6, including one newcomer, set off on a mild dry evening . Being the eve before Halloween, we explored some of the more gruesome aspects of the walk -- including descending the Wapping steps next to the Town of Ramsgate down to the point where prisoners were shackled for 3 tides. We then paid a short refreshment stop at The Prospect of Whitby near where other prisoners were hanged. Eventually, we found our way into the Grapes where amazingly a table called our name and most stopped for a drink and/or a large or small bite. A nice evening out!

6 overcame travel disruption and met at the appointed place at the appointed time on a cloudy but mild evening. We set off eastward along the Thames....had to divert through St. Katherine's Dock -- as the riverside path by the Tower was closed...the walk author (me) has some work to do on the instructions to recommend the best route through....

On we went....passing the Town of Ramsgate.....rehydrating at the Prospect of Whitby. We tried to eat at the Grapes -- but it was busy...so carried along to CW and the always dependable Pilgrims Pizza....

I think 5 met at the specified time and place and left rather promptly before even the walk poster (who was running late) had arrived....Three others joined this group at or near the Banker Pub with a further walker catching up near the Tower....Going around the Tower (as the front is still closed), the group became fragmented, so we took the opportunity to stop at the Town of Ramsgate for a tipple and to regroup where, yet another caught us up, making for 10 in total...After our break, we carried on -- passing by the Prospect of Whitby and finding the Grapes too crowded for our group size....so on to the Pilgrim's Pizza in CW for a pleasant meal...A fun night in cool dry conditions .

The Banker Pub is extremely busy. I'm waiting on Hanseatic Walk a few metres along the route.

City life certainly seems to be in full swing -- so it seemed at the Banker Pub anyway where eight managed to assemble among the throngs enjoying bevies outside on a sunny spring evening ....After a 5 minute grace, we set off with river to our right and picked-up number 9 waiting a bit further along away from the crowd. The route was pleasant and uneventful with the setting sun. We stopped briefly outside the Town of Ramsgate and examined the steps down to the shackles where poor soles were left for 3 tides....On to the Prospect of Whitby where we did stop for a tipple on their large Thameside deck. Once rehydrated we set off for the final stretch....we decided to by-pass the Grapes and headed into CW for post walk food and beverage....Seven opted for a Pilgrim's Pizza -- outdoors under a heater proved warm enough for all...though the "Pilgrim's wine" was found wanting...after some commentary...improved vintage was provided....During the meal we noted the next door Munich Cricket Club looked quite promising for future outings ending in CW....A fun night out!

One minor correction...if walking the route in reverse as proposed...you will need to keep the river on your left.....

We were 6 walkers already when a 7th appeared just before the meeting time, so 6 of those set off early, leaving the walk poster waiting for any potential late arrivals. And indeed 5 others trickled in from pubs, alternative exits to the tube station and off a late DLR train, so we formed a second group of 6: 12 in total.

It was warm for the time of year and the sky quite clear so that star and moongazers had something to look at, while the rest of us enjoyed the bright lights of the City and of Canary Wharf. Personally, I thought it is an even better walk in the dark than during the day...

Some of the private paths fronting residential developments are of course locked off after dusk (mostly in Wapping), so there is a downside, but that way one can see more of the warehouse developments etc. Not bad at all.

The first group did enter the Prospect of Whitby en route for a drink break, while my group marched on to the Dickens Inn at St Katherine Dock, with their many outside tables, one of which was then later occupied by group 1, so all 12 were in the one place (if at distance). Most stayed to closing time.

After a largely bright and sunny day in the office, it was a bit disappointing to arrive at the walk start with a shower . Nonetheless, 4 familiar faces and 1 newbie (making a total of 5) managed to connect at the Banker over a swift half with the hopes of letting the shower pass....Given the busy agenda for the walk, we finally set off during the tail-end of the easing shower into quite an atmospheric evening along the river. I think most enjoyed the historical points of interest passed along the way. With the final stop proving a bit precious about what food they served where....we ultimately carried on to Canary Wharf where 3 had dinner.

9 walkers met outside The Banker by the Thames, and later picked up 1 other at The Prospect of Whitby pub, so 10 in total in sunny with passing clouds type of weather. Enroute we also tried to coax our boat-dwelling SWCer at St. Katahrine Docks into joining, but he was out shopping (but him and part of his family later joined us The Town of Ramsgate for a bevvie anyway).

Interesting route past lots of historical buildings and pubs, three of which we paid a visit to. The northbank route out East suffers a bit from long stretches of the riverside being private ground, necessitating roadside walking away from the water, but that's just a minor quibble. [In Wapping at least the roads are quite interesting anyway, with plenty of converted warehouses to look at, quite a few little parks etc.]

The pubs were all too crowded to accomodate us all for dinner, so most dined at a chain Italian in CW.

Recommended.