Thames Path South East Extension

Gtr London

The waymarked Thames Path Extension, which extends the national trail east but does not have National Trail status, follows the south bank downstream from the Thames Barrier to Crayford Ness along east London's working river to link the Thames Path National Trail to the London Loop at Erith, after which these two routes run together with the Cray Riverway.

Starting with views upstream of the high-tech Thames flood barrier, with its visitor centre, and Canary Wharf's striking modern office towers behind, it soon passes the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, part of Britain's maritime heritage. There is a mixture of marshland, industrial infrastructure and pumping stations, small nature reserves, riverside apartments at Thamesmead and a domestic waterfront at Erith, until the Crayford saltmarshes are reached with views to the slender Dartford QE II bridge spanning the river downstream beyond the finish east of Crayford Ness, where the simpler flood barrier on the River Darent ends the route.

Some parts of the riverside can be subject to flooding at high tide - see the Port of London Authority website for tide times. Being a riverside walk it is flat and it generally provides good access for restricted users along with many public transport links.

In 2018 access to the Thames waterfront was extended at the eastern end of the Extension avoiding some road walking with the former route. From the Thames Barrier a waterside route is open east to King Henry's Wharf and onwards to Woolwich foot tunnel and beyond. It is planned that the route designations along these sections will change as a result of the development of the England Coast Path (ECP). The ECP is expected to extend up the Thames south side to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel as this is the first foot crossing point upriver. The Thames Path National Trail will then be extended the short distance from the Thames Barrier to this foot tunnel and the Thames Path Extension will become part of the ECP. Woolwich to Isle of Grain section. Consideration is being given to a new bridge crossing of the River Darent where it enters the Thames just below Crayford Ness where a lengthy walk inland and back is currently required to continue along the Thames waterside.

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Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Thames Barge (white) on named signs
Attributes:	Easy River Urban
Start:	TQ415792 - Thames Barrier, Woolwich, Gtr London
Finish:	TQ539777 - Darent Flood Barrier, Crayford Ness, Erith, Gtr London
Web Sites:	TfL - Thames Path Port of London - Tide Tables Annierak - Thames Path National Trail [blog] Rambling Man - Thames Path Extension [blog]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

General Interest Book

Story of the Thames  (Amberley Publishing  - 2013 )

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