Transport for LondonRoute details
Greenway, The
| Walk facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4.4 miles (7.1 km) |
| Location: | Tower Hamlets, Newham |
| Start: | Wick Lane, Hackney Wick (GR 371-839) Get there with Journey Planner |
| Finish: | Royal Docks Road, Beckton (GR 439-820) |
| Factor: | Greenway, The |
| Recommended direction: | Either way |
| Terrain and surface: | Almost entirely level. Some long flights of steps with alternative ramps. No stiles. 250m beside roads |
| Points of Interest: | Lea Navigation, River Lea, Bow Back River, Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Channelsea River, East London Cemetery, Beckton Alps, Beckton |
| Signage: | Bright blue entrance gates with overhead 'Greenway' banner, and markers with cutout lettering |
| Temporary Diversions: | |
| Refreshments and toilets: | Pubs and cafes at Plaistow and Beckton Alps. No public toilets nearby |
| Public transport and breakpoints: | NR: Hackney Wick, West Ham. DLR: Pudding Mill Lane, Beckton. LU: West Ham, Plaistow. Buses: All these points (except Pudding Mill Lane) plus Wansbeck Road, High Street Stratford, Upper Road, Lonsdale Avenue, Newham Way and Eastern Gateway (Royal Docks Road) |
| Links with other walks: | Lea Valley Walk, Capital Ring, Heron and Kingfisher Walks |
| How to get the map: | Download it from www.walklondon.org.uk or call 0870 240 6094 |
| Principal promoters: | Thames Water, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority, LB Tower Hamlets, LB Newham |
Walk details:
- Truly a phenomenon that goes unnoticed by most Londoners, The Greenway is a level, almost continuous and straight traffic-free route that carves through East London at high level, overlooking houses and gardens with some interesting views.
- A broad, bonded gravel track has been constructed on top of the Northern Outfall Sewer Embankment, which carries effluent from north of the Thames to the mammoth sewage disposal works at Beckton.
- Despite this unpromising factor the surroundings are very pleasant and a haven for wildlife, as the track is lined with grass and shrubs.
- (See Ridgeway Walk for a similar route in Southeast London.) Note that The Greenway is actually a permissive path (see Route Closures, Strategic Network, Section 2), closed at night, and may also be used by cyclists.
- Easily followed in either direction, the route is highly visible except at three points where you must make a short diversion.
- The distinctive, bright blue metal 'Greenway' banners at main access points can be seen for some distance, and frequent signs show names of roads where you can join or leave.
- There is no official publication, but most of the route is described in one of the Newham Walks (Three Mills and along the Greenway to St Mary's Churchyard), included in Other Named Self-guided Walks below.
- Section 14 of the Capital Ring follows part of The Greenway.
- Walking west-east the route starts in Wick Lane, close to a bus route on Wansbeck Road and not far from Hackney Wick station.
- There are several points of interest.
- Early on you cross four waterways (River Lea, City Mill River, Waterworks River/Bow Back River and Channelsea River), where connections are made with the Lea Valley Walk and Heron and Kingfisher Walks, and pass the palatial former Abbey Mills Pumping Station.
- Later you have a grandstand view of flower-strewn gravestones in the East London Cemetery.
- Near the east end is the 'Mountain Ski Village' known as Beckton Alps, whose summit is reached via a zigzag path from the Newham Way flyover junction.
- Though a mere pimple in comparison to the Swiss version, this volcano-like former refuse tip (now grassed over) is high enough to provide a superb 360-degree panorama over most of east and southeast London into Essex and Kent.
- The small diversion is well worth the effort, and you can watch brave souls tackling the dry-ski slope.
- At the east end a bus goes along Eastern Gateway (Royal Docks Road), or you can follow the cycle-track south to the Docklands Light Railway stations at Beckton or Gallions Reach (1.0km/0.6ml).
