(S) Leave Malden Manor rail station and walk ahead through the drop-off area to reach the road (with the rail bridge to your left and the old manor pub building, now a Co-op, to your right). Cross over the road and turn right along the pavement to reach the large roundabout with a parade of shops over to the right. Ignore the tiny access lane on the left, instead take the next road on the left, Sheephouse Way. At the end of the road, keep straight ahead onto the tarmac cycleway which leads you down to reach Hogsmill River, which will be your companion for most of this walk. Do NOT cross the river bridge, instead turn right immediately before this to join the riverside path (taking the left-hand path at the fork, the path nearest the river on your left). The path leads you into the corner of a grass field, Hogsmill River Park, continue along the left-hand edge of this then fork left to join the tree-lined riverside path. Simply stay on the path as it leads you along the edge of another couple of small fields and through the tree-lined sections in-between, staying with the furthest left path at all times. Eventually, you will emerge out to a junction with the main A3 road. Turn left along the pavement, which leads you over the river and past a bus stop to reach the A3 Subway, just before the parade of shops.
(1) Pass through the subway (there are tarmac slopes both sides if you are not able to manage the steps), and turn right along the pavement (heading back the way you came). Cross over the side road (Elmbridge Avenue) and continue to the bus stop. Just beyond this, turn left through the gateway to enter Elmbridge Meadows.
Follow the path swinging first right and then left and you will find the river now running immediately on your right. Stay with this dirt and grass path for some distance, taking time to enjoy the river. The River Hogsmill is a chalk river that rises in Bourne Hall Park in Ewell and flows out to the River Thames in Kingston-upon-Thames. This stretch of the river is ideal for a bit of nature watching. Look out for water birds (we saw a heron on this stretch) and you are likely to also have the company of the thriving local population of rose-ringed parakeets! Keep your eyes peeled on the water surface too, as there is a chance you will spot a water vole or kingfisher patrolling the river. In summer the river supports a large population of dragonflies and damselflies.
Eventually you will cross a bridge over a side stream and soon after you will come to a T-junction with a cycleway. Turn left along this tarmac path to reach the roundabout and stay with the right-hand pavement which leads you along the road, Surbiton Hill Park. Continue to the roundabout at the top of the hill where you will find a pub, The Berry. Turn right, following the road downhill between a parade of shops, including The Walnut coffee shop and deli. At the bottom of the hill you will come to Berrylands Station. Should you wish to end the walk at this point (you have walked just less than 2 miles so far) you can catch a train here for your onward journey.
(2) To continue the walk, go ahead passing under the arched railway bridge and continue on the tarmac footpath and cycleway between fences. The path leads you past a water treatment works on your right and out to the end of an access road. Keep straight ahead along the pavement, passing Surbiton Cemetery and a Sikh Temple on your left. Continue all the way to the T-junction at the end of the road. Turn right along the pavement of Villiers Road, passing the Duke of Buckingham pub on your left and then Lucca's fish and chip restaurant also on your left. As you draw level with the park on your right, use the zebra crossing to swap to the left-hand pavement and continue along Villiers Road. Follow the pavement which leads you over the river and, across to your right, you will see the old site of Leatherhead Mill with several Georgian-style houses. You can spot the genuinely Georgian house that sat alongside the mill, it is the one with chimneys. Continue past King Athelstan Primary School on your left. Just before you reach a development of modern apartments, turn left into the tarmac footpath called Swan Path.
(3) Stay ahead on this tarmac path and, further along, it runs with the river once again immediately on your left. At the end of the path you will emerge to the road with the buildings of Kingston University on your left. Turn left, across the river, and then immediately right, following the tarmac path with the river now on your right. Keep ahead as a bridge leads you over another branch of the river and then turn immediately right (onto an unmade path with the wider river on your right).
Follow this path past a school playground on your left and you will emerge out to a junction with Springfield Road. Cross over and turn left along the pavement to reach the mini-roundabout. Turn right into Denmark Road and, after about 100 metres, look out for a signed path on your right. Take this path which leads you back alongside the river.
Keep straight ahead, staying close to the river on your right. Eventually you are forced to swing left and you will emerge out to a junction with Penrhyn Road. If you look across to the left here, you will see the distinctive bell and clock tower of County Hall, the home of Surrey County Council.
(4) Cross over the road via the two crossings and turn right along the pavement to reach a roundabout. Follow the pavement round to the left and, just a few metres along, use the pedestrian crossing on your right. Keep directly ahead into St James Road for just a few paces and then, before crossing the river, fork left down the tarmac path which runs with the river on your right.
Pass through (and under) the Guildhall complex of council offices and you will emerge out to a junction with the High Street. Turn right, crossing the river, and immediately right again to visit the Saxon Coronation Stone. This Chair of Majesty stone was used to crown seven Saxon Kings of England. It is possible that this is how Kingston got its name. If you look back to the High Street from here, you will see the river bridge called Clattern Bridge. This is one of the oldest bridges in Surrey and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the earliest reference for which dates from 1293.
When you have finished at the stone, retrace your steps back left over the river bridge. Use the zebra crossing to cross the road and turn right & back over the river once again. (NOTE: The next path has steps; if you need to avoid these, simply continue along the High Street into the centre of Kingston, where you can find refreshments or reach the station for your onward journey). For the main route, immediately after the bridge, turn left down the steps. Follow the concrete path with the Hogsmill River on your left, into the area known as Charter Quay. Ahead you will come to the point where the River Hogsmill flows into the River Thames. There are a whole range of restaurants, pubs and cafes here, the ideal way to finish your riverside journey. Take time to relax here, or move to the next section for directions back to the rail station.
(5) Turn right along the river front, with the River Thames running on your left. As you reach the road bridge, do NOT pass under this, instead fork right up the tarmac slope which leads you up to the shopping precinct. Keep straight ahead, passing John Lewis on your left and All Saints Church on your right.
At the crossroads, keep straight ahead along the pedestrian precinct. Continue all the way to the end of this precinct, and turn left. Follow the left-hand pavement, swinging steadily left and it will lead you directly to Kingston rail station from where you can make your onward journey.(E)
