• Ride 1. Peckham to Charlton House
• Ride 2. Trinity Buoy Wharf and Barrier Park

Ride 1. Peckham to Charlton House

Ten riders set off from Peckham Square on a dull, mild day. Back streets to new crossing of Old Kent Road at Brimmington Park. Still not officially open but working. Negotiated the half made cycle lane to Bridgehouse Meadows. En route to Greenwich via Cyclway 10 briefly explored the new development at start of Folkestone Gardens. This has opened up 2 railway arches and so you can now ride off road thruogh to Deptford Park. A useful new link towards Cyclway 4 and the Thames Path. The side roads off Deptford High Street is all dug up as the adjacent vacant site is made into a small park. There is a clear route through the work so quick;ly on to the Halfpenny Bridge. More new path there at the ex-Tideway site. Roiute continued through Greenwich Park and Blackheath Standard. As we approached Charlton house made a small diversion along Canberra Rd to avoid the road works (new water pipes?). All glad to reach our destnation and get into Frilly’s Cafe with its delicious home-made cakes.

Return leg went via Hornfair Park, past Charlton Lido and then a mile or so of main road, nice and straight (thank the Romans for that – this is Watling Street). Under the Sun in the Sands roudabout then across Blackheath and down Morden hill to Elverson Road DLR station. Crossed railway on the zig-zag footbridge to Brookmill Park. Crossed to Deptford Church St where there is a new segregated cycle lane, not quite finished but can use some of it. Turned left to the eastbound route that goes through the Sturday market, which was very busy and even more etensive than I remebered. Then through Margaret MaMillan and Fordham Parks to Folkstone Gardens. Decided as time was ahort to take the ourward route back to Peckham Square and were back 15 monutes late at 1.15.

When the small stretches of cycle lane are finished the route will be a significantly improved. But it is not too bad and everyone seemed to enjoy the ride and, for most of them, having a first look at Charlton House. Route map at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Sw28aN_lPQsa4ZGxn8HyPcSIcEpgUBM&usp=sharing.

Black and white birds on Blackheath Pond turn out to be juvenile cormorants.

Comment on WhatsApp from Caroline: “Super ride Bruce, as always, and good length coffee stop!”.

Trinity Buoy Wharf and Canary Wharf

Favourite ride led by Amanda. Big group, lots of helpers. London Bridge 9.30 start. Used to call this ride: “The old, the new and the derelict”. Note on WhatsApp from Amanda:

“It was a really happy group on a very pleasant ride. thoroughly enjoyable. Loved it – lots of new, includng favourite paths now reopened or rebuilt – just months old, so very new as is Wood Wharf that we explored. Derelict may be gone soon as a new road has been built behind it (Burts Rd).”

Some rider’s comments: From Jamie “A fabulous ride. Probaly quicker to state where we didn’t go than where we did. Thanks to Ash for his patience as backstop”. From Liz: “Thank you Amanda for a llovely ride – loved all the river/waterside pathways and exploring the new developments.”

Back to Ride Report 2025 Index

Back to Healthy Rides Home page