Wandering Away from Woolwich

I was back on the Thames Path again last week. I’ve already had two goes at it, here and here. There’s no hope that I shall walk the length of it in an ordered sequence, but no matter…. This time, I started in Woolwich once more but walked away from London. And not very far either- just two or three miles there and back again.

Woolwich fascinates me. The elegance of the fine buildings constructed during its time as a military centre of great importance contrasts with its sometimes down-at-heel tower blocks and shopping streets, and its more recent apartments which are anything but shabby.

See what I mean?
I showed you a detail from’Assembly’ in a recent post. This group of men, sculpted by Peter Burke is intended to reflect the industrial heritage of the Royal Arsenal, which was previously a major munitions factory. 

But it was the Thames that really commanded my focus. Selections of waterbirds, like this one ….

Egyptian goose

… industrial life. Look at the weight of that sand and gravel weighing down the barge purposefully ploughing onwards.

Suggestions of the river’s industrial past and present were everywhere.

Little dramas played out before me …

And a cemetery’s worth of abandoned bicycles spoke perhaps of thefts abandoned once the reason for taking them no longer applied.

The shore itself was worth exploring …

And the views back to London …

Even the lichens on the concrete walls edging the Thames merited a look.

In fact there was wildlife a-plenty…

Who knew that only a few hundred yards or so away from the path, double decker buses, lorries, cars, trains, shops, pedestrians and all the trappings of city life were carrying on regardless of the tranquility I enjoyed as I explored the riverside path?

For Jo’s Monday Walk – When she gets back from her travels….

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

63 thoughts on “Wandering Away from Woolwich”

    1. Well, there were dog walkers, cyclists … I was rarely quite alone. Next time, when I get further out, Erith way, might be a different story. Thanks James.

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  2. I so enjoyed this, Margaret. I seldom reached that end of the Path and am grateful for your insights and your company. Are you still in London? We travel back to Lisbon today and overnight there before heading home tomorrow teatime. Hopefully I’ll have time to throw a few photos together for Monday xx

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  3. I should imagine it must be a little bit like Leeds – follow the canal or the Aire and once you get out of the centre it is a whole different world with lots of wildlife etc. I guess all cities are much the same…

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  8. The Thames Path always delivers, whatever stretch you’re on 🙂 And I agree, Woolwich has a lot of surprises to offer. Your gallery of abandoned bikes has a certain melancholy beauty, contrasting with the wildlife. I love the little ladybird!

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    1. Maybe we could do a Woolwich walk ourselves one day? I was very taken, in a bizarre sort of way by those bikes: but yes, the ladybird was the star of the show! Our walk on Thursday will also get its 5 minutes of fame soon.

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  11. This was a very interesting walk. The sightings would keep me busy, as you did. Those apartments offer a lot of contrast with the old neighborhood. I think that is happening everywhere. I was surprised to see Egyptian geese. I run into those around the San Gabriel River a few miles from here.

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    1. The goose surprised me too. But Woolwich is very multi-cultural! What with one thing or another, your Lens Artists Challenge – such an interesting one – remains undone by me. It’s a fabulous idea, but merits more attention than I’ve been able to give this week. My loss.

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      2. Be careful what you wish for. In WWI
        the munitions workers wre called Canary Girls, as contact with TNT, a toxic yellow powder turned their skin and hair yellow at the same time as they were getting jaundice and liver damage from breathing in said chemical. Still keen??

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  15. Fabulous photos. I love your eye for detail. I started at London Bridge five years ago and am heading upstream, thinking that I wouldn’t enjoy walking the very industrial part down to the Thames Barrier, but I’ve come to realise that downstream will be fascinating too.

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      1. Thank you, Margaret, that’s very kind of you.

        It’s certainly a great path, a few dull bits so far, but overall every stretch has been interesting. I’ve met quite a few walkers from abroad who’ve come to do the Oxford to Windsor stretch as that must encompass what the tour operators believe to be the most compelling sections. Plus plenty of those who are doing the whole thing, of course.

        And through your blog I’ve just found Walking Away which I’ll look forward to following.

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    1. You definitely should visit Woolwich Arsenal area. Sadly, The Royal Artillery Museum closed in 2016, and when it re-opens, will do so somewhere on Salisbury Plain. But you could easily spend most of a day exploring the area, and enjoy some very cosmopolitan food offerings: there are cheap cafes representing just about every nation on earth. I went for the Vietnamese option and a very delicious bao bun with oyster mushrooms. I’m so shallow …

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