Walking with Keilyn: Abbey Wood to Crossness... and beyond

Lesnes Abbey viewpoint.

Saturday December 27, 2025.

Today marked the last walk of 2025, for Keilyn and I.

It began with a taxi to Watford Underground station, where we caught a train to Finchley Road and, from there, a Jubilee line train to Bond Street. A walk through the various passageways brought us to the Eastbound platforms, where we waited three minutes for a train. We had decided that we would catch the first train, regardless of its destination. As it was, an Abbey Wood-bound train was the first to arrive.

A little while later we had reached the terminus and exited the station onto Harrow Manorway. Within minutes we were entering Lesnes Abbey Woods.

A monk.

We followed the path, which brought us to Monks Close which we followed, until we entered the largest part of Abbey Woods. To our right we noticed the carved figure of a monk with his Crosier, atop a tree stump. After taking a few photos we made our way to the 'Chestnuts Kiosk', where hot drinks were purchased, before we set off to explore the grounds.

The monk's garden.

Lesnes Abbey Monk's Garden, was our first exploration, where various plants that aided in 'healing' the sick were planted. At its centre was a seated area, with, as its focal point, a giant Crosier. We continued our exploration of the garden, before following the path towards Lesnes Abbey itself.

Various information boards were dotted around, but none of them explained, or could adequately convey, the sheer size of the ruins. It wasn't until Keilyn and I were among the various broken walls and foundations that we could appreciate its scale, and what it would have looked like when it was built, in 1178.

Lesnes Abbey ruins.

We explored every inch of it. From the West Door to the Infirmary to the Kitchens and everything in between. Keilyn took notes and 'googled' various words, such as 'Slype' or 'Reredorter'.

Once we had explored the ruins, the view of the London skyline from the edge of the woods, the Mulberry tree planted by King James I, and the mosaic, we made our way out of the park via the footbridge over Abbey Road. (Not the Abbey Road made famous by 'The Beatles', which is in St John's Wood).

A pony on Erith Marshes.

This path flowed through green spaces, between some brutalist concrete buildings, and brought us to South Mere Lake. Here the path split, so we chose to go right, which brought us to South Mere Park and Erith Marshes. It was here that we saw some ponies in a field.

Dagenham.

We continued following various pathways, passing the Erith Town Football Club ground and a new nature reserve, which is on the site of the old 'Thamesview Golf Centre', which closed in 2014. Eventually we ended up beside the 'Crossness Pumping Station'. Across the river we could see the 'Dagenham Oil Storage Depot' and the 'Ford Motor Company' Dagenham Plant. 

Oops. We were now further east than we had expected. So, we simply pointed our feet westward and continued walking.

Keilyn with four cannons.

We saw the Crossness Lighthouse, which isn't really a lighthouse, but more of a navigational marker, before Keilyn spotted four cannons, poking out from above a wall, and clambered up the steps so that I could get a photo of her with them.

A World War 2 pillbox.

Then we found a World War II pillbox that had, at some point, been converted into a gun emplacement. Unfortunately, like many pillboxes, this was sealed with metal gates, denying access. Almost next to this was the Margaretness, or Trip Cock, Lighthouse.

Remnants of a secret slipway.

Next we saw an Old Wooden Slipway, now in a state of almost complete decay. Although it looks like nothing, right now, this was once a slipway that not many knew about. It was from here that large calibre guns were brought from the arsenal, by railway, and loaded onto barges. These were then towed downriver to the Yantlet and Shoeburyness ranges, where they were tested and fired for range and accuracy.

The Iron Pier at Woolwich.

Soon we reached the old Coaling and Iron Piers at Royal Arsenal. 

Royal Arsenal ordnance and buildings.

Leaving the Thames Path we walked by the various historic buildings of the old Royal Arsenal. The Guard Houses, which are now residential, Building 42, now a dance studio, and others. Then there were the various cannon and other large ordnance that are on display to admire. 

'Assembly' by Peter Burke.

'Assembly' by Peter Burke, which is a collection of statues was the next thing we saw, as we made our way towards Woolwich High Street in search of food. Keilyn had her heart set on pizza and, unbelievably, this was the first food outlet that we came across. With food ordered we sat and ate our fill, while discussing our next move; Ferry, DLR, bus or walk. It didn't take long before the bus option was picked.

So, after we had finished eating we walked along the High Street and boarded the 472 to North Greenwich.

The bus was slow going, due to the amount of traffic on the roads, but we had snagged front seats on the top deck, so were quite happy.

A different mode of transport.

Once at North Greenwich we took a quick look around the Christmas Market, before we both took a ride on the carousel.

Suitably entertained we headed into North Greenwich station, descending the escalators to platform level, where we caught a Jubilee line train to Baker street. The train was fairly full, but Keilyn did manage to find a seat, which she gave up a few stops later to an elderly lady.

At Baker Street we left the train and took the escalators up to the Metropolitan line platforms. Keilyn had darted ahead to check the train times and was happy that we had 10 minutes. Clambering up the stairs we headed for the 'Starbucks' kiosk and ordered our drinks. While I waited Keilyn took herself off to the 'Treats' snack bar, returning with some marble cake, for herself, and a heated Mediterranean lamb roll for me. 

A highlight video.

Checking the departure screens we noticed that our train would now be leaving from Platform 4, so up the stairs we climbed, crossed the small foyer area and descended to Platform 3 & 4. Our train was in, so we boarded and made our way towards the front of the train, where we would sit for the journey home.

Arriving at  Watford it was the usual tussle, between Keilyn and myself, about who could get off the train, up the stairs and through the ticket barrier first. Keilyn won... again. We then enjoyed the short, leisurely walk home.

It was a great day of exploring and the perfect end to this year's walks.

Roll on 2026!

Distance travelled:

• Bus - 3.1 miles
• Cable Car - 0.0 miles
• Car - 0.0 miles
• DLR - 0.0 miles
• Ferry - 0.0 miles
• Overground - 0.0 miles
• River Boat - 0.0 miles
• Taxi - 0.6 miles
• Train - 16.8 miles (Elizabeth line)
• Underground - 42.2 miles
• Walking - 7.5 miles