Walk Report

Exploring Barnes Village and its Environs, Thursday 21st June 2018
13 walkers, 8 miles - leaders Gail & John Elrick
Thirteen people met at Putney Bridge Station. Having crossed the footbridge over the river we continued on the towpath, stopping to look at the monument to Steve Fairburn, the founder of the Head of the River Race. The race is rowed from Mortlake to Putney (i.e. the Boat Race course in reverse) and is usually held on the third or fourth Saturday in March, depending on the tides.
We left the towpath to walk alongside the Barnes Nature Reserve and then followed the Barnes Trail through the village. The Trail is marked by metal oars which carry information about the local area. At Barnes Green we stopped by the pond and then headed over towards Barnes Common to view the Marc Bolan Shrine. This marks the spot where the pop star was killed in a car crash in 1977 at the age of 29.
We continued on to Putney Lower Common which looked very rural with the long grass and bright evening sunshine. The path took us back to the river and Putney Bridge. A Midsummer Day's walk blessed with fine weather. Everyone deserved their drink at the nearby Wetherspoon!
Photographs by Gail Elrick

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