British Walking Federation

MARITIME HERITAGE TRAIL ORGANISED BY NORTH LONDON WALKING CLUB

CONTACT:  John Hawkins, 141 Daubeney Road, London E5 0EP
Tel: 07989 979991     Email: jackhawkinsuk@gmail.com

DISTANCE: 12km
ENTRY FEE: £1.00 per walker (Cheques payable to J Hawkins)
AWARD: Cloth Badge at £2.50 each
START VENUE: Tower Hill Tube Station (District and Circle Lines)
FINISH: Trafalgar Tavern (nearest station Cutty Sark DLR)
Go to Route Map

ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated March 2012)

Upon exiting the Station go down steps under road towards the Tower of London. Turn right at the Tower Moat and follow it round the outside of the Tower of London.

Q.1 Just past the Tower of London gift shop there is a house, what is it called?

Continue along the Thames passing traitors gate and on towards Tower Bridge. Go under Tower Bridge and pass under the Tower Hotel into St.Katherines Way, passing St.Katherines Yacht Club and HMS President RNR, this leads on into Wapping High Street

Walk to the end of Wapping High Street, passing the Metropolitan Police Thames Division and the Captain Kidd Public House, to where it becomes New Crane Place and then turn Right into Wapping Wall.

Q.2 Next to Pelican Wharf you will find London’s Oldest Riverside Public House, what is it called and when was it built?

Follow Wapping Wall into Glamis Road, about 50 yards past the swing bridge take the next right into the Thames Path. Follow the path along the Thames as far as it will go, at the end you emerge on Narrow Street

Follow Narrow Street, passing Limehouse Basin, until you come to Barleycorn Way, opposite this road is a path leading back onto the Thames Path. Follow the path along the Thames until you reach the river boat pier, turn left here and go up the Stairs to Westferry Circus, cross over the circus walking towards Canary Wharf. Continue on until you the dock appears on your right hand side; turn right here, Mackenzie Walk, and follow the footpath around the outside of the building and on to Canary Wharf Station

Turn Right here and pass in front of the station entrance. In front of you there is a glass building, if it is open pass through it , if it is not open then turn right and follow the path around the outside of the buildings until you reach the foot bridge across the South Dock. On the other side of the footbridge turn left and continue to follow the dockside until you reach Marsh Wall. Turn left onto Marsh Wall and cross over the bridge, continue on for about another 150m and then turn right into Limeharbour. Follow Limeharbour until it becomes East Ferry Road and continue on past the ASDA Superstore and Mudchute Station DLR. At the end of East Ferry Road turn Left along Manchester Road and walk towards Island Gardens Railway Station. Turn Right in front of the Station (Ferry Street) and then take the next Left into Saunders Ness Road. Just before reaching the gardens there is a round brick building, this is the entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

Pass through the tunnel, under the River Thames, emerging opposite the Tea Clipper Cutty Sark.

Q.3 Just above the entrance/exit to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel there is a plaque, when was the tunnel opened and by whom?

Follow the road to the Left of the Cutty Sark into King William Walk. Pass the main gates to the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich, cross over Romney Road and then through St.Mary’s Gate into Greenwich Royal Park.

Follow the path going up the hill to the Old Royal Observatory and Flamstead House.

Q.4 On the wall to the right of the gates into the Old Royal Observatory there is a Calvano Magnetic Clock by whom was it made?

From here you will get a wonderful view of the River Thames, The National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Naval College down below. Leave the Old Royal Observatory along Blackheath Avenue, to the Left of the Observatory. Walk past the Planetarium and then take the next main path on the Right towards Ranger’s House

At the end of the path you reach the park wall, just to the Right of the path there is a gateway through the wall (Crooms Hill Gate). Pass through the gate and at the end of the short lane turn Left and follow the path up to Ranger’s House.

Q.5 Either side of the entrance to Rangers House are two plaques listing former residents, name one of them.

Continue past Ranger’s House, along Chesterfield Walk to Shooters Hill Road, follow the wall round to the Left and re-enter Greenwich Royal Park by the Chesterfield Gate. Turn Right and follow the path around the park passing the gardens back to Blackheath Avenue. Cross over and walk down Bower Avenue to Maze Hill Gate. Staying in the Park follow the path just inside of the park boundary back down the hill towards the National Maritime Museum. Leave the park by the gate at the corner of the Museum and continue along Park Row. Cross over Trafalgar Road and go past the back gate of the Royal Naval College towards the River Thames and the Trafalgar Tavern

When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form

The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.

This trail is registered until 31 December 2020