Walk Report

Bushy and Hampton Court Parks, Wednesday 6th July 2011
17 walkers, 7 miles - leader Rob Myers
When I travelled to Kingston at lunchtime there were bad problems at Waterloo due to a train failure and a person under a train, so it was with great relief that the trains were back to normal by the time people started arriving for the walk. 17 walkers gathered for the start. We walked through Kingston town centre admiring the bright and cheerful banners advertising the Kingston summer festival. Entering Hampton Court Park we immediately came across the first of many herds of deer before heading for the top of the Long Water where we could see all the marquees of the Hampton Court Flower Show in the distance. We left Hampton Court Park via a 750 year old oak and a golf course to reach a short stretch of the Thames Path before entering Hampton Court Palace. After passing through the grounds of the palace we crossed over to Bushy Park and lingered to admire the recently restored Statue of Diana which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Next we did a circuit of Waterhouse Woodland Gardens before going via Bushy House and Heron Pond to exit Bushy Park. We finished the walk at the Bishop Out of Residence pub overlooking the Thames. Definitely one of my favourite walks.

---