London Capital Ring - Section 1

I often walk or run along the Parkland Walk in North London, where the stylish Capital Ring signposts have always piqued my curiosity. After some research, I was thrilled to find that the full route is not only easily accessible but also weaves through a variety of green spaces, many of which I’ve been eager to explore. I’ve been challenging myself with longer routes in preparation for the Camino de Santiago, so this route felt like a perfect opportunity to build my endurance close to home.

Eager to share the experience, I invited a close friend to join me, and we decided on Stoke Newington as our starting point. From the station, we headed northeast into Springfield Park, greeted by a lovely view over the Lea Valley. A foggy morning mist coloured the scene with a hint of mystery as we descended to the Lea River and followed its banks south through Walthamstow Marshes.

Our path curved east through Hackney Marshes, where we passed through Hackney Wick’s cool industrial charm before reaching the Olympic Park. Here, we picked up the Quietway 22 cycle path, a raised route built on top of a sewage line humorously known as the Northern Outfall Sewage Embankment (NOSE). En route, we caught glimpses of Canary Wharf from Memorial Park and Cemetery before arriving at the Abbey Mills Pumping Station — a striking Victorian building dating back to 1865, when it was constructed to pump sewage to the treatment plant in Beckton.

Exiting the cycleway, a momentary lapse in navigation forced us to walk along the motorway for a short stretch, quickly reminded of why one tends to keep their windows shut when driving on such a road. Thankfully, we soon crossed a bridge into the Beckton District Park and turned south, making our way toward the river.

Here we got off the path for a much-needed refuelling stop at a pub for beer and Sunday lunch. We found an interesting sports bar housed in a beautiful Victorian Grade II listed building nestled in the middle of new build residential developments, hidden behind a junction roundabout. Perfect.

We returned to the path, strolling through a few more parks before reaching Cyprus DLR Station. A footbridge took us across the tracks and through a nearby university campus until we emerged at the Thames, where we were greeted with the roar of planes taking off from London City Airport across the water.

From here we headed east along the river out towards what felt like the end of the world. Crossing Gallions Entrace Lock took us to the smallest island in Docklands, where we were met with a locked gate. While attempting to climb over, I managed to get my trousers caught on the wire fencing and fell backwards onto the grass, shredding both my brand new hiking trousers and my dignity. Once I composed myself we pressed on. We took a short detour, climbing another barrier and clambering down to a small beach. Further along the shore, we noticed a private space where someone had created a home, living in a tent surrounded by artistic sculptures made from driftwood and other found objects.

Continuing on the path, we snaked around several concrete flood walls and arrived at Royal Victoria Gardens. We debated whether to cross via the Woolwich Ferry or descend into the foot tunnel. The latter felt more in the spirit of the Capital Ring, so we spiralled down the staircase and walked beneath the Thames.

In Woolwich, we took a moment’s pause to look back over the Thames, where the sunlight glistened off the pods on top of the Thames Flood Barrier. We pressed on through the historic Royal Arsenal and finished the walk at the pub by the station. A celebratory pint tied up the day perfectly — sipped mostly in contented silence, our minds replaying the journey and our feet grateful for the rest.

Section 2 to come soon.

Bonus drone shot of the London skyline from above Hackney Marshes: