By chance Hampton Court Palace gardens are free this weekend.

Walk updated with 2 recommended new places - a cafe on D'Oyle Carte Island for coffee, and '8 on the river' for tea and cake at Molesey Boat House

The “river level” feature is pretty cool - is it new? I don’t think the walk route will be flooded but the Thames is pretty high around Kingston and it’s possible that some of the towpath from Hampton Court to Kingston will be blocked. You can always walk through the park you want to finish there

I may be a bit late but will aim to join the group at Weybridge.

7 set off from West Byfleet and number8 intercepted them in Weybridge. There was a bit of drizzle to start but it was mostly dry but damp . The group split up a bit but all eight gathered for lunch and/or drinks at the Old Crown. It wasn't too busy although it filled up a bit later; the food looked hearty.

We investigated D'Oyly Carte Island but those looking for coffee had already had some.

The group got rather separated again in the afternoon but most met again on the way to Hampton Court Bridge where we realised we were too late for the gardens - last entry at 3. After some dithering, we went to a cafe on the street near the station; I think it was called Five at the Bridge. It was quite good. 1654 train.

8 walkers travelled on virtually empty trains today to this improvised walk in grey but mild weather, with one shower as some of us left the Thames at Walton. It was a pleasant morning strolling along the canal past houseboats and luxurious gardens. Three had a most satisfactory lunch in at the Old Crown, one had a drink there and the others pressed on in search of a better spot for a sandwich. I hear that two of them continued to Hampton Court. But most of us turned right at Walton bridge for a surprisingly long plod to the station - not ideal especially as it started raining, but then the sun came out while we were on the train, so hopefully the Hampton Court walkers had good afternoon weather and made it home from there OK.

Much to my surprise 7 alighted at the correct station from the appointed train and after a brief round of formalities set off to find the canal. Although there is no designated footpath route to the canal from Byfleet station, we decided to experiment with a concrete track that looked as if it ran through a vacant lot towards the canal -- It did! Where there track turns left you take a well trod footpath off to the right which leads to the canal side. It is not an official route and not the prettiest -- but it is certainly well used and saves a long trek down a busy road....so, one to keep in mind for the future.

The canal was pretty in the late afternoon sun...the area has a number of water features and we managed to make the right choices and ultimately ended up on the banks of the mighty Thames towards sunset. Our stomachs got the better of us and we stopped at a pub called the Angler about 20 minutes before the Weir where 6 stopped for drinks and dinner while one carried onwards. The pub was very efficient in service (though perhaps not serving the finest of food, it was not bad)....During the brief wait for our meals, we were entertained by the quandary of a little robin who had founds its way into the pub and upstairs to the room where we were dining.....Many windows were opened and various "shooing" and other tactics were tried.....eventually our little dinner guest managed to finds its way back outside.

After dinner, it was properly dark....at first we wondered where our moon was -- but then it appeared off to the East....It was big and bright....eventually our route turned more Eastward and we had the lovely bright moon in front of us, sometimes atmospherically reflecting on the water.....near the Weir, we bumped into a familiar face who had started late from Hampton Court, making for 8 under a bright full worm moon .

We arrived at Hampton Court about 21:15 and went straight to the 21:24, as most were planning to walk again on Saturday! A very enjoyable evening out!

7, I hear

15 on this walk. Weather = hazy sunshine (which was a nice surprise). There was general agreement that this made an ideal Christmas Eve outing, with easy riverside paths, minimal navigation needed, and no mud. The section around Weybridge was particularly pretty. All pubs and tea rooms plus the food kiosk by Walton Bridge were open: about ten of us opted for the "recommended" Crown, the first pub we came to. We had a friendly welcome here but several were disappointed with the quality of the food. The sandwichers powered on ahead but we caught them towards the end, which shows the benefit of a Proper Lunch.

A hasty tea for some of us as we headed off on the 15.28 for our evening celebrations, but at least two expressed the intention to go to Hampton Court to see the ice rink. We parted on the train with many expressions of heartfelt sentiment, looking forward to our next far-off meeting (in two day's time).

Train cancelled ar 10:21- taking now 10:51 to West Byfleet. Phone 07875826366

17 on this walk (including the intrepid poodle and the 11 year old son of an old regular) with the weather fine and sunny but becoming cloudy and bleak later . This walk was undermined a little by the scheduled train refusing to leave Waterloo station so we all set off from West Byfleet about 40 mins later than anticipated. (One regular had ended up doing the walk in reverse from Kingston with the intention of ending in Weybridge!)

A gentle virtually mud-free waterside amble with a fine lunchtime pub but the group fragmented somewhat in the afternoon and I ended up at Hampton Court at 3.45pm with the intention of crossing Hampton Court Park to Kingston - and rekindling happy early 70s student memories of loafing in the park on sunny days with friends, cheap wine and......er other substances -but after tea and cake and with a sore right foot and unsure when the park closed I settled for the 4.,35pm train back to London. Hope all others enjoyed their walk.