Category: Self Guided Walks

This walk will allow you to see every corner of the park starting from a point close to Garratt Lane Sainsbury’s.

Start at the corner of Mapleton Road and Garratt Lane.You are standing in a pocket park alongside the River Wandle. Facing the river look to the left and take passage-way and walk along beside the river. After you cross the sports centre (formerly a lido, closed in 1993) will be on your right.

At the end turn left along the edge of the playing field and then up the steps or ramp to the upper playing field. Keep to the left and take the path along the left-hand side of the field. At Kimber Road cross at the pedestrian lights and follow the path along beside the river, crossing the track which runs to the south of Nuffield Fitness. Continue on the path where it begins to meander until you reach a major crossing of paths. At this point the path is known as Foster’s Way named after Corporal Edward Foster who was awarded the VC in 1917 and was subsequently employed as a dustman by Wandsworth Council.

Turn left on to the link with the Henry Prince Estate but turn right before you reach the footbridge over the Wandle and walk along the path beside the river. Keep on when it becomes Riverdale Drive and at the end turn right with the road and then right into Knaresborough Drive. When the fence on the left ends leave the road and turn in to the park, turn sharp left to walk around the edge of the field. Keep walking to reach the gate to the park – and you are back on Foster’s Way.

Turn right and follow the tarmac path until you reach a low gate to your left into a wooded area.  Walk through the enclosure and emerge back into the open park and follow the path past the allotments and sports pitches of Southfields Academy. This merges with a path; after a short way leave this and turn right to walk across the grass to a low gate. Cross the tarmac track and go through the next low gate into the Nuffield Fitness car park. Exit on the other side and walk across to another low gate on to Burr Road. Walk along Burr Road to the T junction with Kimber Road where you turn right. Cross Kimber Road and enter the park again (under the arch) along the west side. Follow along the side of the park ignoring a path to the right, until you get to a T junction. Turn right on the shared cycle-pedestrian path for a short distance until you reach the entrance to the formal gardens behind Southside.

Take the path around the gardens and small lake and return to this point. As you exit the formal area turn left, past the playground and into Mapleton Road. Walk past the Wandle Recreation Centre back to your starting point.

This pleasant riverside walk to Chelsea Bridge is currently obstructed in places by construction works but will one day offer aThames path amble all the way.

Start at the Trinity Road roundabout at the southern end of Wandsworth Bridge. Look for the Tesco Express, go between that and the flats into the communal gardens; turn left through the gardens of Battersea Reach to get to the terrace of the Waterfront pub.

Walk along parallel to the river and drop down on to the Thames Path. Follow this eastwards towards the Heliport then follow the Thames Path signage all the way to Battersea Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left along the Chelsea Embankment past the houseboats.

Where the Embankment bends to the right go straight on along Lots Road on the right-hand pavement (Cremorne Gardens is a pleasant spot if you need a rest). Where Lots Road turns right, you turn left across Chelsea Creek into Chelsea Harbour. Bear left. following the Thames Path signs around the development. The path takes you under a railway bridge on to the riverside path on the other side.  

Walk along the river, possibly diverting into Imperial Park on your right or seeing a helicopter land or take off  over the Thames to the left. The path comes to an abrupt temporary end; turn right along the path running at right angles to the river, turn left at the end and past a bus stop on to Townmead Road (past Fulham Wharf Sainsbury’s). Walk along Townmead Road to the end, turn left on to Wandsworth Bridge and you are back at the start point.