April 18: The Capital Ring (4)

A return to the Capital Ring, London's inner orbital trail. For this superb part of the Ring I had the company of my good friend Richard Challoner, who joined me for most of the walk.

For the first time on the Ring, I decided to travel anti-clockwise for a change.
After a stroll near the Royal Docks, I joined the Ring at Beckton Park and headed off westwards.

For a few miles, the Ring follows the course of Bazalgette's Northern Outfall Sewer. The sheer scale of this magnificent piece of engineering is apparent here, as the embankment is almost level with the roofs of the houses alongside.

The Ring then clings to the Lea Valley Navigation right up to the Lea Bridge. I had walked this charming stretch with Tony Drayton back in September 2005. Richard joined me at this point. We then headed westwards through charming Stoke Newington, with its two parish churches.

From here to Finsbury Park, the Ring follows a section of the New River, the Elizabethan scheme that brought drinking water to London from Hertfordshire. It now seems hard to imagine the New River as a vital utility for the Metropolis.

From Finsbury Park to Highgate, the Ring follows the track of the disused railway line, from which services ran to the Alexandra Palace. Apart from its fascinating abandoned stations and empty platforms, the line is a valuable corridor for insect and plant life.

I have now completed the whole eastern half of the Ring between Highgate and Crystal Palace, and will complete the rest in small sections after my nights at Durrants.

Today: 16 miles
2006 total: 158 miles