Three Rivers Walk - Lewisham to New Beckenham
A walk on Saturday 31st January 2026, led by Trevor and incorporating three South London rivers - the Quaggy, the Ravensbourne, and the Pool.
The last day in January and a cloudy but dry day, saw 5 of us - Richard, Fozi, Eileen, Marian and I - meet up at Stratford to catch the DLR south of the river to Lewisham. Meeting up with Kathy and Brian on route, we arrived there and were soon joined by Madeleine, Annick, Peter and Lynne.
Setting off we headed to the High Street, passing the confluence (convergence) of the rivers Ravensbourne and Quaggy, with its adjacent green space creating a mini oasis of nature amidst the towers of Lewisham. We crossed the road, noting a recent piece of art commemorating the “Great flood of Lewisham” in 1968, and followed the Quaggy before it disappeared into a culvert which runs along the High Street in front of the police station. I have seen grey wagtails on this short stretch of the river, but not today.
We then entered Lewisham shopping centre, pausing to buy lunch, before exiting to the right at the far end of the shopping centre, and turning left towards a roundabout, then right towards Ladywell. Crossing over Ladywell Road we entered a quiet green space, St Mary’s Garden, before crossing over the river Ravensbourne into Ladywell Fields and then turning left to follow the river through the park, passing a colourful National Cycle Network sign. We continued, crossing over the river and the railway, passing the Alex Yee Ladywell Arena (renamed in late 2024 in honour of local triathlete, Alex Yee, the 2024 World and Olympic champion).
We then stopped for lunch at a couple of handily-sited picnic tables, close to the Lewisham Dutch Elm, which is one of the few Elm trees in London to have survived the Dutch Elm disease outbreaks of last century and is considered one of the great trees of London. After lunch we continued to Catford Bridge Station, where Fozi, Annick and Peter jumped on the train home, whilst we continued southwards, through a retail park to enter the River Pool Linear Park and followed the river to its confluence with the River Pool.
From here we followed our third river of the day, the River Pool, through the park, until it departed to the left. We continued past Lower Sydenham station to rejoin the River Pool at the riverside walk in New Beckenham, crossing the road to enter Cator Park, with the river on our left. We followed the river and at a path junction turned left to follow the Green Chain Walk/ Capital Ring from the park, passing some large houses to nearby New Beckenham Station, where the train arrived at the same time as we did, which was lucky, or well planned!
The total length of the walk had been about 4½ to 5 miles, mostly on level paths and the rain had held off. What a fabulous riverside walk it had been, a hidden treasure of south-east London. Where will our next walk take us?
Trev (Pathfinder) Eley
Peter B. and two slabs from the Berlin Wall, now installed in Lewisham Shopping Centre. 
A stunning mural at the entry to one of the footpaths
The group around one of the National Cycle Network markers in Ladywell Fields
Photos by Madeleine