07 Banstead Downs, Banstead to Bourne Hall Park, Ewell

01 September 2011

The stretch from Banstead to Ewell was significant in two ways; it is the shortest leg of the London Loop and its completion marks the halfway point. With only one train an hour to Banstead, I opted for a leisurely journey via London Victoria on a stopping train to Epsom. The weather steadily improved throughout the morning and the sun was out in full when I arrived at the start point in Banstead Road.

Section 7 isn’t very pretty or very green but it definitely saves the best until last. The first part of the walk is across Banstead Downs Golf Course. Luckily, there were few players around so there was little danger from low flying golf balls. After leaving the golf course, the next couple of miles were through the leafy streets of the borough of Sutton in the district of Cheam. The only thing of interest on this bit was discovering that Epsom and Ewell are twinned with Chantilly, which sort of makes sense.

Crossing back into Surrey and across the A24, eventually you reach Warren Farm where the whole nature of the walk changes. Warren Farm is owned by the Woodland Trust but is mainly open grassland and well used by the local populace. In the wooded section is a ghost road, built before the Second World War, when a housing development was planned. Well, Hitler put a stop to all that nonsense but the road to nowhere remains, slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Beyond the wood is Nonsuch Park, the site of Nonsuch Palace, favourite home of Henry VIII. Also within the park is Nonsuch Mansion, a Georgian pile said to resemble the old palace. Apparently it was once owned by Kevin Whateley’s great-great-great grandfather. The mansion wasn’t on the official loop route but possessed toilets and a café so I stopped for a lunch break. The café and gardens were heaving with children so I didn’t tarry too long. There was a wedding party at the Mansion so it wasn’t possible to have a closer look.

Back on the route proper, I wandered down a long avenue of chestnut trees looking out across the splendid parkland. London seemed a million miles away. Of the old palace nothing remains, concrete markers show the extent of the palace and a brick retaining wall delineates the Banqueting Hall. Apparently no expense was spared by King Henry on what became his favourite palace, and there was ‘none such’ as this in all the land, hence its name. It was eventually demolished by one of Charles II’s mistresses to pay off her gambling debts. Imagine Camilla flogging Marlborough House to pay of her bookies!

After following a rambling path through the woods I eventually arrived at the A24 which I crossed carefully as instructed. At this point I missed a sign, mainly because it wasn’t there and wandered about half a mile in the wrong direction before retracing my footsteps to Vicarage Lane. At the end of the lane is Ewell, which has a very rural feel about it. Interesting buildings abound, all with wall plaques provided by a local society; the church that only has a tower, Ewell Castle school and the village lock up.

Section 7 finishes in Bourne Hall Park which proved difficult to get into. The main archway was being renovated and was very definitely closed. The park wasn’t large but had a big pond with a little fountain and lots of very well fed ducks, and one huge heron. Bourne Hall is a local amenity centre and museum housed in modern circular building. I didn’t stop to look but headed off to Ewell West station, where I arrived at the same time as the train. I surprised myself by sprinting over the footbridge and actually caught it.

This was definitely a walk of two halves and the mile and half from Nonsuch Park to Bourne Hall is one of the most interesting parts of the Loop to date. I’m now half way round with only another six years to go!


Time for leg 2hr 20m Distance 5¼ miles Time for trip 6hr 52m
Walk log
Fares this leg £8

Section 07 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 3½ miles 2hrs

Walking conditions: A few long slopes from Sandy Lane to Holmwood Road. Rest mostly level with two flights of steps.

Some sections are more suitable for the less mobile and pushchairs: Warren Farm and Nonsuch Park

OS Grid reference for start TQ246605 for finish TQ213627

06 Coulsdon South Station to Banstead Downs

01 March 2011

I set off on the eleventh leg of the Loop under leaden skies on a raw grey morning, nursing a cold. I was also on a fairly tight schedule to make all the train connections but today proved to be one of those days when the transport gods smiled on me. At Whitechapel I had to push small children out of my way in order to get to the Overground platform in time to catch the 10.03. At West Croydon I caught a delayed train and emerged into the gloom at Coulsdon South at 11.00.

Section 6 is one of the shortest and most boring of the Loop so it was a perfect match for the weather. It started off with a steep uphill drag from Coulsdon into the London Borough of Sutton through some very uninspiring residential areas. The rest of the walk was on bridleways that were extremely glutinous, and despite being advertised as ‘mostly level’, the route undulated through five valleys and seemed to be forever going uphill.

Having finally reached the countryside after about a mile and a half, there wasn’t much to see as the bridleways were most enclosed. There were views south towards London from Woodcote smallholdings but it was too murky to make out anything. The small weather-boarded houses were built after the First World War for returning soldiers and farming still goes on. I encountered sheep for the first time on the Loop.

'Thoughtful' owners had put a sign advising walkers not to feed or approach horses as they kick and bite and to keep to the footpath. I’d rather they instruct the horse not to approach walkers. This horse galloped across the field at a fair old pace and then stalked me as I walked across (on the footpath). The next field was a lavender farm, much more pleasant, although there were no flowers yet. The owners had put an information board and picnic tables for passing walkers, which really is thoughtful.

Oaks Park was the halfway point so I stopped for a bit of refreshment at the café. This was where Lord Derby and Lord Bunbury had their famous coin toss to name a horse race at nearby Epsom. The house has long gone but its name lives on as the other Epsom Classic. If it had been a nicer day I might have been tempted to explore the park as there are some surviving bits of architecture and formal gardens but it was just too parky. I also needed to crack on in order to catch the hourly train from Banstead.

After leaving Oaks Park the Loop followed Freedown Lane, a long bridleway up and down yet another hill passing Highdown Prison. I heard muffled shouts as I passed by, so either the inmates were exercising or having a riot. From the state of the bridleway the lane is very popular with riders. The Loop then crosses Banstead Downs, home to Britain’s smallest butterfly, the small blue. The Downs is one of four areas that make up Banstead Commons. The last part of this leg went across Banstead Golf Course, mercifully free of golfers as you have to cross several fairways.

I reached Banstead Road with less than four minutes to catch the train and very dismayed to find the last hundred metres was uphill. As I was rushing up the hill an old codger was coming the other way and I could tell he wanted to have a chat. I feigned deafness and made it onto the platform just as the train was pulling in. I had the same good luck with connections on the way home and was enjoying a nice cup of tea at home by 3.30pm for one of my shortest days on Loop since crossing the Thames.


Time for leg 2hr 35m Distance 5 miles Time for trip 6hr 24m
Walk log
Fares this leg £6.60

Section 06 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 4¼ miles 3 hr

Walking conditions: Mostly level; stiles and kissing gates; Only the Oaks Park area is suitable for the less mobile and pushchairs.