John Curtin heads to Richmond’s former royal hunting ground for a walk steeped in natural beauty and history
Walkers in Richmond Park have 2,500 acres to explore—open grassland and bracken, hills and lakes, formal gardens and a nationally recognised collection of trees. Herds of deer roam freely, while the raucous green parakeets you’re likely to hear add an exotic touch to an English pastoral landscape.
The walk
Leave Richmond station, turning left towards the town centre. Then follow the brown Richmond Hill & Park signs to Richmond Gate, about a mile away. The route through town leads through The Quadrant, into George Street and onto Hill Street. Then bear left up Hill Rise into Richmond Hill where there are views over to the Thames on your right. Continue past The Wick house and The Royal Star and Garter Home, both on your right, to Richmond Gate.
Inside the park, turn right and follow the track for about half a mile to the gated entrance of Pembroke Lodge Gardens and on to Pembroke Lodge itself. The mansion, once occupied by mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell, is now a restaurant and event centre—a good spot for breakfast or an early lunch. Snacks are also available from the car park kiosk.
Continue along the track for about a mile to Ham Cross, a four-way junction. For the Isabella Plantation, turn left along the tarmac pedestrian path and at the next junction turn right. Its azaleas are best seen in April and May.
Otherwise, continue for about a mile to the next main junction. Turn left, passing the car park and Pen Ponds on your left. Keep to the grass paths here, as this is a skylark preservation area—you might spot the birds as they spiral upwards in flight. Pass the 18th-century White Lodge, part of The Royal Ballet School, before arriving at Sheen Cross junction.
Turn right on the track leading to Roehampton Gate, where there is a café. Just before the gate, turn left onto an earth track and follow the Tamsin Trail for about two miles as it undulates its way back to Richmond Gate. Then retrace your steps back to the station.
To extend the walk, head back to The Wick from Richmond Gate and turn left down Nightingale Lane to Petersham Road. Cross it and follow the path on the left to the Thames, passing a landscape of river meadows. Turn left to Ham House and Garden after a mile. A fine 17th-century Stuart mansion, it houses collections of textiles, furniture and paintings and has formal gardens. Opposite the signpost for Ham House is Hammerton’s Ferry (daily, Feb-Oct, 10am-6pm or dusk if earlier), which takes you to the opposite bank for 60p. From there you can turn left to Marble Hill House, a Palladian villa set in 66 acres of riverside parkland with a collection of early Georgian paintings.
Alternatively, continue along the Thames Path to Teddington Lock for nearly two miles. Just before the blue bridge, turn left, cross two roads, go through a metal barrier and emerge opposite a children’s nursery. Turn right, then left into Lock Road and continue over a junction, with Ham Common pond on your right. At the junction with Ham Gate Avenue, follow this for about a mile to the park entrance.
Continue ahead uphill and, at the junction with the park road, turn left on the Tamsin Trail to reach Richmond Gate in about a mile. From there, return to Richmond station.