The route now crosses Richmond bridge to follow the towpath on the north side of the Thames. The red-brick Royal Star and Garter Home appears on your left, perched high on Richmond Hill, with a commanding view of the Thames and the meadowlands. It was built in 1916 for disabled ex-service men and women.
After passing Cambridge Park on your right, there is an entrance gate to Marble Hill House and Park, the retreat of George II’s mistress, Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk. Follow the signs to the café, passing a majestic black walnut tree and Lady Suffolk’s Grotto on the way.
Leave the park by the left of the Coach House Café, returning to the riverside, and take Hammerton’s Ferry (from 10:00 to dusk, Nov-Feb, weather permitting, adults 60p, child 30p) to Ham House. This is a Stuart mansion built in 1610 and, although the house closes at the end of October, the gardens remain open (free entry to National Trust members, non-members £3.50 ). The Cherry Garden, named after the 40 morello-cherry trees growing there in the late-17th century, is planted in a formal diamond pattern. The evergreens, box topiary and hornbeam hedge look very good in winter.
On leaving Ham House, you can turn right to follow the towpath back to Richmond station—a walk of about 11¼4 miles—or return on the ferry to the north bank, turn left on to the riverside past Orleans House Gallery, right at the cobbled Church Lane below Eel Pie Island, left on to Church Street and right on to London Road to arrive at Twickenham station.
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