29/02/2020 - Inner London Ring - Eastern Half

Distance - 12 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk Inspiration
Pubs - Prospect of Whitby - Shadwell and Libery Bounds - Tower Bridge

Blogfans will maybe know that I have completed three circuits of the Smoke - The Capital Ring, The London Loop and the London Countryway.  I'm having a free hit on London Walks in 2020, but in my investigations, I found the Inner London Ring.

This 25 miles circuit of London is possible to do in a (very) long day.   The website breaks it down into four walks - each lovingly detailed.

I'm going to complete the Eastern Half - Starting at Kings Cross and finishing at Tower Bridge.

The northern sections takes in the Regents Canal, emerging at the bottom of Upper Street in Islington, before finding the waterway through edgy Hoxton, Hackney and Haggerston.

Islington Tunnel - where we temporarily leave the Regents Canal

Which takes us all the way to an Urban Farm in Hackney

Goldsmiths Row sounds familiar to me - and the pub reminds me that used to be called the Albion - complete with a Throstles Crest and plenty of full sized photos of West Brom stars from the early nineties.  Disappointingly, its now the Virgin Queen and trading off its reputation for fish and chips.

I'd been there when it was in all its glory

Onward with the walk - through the massive Victoria Park before hitting familiar ground on the Lea Navigation at Hackney Wick.  This drives through the Olympic Park, where West Ham are at home later in the afternoon but this time, I am not treated to lost Hammers Fans looking for a suitable pub.  Either they have now found their bearings or I am a bit early for the 3pm kick off.

Victoria Park's Island Hosted Pagoda

West Ham - who went on to have a unusual good afternoon

A Len Deighton Top 12 pub is available at Bow - and this is worthy of another blog - so I press on down the Lime House Cut.  The dogs are huge and the owners are selfish, as I spend the length dodging puddles and turds.

Limehouse Cut - where the big dogs live

Limehouse Basin

Limehouse Basin leads to a stretch of the Thames Path and the first refreshment of the day can be had at the Prospect of Whitby.   A Greene King pub trading of its impressive history of pirates and charting the monarchy that has passed since its inception.  If you are there - have a mooch. Upstairs, downstairs and outside for the Thames side terraces.   Wonderful place.

Impressive Thames Views

Must Visit Pub - the Prospect of Whitby

Serving punters since Henry VIII

Upstairs Smuggler's Bar

It's an ornamental canal that leads me to St Katernine's Dock and ultimately, the tourist hordes at Tower Bridge.

The Shard in the murk

Sun comes out in St Katherines Dock

A few obligatory tourist photos and into the Liberty Bounds for a Good Beer Guide Tick.

Its heaving, a deeply unpleasant experience and the only thing of interest I can bring is a photo for the Wetherspoons carpet fans.

A photo cannot be avoided

At least this is out the way on my tick list

A place full of anchors