under Putney Bridge to The River Café, opposite Putney Bridge Station, our elevenses stop. Margaret, Stuart, and Don left us here to explore on their way to our lunch stop.
Refreshed we made our way back to and over Putney Bridge and through Wandsworth Park to the mouth of the River Wandle. From here we followed the Wandle Trail follows the river as far as possible by its banks using roads where necessary through Wandle Meadow Park and Wandle Park to our designated lunch stop at The Watermill Café at Merton Abbey Mills. On arrival there appeared to be no sight of the advanced party so Alec and myself checked to see if they were in The William Morris PH, no sign of missing loiterers so we tried the local beverage which proved to be very good. Merton Abbey Mills is a former textile factory established in the early eighteenth century and was acquired by textile designer William Morris after whom the pub is named. As we returned to the rest of the group at the café our three intrepid explorers turned up and we had a fine lunch stop together. After lunch Michael left us for home.
Leaving Abbey Mills we continued along the river to Morden Hall Park where we took to quiet roads through Wimbledon to Wimbledon Common near Rushmere Pond. Crossing the common we stopped for a quick photo session at the windmill before progressing across Putney Heath to Roehampton and Richmond Park. Entering the park by Roehampton Gate we crossed the park passing White Lodge, home to The Royal Ballet School, to leave at Ham Gate. Making our way through Ham Ivy and Bernard left us and we continued on to cross the Thames at Teddington Lock. We met heavy traffic on Teddington High Street which slowed our progress to our tea stop at Squire Garden Centre in Fulwell.
Leaving Fulwell the route crossed the Staines Road and on to the path alongside the River Crane past the shot tower and then by road to Hounslow Heath. Leaving the heath we made our way to Cranford and followed The Parkway on a cycle path to and through Cranford Park then on through Harlington and Stockley to Uxbridge with the group dispersing on the way.
Thanks go to Tony H for devising a great ride packed with interest.
Five rivers? Bollo Brook, River Thames, River Wandle, Beverley Brook, and River Crane.