Marble Hill to Bushy Park

The walk starts at the entrance to Marble Hill Park (get there from St. Margarets station or by bus (33, R70, R68, H22 etc.) from Richmond).

). Follow the path towards Marble Hill House then turn left to pass on the river-side of the house. Turn right towards the river at the next junction.

Coming out of the park onto the towpath go right along it for about 0.5km until you reach a sign for Hammerton's Ferry (hours 10.00 to 18.00 at weekends throughout the year and daily during summer).

Cross the ferry to the towpath on the Ham side of the Thames, turning right along the tow path past Ham House. This is a National Trust property with a great garden and a nice café.

The path follows close to the river past Eel Pie Island and the former gravel pit now used by Thames Young Mariners.

Teddington Lock appears next. This is the limit of the tidal Thames. A path over a footbridge leads to public toilets then on towards Teddington which has plenty of refreshments opportunities, bus stops and a train station. There is a plan to harness the considerable flow of water over Teddington weir to generate renewable electricity.

The towpath continues alongside Ham Common and then opposite another small island (Steven's Eyot) before reaching the Lower Ham Rd.

Follow this road alongside the river for 0.5km before leaving it to stay close to the river past the Boaters pub.

From here there is a tree-lined section through Canford Park, then under the railway line, past another pub and the back of John Lewis.

Take the tunnel under Kingston Bridge and turn right up the steps on the far side to come out on the up-stream side of the bridge. Cross over to the Hampton Wick side of the river and bear left at the roundabout.

Cross Hampton Court Rd. at the traffic lights and head a short distance up Church Grove then turn left through wrought iron gates into a tree-lined path with allotments on the right.

At the end of this path go through a gate into Bushy Park. At the further corner of the cricket pitch turn right diagonally towards a clump of trees, passing just to the right of them to follow the left bank of a small lake. This becomes a small channel linking to another lake.

Cross the bridge to follow the right hand bank of this one and then cross two more footbridges to the left, leading into a car park.

Cross the car park and exit from the right hand corner, following a metalled path signposted to the Pheasantry. This is a new (2009) café inside one of the Woodland Gardens and serves hot and cold refreshments.

On leaving here retrace your steps towards the Woodland Garden gate but turn right just before it and go straight ahead through the Woodland Garden beside ponds with lots of ducks. In spring and early summer this area is full of azaleas.

Exit through a gate and turn right then left to follow outside the perimeter fence of another woodland arden. This path bears right after 200 metres, now going north. Keep straight on in this direction, ignoring the metalled path which heads to the right, towards NPL and Bushy House.

You will shortly see signs to the Water Gardens and Cascade close to Upper Lodge.

When you have walked around the upper and lower ponds and visited the Brew House leave by the same gate but pass in front of Upper Lodge, turning left onto the metalled path.

Turn left again to go along the backs of Upper Lodge and the mysterious Rotunda building, before turning right towards the edge of a cricket pitch.

Follow the boundary line going right, then left, to arrive at the Hampton Hill gate of Bushy Park.

Exit and straight ahead is Hampton Hill High St. Cross the road to the bus stop where R70, R68 or 267 (weekends only) buses will take you to Twickenham or St. Margarets.