Linda's Walk: Three Rivers, Two Piers a Picnic & a Pub: Erith to Bexley 9 mile Walk

Please meet at the front of Erith railway station at 09:50, ready to depart at 10:00.  

We will walk from Erith to Bexley in South East London/ Kent via various flood defences that support the Thames Barrier. We'll walk out above the Thames on an old wooded pier and also on a more substantial pier with a flood barrier, railway tracks, buffer stops and train engine turntable from when the coal train used to meet the coal ships. We will walk on the high mound which holds the Thames water in the Thames even in times of high tides, heavy rainfall and raised water levels - it gives us a great, elevated view. The Dartford Creek Barrier is where the River Darent joins the Thames and the dam can be closed to protect Dartford and Crayford residents from flooding. 

This is a remote area until we reach Crayford at about 13:45 so you will need to take some picnic snacks and a drink with you to have at about 11:30 at the dam. 

We return to civilisation via the River Cray at Crayford where you can get yourself a meal in The Bear and Ragged Staff Wetherspoons Pub (if there, is space, as these pubs do not accept table bookings) or in the vintage, Lindy Lou tea rooms. 

We will walk on to Hall Place Gardens, with owl and butterfly houses, where we will take an afternoon break to look round the beautiful gardens and you might like to treat yourself to a cup of tea and cake. We'll then take the final, short walk to Bexley railway station to get our trains home.