Dog Walk in Richmond Park and Thames Path

Posted on 10th July 2015 by Green Lane Farm Team

Here at Green Lane Farm we are passionate about all things dog. As such, we’ve created a Surrey dog walking guide to help you and your beloved pooch make the most of the summer months! Our guide includes six beautiful countryside walks across the Surrey region and they all end at lovely, highly recommended pubs.

The fifth walk in our guide takes you to Richmond Park and Thames Path. The walk is 8.67 miles (or 13.95km) long and should take you roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete. The walk begins and ends at The New Inn pub.

A traditional and cosy pub, its rural setting, facing Ham Common, is the perfect accompaniment to its range of wonderful, homemade food. The New Inn has a large and varied menu, including everything from burgers and fish to ox-cheek and steak and Guinness pie. So you can be sure there is something for everyone – including the dog!

Route:

1. Park at The New Inn pub (Ham Common, Richmond, TW10 7DB). Upon leaving the car park, turn on right onto the main road – the A307. Use the pedestrian crossing to turn into Ham Gate Avenue. Follow the path for about half a mile until you reach the park entrance.
2. Take the park road uphill and then, when you come to the Ham Cross junction, continue straight ahead. Follow the track marked Isabella Plantation. Keep going, crossing a junction, and continue for about a mile. Once you reach a t-junction, turn left. Continue straight ahead, passing The Royal Ballet School – including the famous White Lodge – on your right.
3. Keep going until you reach a four-way junction, named Sheen Cross. Here, you should cross over and then take the footpath to the right, marked Roehampton Gate. Using the bridge, cross the stream and then turn left at the mini-roundabout onto a bicycle track. Follow the track, crossing the stream again until you reach Sheen Gate.
4. Cross the park road and then cross a further road leading to a car park. When you reach a wooden bridge, turn right to cross it, re-joining the bicycle track. You will eventually reach Bog gate; here you should continue along the track within the park. You are now halfway through the walk. So if you’ve packed a flask of tea or some treats for the dog, this is the perfect place to stop for a break!
5. Continue through the park, until you reach the third pedestrian gate, Richmond Gate. Leave the park here and keep right. Use two zebra crossings to reach The Royal Star and Garter Home and then turn right to go down the hill. Turn left into Nightingale Lane and then immediately turn right to take the footpath.
6. Follow the path to the river and then bear left onto Thames Path. Continue along the riverbank for over 1.5 miles, eventually reaching Teddington Lock. When you come to the blue bridge, turn left onto the Ham/Richmond Park/Central London footpath. Turn right once you come to a metal barrier and then turn left into Lock Road. Continue until you reach the A307; bear left and then follow the pavement back to The New Inn. You now definitely deserve a nice drink and a hearty meal!