Date/Time
Date(s) - 30/05/2020 - 31/05/2020
10:30 am - 6:00 pm

Location
Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Following the extension of the UK lockdown we have had to CANCEL the Spring Slow that was to take place on the weekend of the 18 & 19 April. Despite our optimism our re-arranged Spring Slow event for Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May has also had to be CANCELLED.  

In 2020 we are running four Seasonal Slow marathons around the boundary of the Royal Borough of Greenwich which quite remarkably is almost the exact distance of the marathon. The idea is to observe changes in our surroundings and to explore areas of London which some  may regard as off the beaten track.

We would like to invite you to join our Spring Slow Seasonal Slow marathon over the weekend of Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May.  You can sign up to do a half marathon on either Saturday or Sunday or be bold and sign up for the whole 27+miles!

The route we have devised honours the borough boundary as best we could, but to save walking up the centre of the Thames or along the cuttings of the railway or A2, we deviate a little.  A group of 30 Seasonal Slow Marathon pioneers tested out the route over a weekend at the end of January on a Winter Slow, and they recommended slight changes in the route, the pace and potential stopping points. Back in January we had less daylight and it was cold, so we anticipate that elements of the walk will differ in April – come along and find out.

Greenwich may have been an Olympic borough, but it has many other spectacular places to visit, boasting a World Heritage site, The Millennium Dome, the Thames Barrier and on our walk we will cross the Prime Meridian at least twice, stepping from one hemisphere to another. It’s northern boundary is the river Thames and our route will be on a National Trail but it will also include part of the Green Chain one of London’s six strategic walks. Greenwich is one of the greenest London boroughs, and there is a ridge of chalk that runs almost its entire central spine, which means that some of our route will involve climbing but we will try to avoid the steepest ascents. Our route includes probably the best view of London as well. The borough has recently had a London National Park City* Greenwich urban green map created for it. Whether by luck or judgement the borough boundary of Greenwich has very convenient public transport links, so it is easy to join the route at several points.

Our aim is to develop a platform based on Seasonal Slows for a series of nomadic festivals celebrating art, literature, nature and community endeavour – this is the start of what we hope will develop over the seasons to come.

Come and join us on a Seasonal Slow  over the weekend of Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st of May. We would like to start promptly at 10.30 am on Saturday at the Thames foot tunnel entrance by the Cutty Sark (SE10 9HT) and walk along a route that includes passing through Deptford, running parallel with the Creek, climbing onto Blackheath, walking through Lee, Eltham and Oxleas Meadows to finish at Falconwood railway station (SE9 2RN)

Starting again on Sunday, the 31st May at the same time of 10.30 am but this time from Falconwood railway station walking north towards Lesnes Abbey Woods through Bostall Woods, along parts of the Green Chain, and then to Thamesmead, to join the Thames Path walking upstream back to the Cutty Sark.

Pay just £10 for half marathon, and £15 for the whole circular walk to secure your place. Book your places below – please do not just turn up as you will be turned away if you do not have a ticket.

We will be equipping you with a journal and a pen with which we hope you’ll take notes of things you observe, suggestions and thoughts you have of how we can improve on the experience, as well as share contacts.

Spring is in the air, so please come prepared and check the weather forecast, you may find you need some with warm layers and waterproof clothing, and sensible shoes for the most part we will be walking on footways but there maybe some rough tracks, and if after rain, some places are muddy.  We want to try to choose a route that is accessible as possible but inevitably for our first few forays this may not be possible.

We envisage that we will be walking for about six – seven hours on each day covering a distance of between 12 and 14 miles so we won’t be walking at a great pace but it is quite a distance.  We will stop for a 20 minute lunch break, please make sure you bring a packed lunch and a bottle of water as we cannot guarantee many refreshment stops along the route.

In the interest of others, we kindly request that you should not attend any of our events if you are feeling at all unwell or have recently returned from any high-risk country. The latest government advice also states anyone with a fever or persistent cough should self isolate. We may also have to impose ‘social distancing’ so please bear this in mind, and respect each other’s safety and health.

Our plans are to encourage Seasonal Slows to take place in July and October – in due course, you will be able to book places on these in advance:

Summer Slow 18 & 19 July

Autumn Slow tbc

however dates might have to change depending on calendar clashes of which we are as yet unaware .