Over the weekend I picked up conkers in Springfield Park opposite Walthamstow Marsh and at Bow Creek.

The two Lea Valley Walk routes on the Walk London programme were enjoyed in lovely weather. We had a small group on Saturday for the Ponders End to Clapton Common walk.

But on Sunday a large number turned up at Bromley-by-Bow Station to walk as best one can the last few miles from Three Mills to the river mouth.

We were able to see the future thanks to Julia Humphreys from the London Thames Gateway project who pointed to new planned riverside paths and bridges which will keep walkers by the river for most of the final stretch.

We walked along some grim streets but the new route, known as the Fatwalk, should be finished by the end of 2011. It’s an ambitious and very exciting plan and we were fortunate to have Julia with us in this so far largely unknown part of London.

More Walk London walks during the last weekend in January 2010.