The London Loop: Stage 6: Banstead Downs - Kingston

Tom strides over the road
Tom strides over the road
We started in the middle of nowhere.
Sign in the forest
Sign in the forest
This part of the loop is well signposted.
Golf Course Action!
Golf Course Action!
Welcome to Epsom and Ewell
Welcome to Epsom and Ewell
This walk took us into strange boroughs.
Tom is at home in the Suburbs
Tom is at home in the Suburbs
A freaky church
A freaky church
No offence intended to the churchgoers...
Tom is unimpressed with the naming conventions
Tom is unimpressed with the naming conventions
Tunnel approaching
Tunnel approaching
Watch out for skylarks
Watch out for skylarks
Pretty yellow flower
Pretty yellow flower
Ahh the fields of Gold
Ahh the fields of Gold
Heading for the forest
Heading for the forest
The forest of Nonsuch Park
The forest of Nonsuch Park
Ancient remains
Ancient remains
This truly is all that remains of Henry VII's Nonsuch Palace Banqueting Hall (No, I'm not making it up)
Early Victorian Ewell Castle
Early Victorian Ewell Castle
This is a school now.
Entrance to Bourne Hall Park
Entrance to Bourne Hall Park
Bourne Hall Park
Bourne Hall Park
Bourne Hall Mansion
Bourne Hall Mansion
This replaces the actual Mansion, which was knocked down in the 1960s. It has a coffee bar, which was naturally closed, like everything else in Epsom and Ewell on Sunday.
Dying Tree
Dying Tree
The Horse Chestnut Trees are suffering from an epidemic.
Source Springs of the river Hogsmill
Source Springs of the river Hogsmill
We followed the River Hogsmill all the way to the end at Kingston.
Lunch in the Pub
Lunch in the Pub
This was either the Wheatsheaf or the Spring Tavern. Answers on a postcard...
Tom chills on Da Bridge
Tom chills on Da Bridge
The Loop goes through a tunnel!
The Loop goes through a tunnel!
Very cleverly, some engineers had constructed a boardwalk on TOP of the river!! We were literally walking on water in this dark tunnel. Rock on.
Back of the Tunnel
Back of the Tunnel
Along the Hogsmill
Along the Hogsmill
The River Hogsmill has nothing to do with actual Hogs apparently.
More of the Hogsmill
More of the Hogsmill
Supposedly some people called Hogg were around here.
Bridge
Bridge
Forest
Forest
Path
Path
Kingston here we come.
Kingston here we come.
More Church
More Church
Housing
Housing
NO HORSES!!
NO HORSES!!
I am so so sad to say that this is the only section of the Loop so far where I did not see a horse. I was very upset.
Horse Print
Horse Print
Evidence of the horse that was obviously hiding from me knowing that I had seen one on every section of the Loop.
Tom reckons he knows the way
Tom reckons he knows the way
The A3 Malden Way
The A3 Malden Way
Malden derives from mael-dun (a cross on a hill). The Loop is a learning experience for all.
Still on the Hogsmill
Still on the Hogsmill
Arriving in Suburbia
Arriving in Suburbia
Glory of the Berrylands Pub
Glory of the Berrylands Pub
Not many berries I can see.
The Hogsmill in Kingston outskirts
The Hogsmill in Kingston outskirts
Kingston
Kingston
River Thames
River Thames
The Hogsmill joined the Thames.
The Thames at Kingston
The Thames at Kingston
The Loop goes along the river a bit.
The Loop goes along the river a bit.
Kingston Station
Kingston Station
We finished this section in Kingston Town (No UB40 songs please)