Snaprails Random Things: Capital Ring Section 01

Woolwich to Falconwood 26th November 2025

6.2 miles plus 1.0 miles of station links. Total = 7.2 miles (11.6 km).

I finally completed the London Loop path back in September and now want a new project to get me out and about and walking. Needs to be something that can be done in sections and accessible by public transport. So the logical choice is the Loop’s “little brother”, the Capital Ring.

Capital Ring Overview Map (Inner London Ramblers)

The Capital Ring is 78 miles (126km) long and divided into 15 sections. It’s an urban walk in a smaller and more central loop around London than the London Loop, staying within 10 miles of the Houses of Parliament. Opened in 2005, it crosses the Thames at Richmond in the West and Woolwich in the East and starts and finishes (if you do it in order) at the southern portal of the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. The Inner London Ramblers’ walking guides are available to download at

Inner London Ramblers Capital Ring Guides

I was going to leave it until the Spring to start, with longer days but the sun came out and having waited in for a parcel I reckoned that today was as good a time to begin as any and I could still get to Woolwich and complete the first section by around sunset. The Jubilee Line had other ideas though and I arrived at Woolwich Station a good half hour later than planned. This was to prove less than ideal later on.

From the station I walked to Woolwich Arsenal Pier and then left along the Thames to the official section start at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel.

I carried on upstream beside the river, crossing the Woolwich Ferry approach road and several inlets and dry docks with fine views across the river to the Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery and aircraft taking off from London City Airport. It was fresh and clear with bright sunshine and I quickly dispensed with my unnecessary woolly hat.

From the raised walkway by the river I could see the wreck of the MV Royal Iris lying partially sunk and burnt out on a mud bank close to Barrier Gardens Pier. A sad fate for the Mersey Ferry of the song.

At the end of the raised walkway I turned inland and then right down Bowater Road, a long canyon between multi-storey industrial buildings. Unprepossessing at first sight this industrial estate was of some interest to this ex-telecoms engineer since it is the site of the former Siemens Brothers Telegraph Works. Between 1863 and 1968 it produced telegraph and telephone cables, electrical equipment, and Strowger telephone exchange equipment, some of which I’ve no doubt I worked on. A lot of the buildings are now part of London’s largest complex of artists’ studios, Thames-Side Studios.

After Bowater Road I made a short diversion to the riverside to see the Thames Barrier. It isn’t strictly on the Capital Ring but there was a sign pointing that way that promised Toilets. Surprisingly they were actually open. I don’t ignore an open toilet on a walk. Also a good view of the barrier in the sunshine.

Returning from the riverside i passed through the strip of green beside the school and crossed Woolwich Road into Maryon Park. I crossed the railway on a bridge between two tunnel portals and into the recreation area. The sun was now dropping behind the trees but since there was still frost on the grass obviously hadn’t risen much above them all day. It was a long climb up the 115 steps out of Maryon Park to cross Thorntree Road and enter Maryon Wilson Park. I headed south passing between the Deer enclosure and the children’s zoo then along a tarmac path through the wooded park parallel to a stream. It was prime dog walking and parakeet territory.

Emerging from the woods opposite Charlton Park Academy I crossed the road, turned right and left through a gate in the wall to reach Charlton Park itself. After passing the cafe (tempting but remaining daylight time was becoming short) the route then went round three sides of the playing fields, passing on the way the Jacobean Charton House built in 1612 for Sir Adam Newton, before exiting the park through a gateway to Charlton Park Lane.

A brief stretch of urban residential walking, weaving around the wheely bins in Inigo Jones Road brought me to Hornfair Park. Can you see a pattern developing here on the Capital Ring route? I passed the heavily fenced BMX track, exited the park through a small gate in the very corner of the fence and crossed Stadium Road onto Woolwich Common. This was the first bit of unsurfaced footpath so far, thankfully still firm under foot. Crossing the common there were far reaching views to the North across Woolwich and Beckton and in the far distance fields in Essex.

On the far side of the common I regained the tarmac of Academy Road and crossed its busy junction with Shooters Hill, which actually has no pedestrian crossings at the traffic lights so you have to take your chances. Bearing off across the grass south of Shooters Hill and then into Castle Wood I followed a winding trail uphill through the trees then along the driveway to Severndroog Castle. This 70 feet high triangular castle was built in 1784 by the widow of local landowner Commodore Sir William James. It’s a great and eccentric memorial for a man who was employed by the East India Company to suppress pirates. It’s open on Sundays, today was Wednesday but any story is improved by the inclusion of pirates. Arr!

The other side of the castle I descended the 72 steps through the rose garden to the accompaniment of many loud parakeets and with a fine view to the South West.

At the bottom of the rose garden I turned left and had an even better view of the setting sun in the South West. I was definitely losing the light. I carried on into Jack Wood following the waymarker posts to a clearing by the remnants of Jackwood House, past the house’s rose garden, downhill through the increasingly gloomy woods then up again to emerge by Oxleas Wood cafe. Which had just closed. At least the toilets were still open. I sat on a bench in front of the cafe admiring the view and since my destination was not far away ate the Twix I’d been carrying in my back pack. Although I wasn’t feeling cold the Twix was almost frozen, to the point that even the caramel bit was crunchy!

There was just enough light to follow the track through Oxleas Wood and down to Rochester Way where the Ring does a loop through Shepherdleas Wood to reach the end at Falconwood Station. I followed the path into the woods a short way before deciding that it was a bad idea since it was fully dark now and if I went arse over tit in the woods I could be there for the rest of my life.