W2P Stage 1 : Waterloo to Wimbledon (19 miles linear)
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Tired of walking around in circles? Join me on a series of 11ish linear walks which will take us all the way from Waterloo to Portsmouth (W2P). This might be a two year project :) Each stage of the walk will pick up where the last one finished off. The walks will largely start/end at stations on the Waterloo to Portsmouth line, with most stages being 18-20 miles.
So .. on to stage 1 : Waterloo to Wimbledon. We'll start in Waterloo station, but instead of jumping on the train, we'll head out the entrance, wander over to the South Bank and start following the Thames Path. A good chunk of the day we'll be following the river, passing by the Houses of Parliament, Nine Elms regeneration area, Battersea Power Station and Battersea Park.
After Putney Bridge we'll turn off from the Thames Path and cut across to Barnes Bridge Station via the picturesque Barnes Common. From here we'll head south, passing through Richmond Park and finally through Wimbledon Common down into Wimbledon itself.
Media : All photos by me.
What to bring
Water: bring at least a litre
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Rucksack: or any other bag
Footwear: hiking boots or sturdy trainers. A lot of today will be on pavement or muddy park paths. You'll probably get away without hiking boots - but don't where anything you don't mind getting muddy !
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally not jeans which become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Waterproof jacket: breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Food & drink
Bring a packed lunch. While, in this case we'll pass by plenty of shops during the day, it will be best if we don't need to stop off. There is a pret / M&S at London Waterloo so you will be able to stock up there before we set off.