Playground of Kings

Wed 6th Apr 2016

Walk Details:

Event Details Updated
Updated 30/3 with more details of route and corrected mobile phone number
Event Type
Group Walk
Region
Southern England
Local Group
London
Distance
7ml.
Start Time
18.00
Route
Meet Island Gardens DLR. (DLR - frequent service)

The full Isle of Dogs (TDGT) excursion is nine miles, taking us up the little-explored East Coast, through the East India Dock Basin nature reserve and along the optimistically-named Orchard Place to London's only lighthouse (now repurposed as an arts studio/venue). We then return across the financial wastelands via Crossrail Gardens before a moonlit stroll down the West Bank viewing the Great Eastern slipway, with optional end-of-walk refreshments in the Ferry House pub.

Depending on the weather, the drawbridge, and the will of the group there are numerous dropout points. We're also in the hands of gatekeepers, so departure is going to be promptly at six.

No mud and no stiles, but we do negotiate a mechanical hill. Sadly, the King's hunting dog kennels are long gone.

General Notes
No dogs
Start and Finish

Entry Details:

Cost

Walk Report

Playground of Kings, Wednesday 6th April 2016
11 walkers, 8.5 miles - leader Dick Bowman
This walk did exactly what it had said on the tin: we journeyed into unknown lands with repeated exclamations of surprise as we turned a corner. We followed the Thames Path up the east side of the Isle of Dogs and had close-up views across the river of the O2 & the surrounding spectacular developments. We saw the remains of the East India Dock, now mostly filled in & built over. The highlight was Trinity Buoy Wharf at Bow Creek, the outlet of the River Lee: a lightship, Container City, London's only lighthouse, two enticing cafes where we didn't have time to linger and Faraday's Shed.
In Orchard Place several signs outlined the history of a forgotten past - it was still a slum in the '30s. We gasped at several extraordinary art works! Passing Billingsgate Market we turned into the Canary Wharf complex: Dick led us indoors and up escalators to the Crossrail Place Roof Garden - Wow!
The evening was full of contrasts and it was a relief to return via Cabot Place to the west coast Thames Path and more familiar territory for the return - past the remains of the Great Eastern's slipway - to The Ferry House and Island Gardens. A very creative, intriguing and interesting evening's walk.
Photographs by Chris Dent and Stephen Lannon

GPX

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Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn
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Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2016.
© OpenStreetMap contributors under Open Database Licence.
Rights of way data from selected Local Authorities.
Large scale digital mapping is provided by John Thorn.