Peter

After a walk along the Beeline, a path running along an old railway track connecting New Malden to Raynes Park, we followed the Beverley Brook Walk for the most part except for some early detours due to some VERY muddy conditions. The route really picks up at Fishponds Wood, through Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Uncertain weather at the start, but it opened up as we went along. Had planned to go through Barnes and to the Thames, but the slow going near the start meant we finished short at Barnes Common.

A little local wander to make the most of a break in the rain. Clapham Old Town is a highlight I hadn't properly explored before; a little bit of a village feel, still. Otherwise, unless you need to walk from Camberwell to Clapham, you probably don't need to consider this route.

Today I completed a beautiful hike with a group of fellow hikers from Langley to Denham. The walk began at Langley station and quickly eased us into nature, with our first highlight being Langley Park, a historic country park set on the grounds of an 18th-century landscaped estate designed in part by renowned landscape architect Capability Brown. The park’s veteran oak and chestnut trees, open parkland, and carefully designed gardens make it a rewarding place to explore on foot. From there, we made our way into Black Park Country Park, one of the largest expanses of woodland, heathland, and open space in the area. Black Park is known for its miles of scenic tracks, extensive woodland trails, and peaceful lakeside, offering a real sense of escape and calm as the route unfolds. One of the standout moments was walking among the tall redwoods and pine woods, their quiet presence adding scale and stillness to the hike. Later, passing by Pinewood Studios offered an interesting contrast between nature and cinema history. To top it off, an overly friendly horse who briefly joined us added a light-hearted, memorable moment to the day. Eventually, we reached the quaint village of Denham, nestled in the Colne Valley and known for its Tudor cottages, ancient church, and relaxed atmosphere. We ended the hike with a well-earned stop at The Swan Inn, enjoying a drink in its historic setting, followed by a short walk to Denham station. With sunshine on our side throughout, it was a wonderfully refreshing January day out, a perfect mix of nature, history, and good company with like-minded hikers.

Really nice route through parks and forests, with some especially beautiful tall pines. A few scrubby and boggy sections and a close encounter with ȧ mad horse weren't quite as much fun, but lunch with the group and a few drinks in the beautiful Denham Village gave a strong ending. I'll be back to walk this again one summer.

The Waterlink Way runs from Deptford Creek to Beckenham along the rivers Ravensbourne and Pool. It's not always the most beautiful route, but it has its moments. For my first walk of 2026 I'd planned to go further afield but the line closures in my area made it complicated, so I stayed fairly local. It was a cold day, bearable in the sun but freezing in the shade — literally, the pavement was frozen in places the sun hadn't reached, and I almost went a-o-t a few times.

Last walk of 2025, a loop around Burgess Park. Cold and crisp but beautiful weather, the lake full of wintering birds. How lucky we are to have this space in South London.

A walk around the North and South Banks, done many times before but always something new to find. South Bank between London and Tower Bridges was *extremely* busy today. We actually walked over 1km less than stated here, but my GPS did a huge leap across the river at one point, which skewed the result.

The third annual wander through Mayfair and the West End to see the best Christmas lights and windows.

A short amble along the Thames to make the most of a clement Winter day.

I enjoyed this walk so much. Starting at Benfleet I walked up onto Benfleet Downs and Hadleigh Castle Country Park, with views down onto the marshes, Hadleigh Ray, and Canvey Island below. The weather was just right, not too cold, with some beautiful distant sunrays. After Hadleigh Castle, an evocative ancient ruin, I descended to Hadleigh Marsh, a long tidal flat that's a birdwatcher's dream. A quick detour to Two Tree Island, a former rubbish dump now nature reserve, where you can see all the way out to the Thames estuary. Then to Old Leigh, a fishing village that's somehow survived the expansion of Southend-on-Sea, with plenty of pubs, cockle sheds, and fresh fish to eat. I can't wait to go back and do this again in Spring or Summer, it was a great experience. Happy birthday to me.