WALTHAM ABBEY TO BARKING ABBEY - 22 MILES

ABOUT THE WALK - 

With living beside Waltham Cross and the River Lea, in-between walks I often cycle down the Lea Navigation to Limehouse Basin and onto Liverpool Street Station for the train back. It is a lovely afternoon ride. I constantly explore London and am amazed at its diverse history and numerous “secret places”. 

I learnt about Barking Abbey by accident in a book about English Abbey’s and wondered how I had missed it on mynumerous walks. So I set off from Waltham Abbey and joined the two abbey’s together. I thought that was the end of the story, but nol. I then learnt about the Ilford Hospital Chapel and its connection to Barking Abbey. So, it was boots on again and made a visit. A good friend of mine lives in Redbridge and he never mentioned this was their oldest building! Now I have another outing to do and that is to join the Eastern
Orthodox Church annual pilgrimage to the three “Saints of Barking”. I
joined this year the one to St. Albans shrine, in St. Albans Cathedral.

So the Barking Abbey story keeps expanding. I first cycled the whole
route in the summer, a beautiful quiet day and wondered where
everyone was on such an idyllic day? I did it again recently in mid
autumn, still in cycling shorts, and again a quiet day and few people
about. One surprising bonus after writing two books on multifaith walks in London, I didn’t include Plaistow area, but here as I made my way to iIlford I discovered two of the finest Hindu temples in London; another reason to go back again and pray in them.

This is a lovely walk or ride with much to see on the way while joining
two very important abbeys together. Enjoy the pilgrimage and allow time to contemplate both abbey’s and the peaceful navigation.

A level walk mostly beside the River Lee Navigation to Queen Elizabeth Park and then along the Greenway before heading into Barking and to its ruined abbey complex.

A5 Walk Guide, placed in a plastic wrap around cover, signed by John Merrill.

Pilgrim badge and signed certificate from John Merrill.

All walkers added to me Walkers Roll of Honour page.