Introduction
We walked a little more of the Capital Ring, starting from Richmond, and for once with very nice weather for it!
Richmond
The section officially started from Richmond Bridge; we walked down to the Thames from the station, then along the towpath.
A little way along the river, we crossed the impressive footbridge over the weir and tide barrier at Richmond Lock.
Isleworth
Our path left the river to run along roads near the complex that used to be the Nazareth House convent. It’s now being converted into expensive housing.
We returned to the river briefly at Lion Wharf, before the path diverted inland again.
Our path led back to a road, rather than across the inviting footbridge. We passed by Isleworth church (All Saints), then across Syon Park and into Brentford, where we joined the canal for the next section of the walk.
Canal
Canalside Brentford has changed a lot since my previous visit in 2008. Enormous blocks of new flats are all over it. And the large warehouse structure over a canal dock is still there, but the roof and half of the walls have been replaced by an open latticework. Not sure if that’s because the previous structure was physically unsafe (as suspected in my comments last time) or just a crime hotspot. The new one is still interesting, but less atmospheric.
The canal runs beside the large shiny GSK headquarters, a self-storage place, and then the M4. But it also passes parks and is lined with trees; there’s a slightly more remote atmosphere, although ‘rural’ would be stretching it.
By Ealing Hospital the River Brent finally separates from the canal for good; we followed the riverside path, which I hadn’t walked before.
Brent Lodge Park
After a short way the path opened up into a park, revealing the very impressive Brunel-designed Wharncliffe Viaduct. It was the first railway viaduct to be built with hollow brick pillars, which are apparently now occupied by bats.
Hanwell station is a short distance away; we got a train back from there.