London Loopy

07 Banstead Downs, Banstead to Bourne Hall Park, Ewell

2011-09-01T19:39:00.019+01:00

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

2011-03-01T19:08:00.014Z

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.

05 Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South Station

2010-09-01T20:28:00.025+01:00

1st September 2010

I set off on yet another fine, sunny September 1st to distant South London to complete the most strenuous section of the Loop so far, as it reaches its most southerly point in the North Downs. This very attractive stretch takes in four Commons and down and up three valleys across parts of Surrey and Croydon. I was also looking forward to the journey, using the recently opened London Overground line, which avoided using a London terminus and so hopefully reducing the journey time.

A forlorn hope as it turned out. It all started out ok, District line to Whitechapel and straight onto one of the new, gleaming, air-conditioned trains in the direction of West Croydon. On the way you pass through the old Thames Tunnel designed by Marc Brunel and opened in 1843. But the journey to West Croydon took rather longer than advertised. I then spent an unhappy fifteen minutes searching for the bus station in Croydon, due to very poor signage, (it was right next to the train station), thus missing the connecting bus. The 205 took a scenic route through Croydon before depositing me in Hamsey Green at midday.

Just five minutes after leaving the bus, I arrived at Riddlesdown Common and was transported back the countryside. The Common is a large, open area with wildflower meadows and grazing sheep. The Loop runs across the common before turning steeply downhill past a disused quarry to follow an old Roman road to the bottom of the valley and then straight back up again to Kenley Common.

The climb to Kenley Common has the steepest gradient of any part of the Loop encountered so far. I paused on a bench to enjoy the view of Riddlesdown and the quarry before setting off up some steps. These steps were so steep I needed steps to get up the steps if you see what I mean.I emerged somewhat breathless at the top only to find more uphill walking into mature, shady woodland.

Next to the Common is Kenley Airfield, a former RAF fighter airfield dating back to WW1. It contains many buildings dating back to WW2 including the blast pens that protected the spitfires. It is still in use for gliders and I spotted on coming into land. I paused to reflect that seventy years ago it would not be as peaceful as it was today.

I stopped for lunch at the Wattenden Arms which was full of RAF memorabilia and then onto Coulsdon Common, past the miniature observatory owned Croydon Astronomical Society. All four Commons were purchased in the nineteenth century by the Corporation of London, who had the considerable foresight to preserve these areas for future generations. I, for one, am very grateful for this civic largesse. Probably the best time to visit this area is late spring as the meadows will be full of wildflowers and the woods carpeted with bluebells.

The last part of the walk through Happy Valley, Devilsden Wood and along Farthing Downs was definitely the best, three miles of road-free walking. Happy Valley Park was particularly beautiful, with great views of the North Downs and none whatsoever of Croydon. It was full of families, dog walker and joggers. I wasn’t so happy when I found I had walk down it and up the other side. Happy Valley marks the most southerly point of the London Loop.

Devilsden Wood is an ancient mixed woodland, full of bluebells in spring time. The path ran gently uphill and the shade was welcome. The Loop finally emerges through the trees onto Farthing Down, a long ridge with fine views back towards the City, Canary Wharf and Crystal Palace, about eight miles to north, but still in Croydon. After a brief stop to admire the view, it was just a gentle downhill stroll to the end of the walk at Coulsdon station.

The walk between Hamsey Green and Coulsdon is one of the finest parts of the Loop, with the minimum of road walking, a real country feel and saves its best views for last. Highly recommended!

Time for leg 3hr 50m Distance 7.25 miles Time for trip 8hr 05m
Walk log
Fares this leg £7.80

Section 05 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 6 miles 4 hr

Walking conditions: Mostly level; a few slopes and a long flight of steps just before Kenley Common; stiles and gates; some sections are suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs: From Tithepit Shaw Lane to Riddlesdown. Around the Fox pub. Farthing Downs, near the car park and toilets.

04 West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green

2010-03-03T14:34:00.023Z

1st March 2010

In common with 2007 and 2008, March 1st was sunny, bright and quite warm where sheltered. This leg of the Loop took me south west from Bromley, through Croydon to the very borders of Surrey. My journey around London nearly came to end permanently on the Croydon Road in Hayes when I tripped up a kerb and fell into the road. I quickly got up and sat on a nearby wall, but I probably scared the driver of the oncoming car about 200 metres away, who was kind enough to slow down and check I was ok. Some sixth (common) sense told me not to walk along this bit of road when the cars were close or I'd been a goner. I ended up with a bruised bum and knee and a nasty fright.

This section of the route is very well-wooded which was a bit of a shame, as I would have prefered an open landscape to enjoy the lovely sunshine. It was very muddy underfoot and very hilly which made walking quite difficult at times, you end up with a gait like those cross-country skiers trying to stop your feet from slipping. Woods also don't make for good photos as everywhere looks the same. With the exception of one longish stretch of road, it was footpaths all the way. The Loop crossed the Greenwich Meridian in Coney Hall so passes into the western hemisphere until the very last leg in eight years time.

The first four miles were undulating, woodland paths through West Wickham Common, Spring Park, where Bromley ends and Croydon begins, Threehalfpenny Wood and Kennel Wood to the village of Upper Shirley, where I had a brief glimpse of the windmill. The Loop then goes very steeply uphill into the Addington Hills, the largest area of heathland left in London. At the top of the escarpment is the most fantastic view of London, which surely has to be the highlight of the walk so far. I knew it was going to be good as the OS marked it with a viewpoint symbol, and it would have taken my breath away, if I had any left from the climb up.

I could see the Millennium Dome and Canary Wharf over 10 miles and the little Essex hills where I started this walk four years ago. Central London was blocked out by the ridge of hills in south London, but the Gherkin,, Tower 42 and the GPO were visible. Out west I could see Wembley, Harrow-on-the Hill and the grey lumps of the Chilterns. Windsor Castle probably was visible with the aid of binoculars as it was a very clear day. I could make out most of the Capital Ring route I walked last autumn. It was a pretty amazing site and well worth a visit. The photo doesn't really do it justice.

After a little rest enjoying the view, I continued on over the Tramlink track to Heathfield Gardens, which probably look lovely in summer, up yet another bloody hill to Bramley Bank Nature Reserve, owned by the London Wildlife Trust. After a brief excursion off route down a muddy bank on my bum, I stopped for lunch on a sunny bench in a nice grassy ride, before yomping up yet another woody hill. The next half a mile was via a series of twittens through a housing estate to the gateway into Selsdon Wood, owned by the National Trust.

The final two miles of this leg run along the borders of Surrey and were very rural, crossing just one road. It went up and down yet another hill and was extremely boggy in parts. The combination of hills and mud were very tiring and I was graeteful to see the bus stop when I arrived at Hamsey Green. As if to make up for all my hard work, the walking gods granted me a very speedy journey home, making all my connections with very little waiting, to enjoy my birthday tea.

Time for leg 5hr 16m Distance 10 miles Time for trip 9hr 12m
Walk log
Fares this leg £15.30

Section 04 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 9 miles 5hr 15m

Walking conditions: Mostly level; a few longish, steep slopes, stiles and kissing gates; some small flights of steps. Some sections are suitable for the less mobile and pushchairs: from Hayes Station to Point 3; Point 7 to Point 8.

03 Jubilee Country Park to West Wickham Common

2010-02-08T21:17:00.032Z

1st September 2009

Section four of the Loop is a meandering trail across the borough of Bromley, linking country parks, old woods and commons, country estates, genuine countryside and some pretty villages. The farm shown here is right in the heart of the borough. Bromley is London's biggest, greenest borough, roughly the same size as Andorra and probably just as wealthy. It stretches from Crystal Palace south to Westerham Heights, at 245m/804ft the highest part of Greater London. There were quite a few climbs on this leg. The day started and ended in pleasant, warm sunshine with the odd inconvenient shower around lunchtime.

However before I could start section 4 I had to finish off the bit of section 3 I avoided in my rush to catch the train. This added about a mile to the route, including a missed turn when I failed to spot a railway bridge. The Loop crosses three railway bridges and follows a series of gloomy alleyways (that I would not fancy at night) to official start at Jubilee Country Park, an area of wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands, extremely popular with dog walkers and cyclists.

On the way to Farnborough Village, the Loop passes through two ancient woods, Crofton Wood and Darrick Wood. Crofton Wood was quite dense and the guide posts are absolutely necessary to navigate your way through. The Loop goes through the churchyard of St Giles the Abbot, a pretty church with a small tower built from flint and red brick. Apparently, the “legendary” Gypsy Lee is buried in the churchyard. I mistook this for Gypsy Rose Lee and searched in vain for grave where everything was ‘coming up roses’. There were lots of horrible Victorian fallen angels.

A short amble down the hill from the church is High Elms County Park, the former home of Sir John Lubbock. Only the stables remain from the main house, but the gardens are extensive, including some very big redwoods (I don’t where the elms were). This was my lunch stop and I found the picnic area absolutely heaving with every nursery schoolchild in Orpington, the noise level was off the scale. I just unpacked the picnic when the heavens unloaded on me. Sometimes you just can’t win.

From High Elms, the loop passes through pleasant open countryside along the wonderful Bogey Lane with the odd light aircraft buzzing overhead on its way to Biggin Hill. One of the features of this walk were the weird road names; Bogey Lane, Tent Peg Lane, and Pole Cat Alley.

Holwood House, the former home of Sir William Pitt the younger, is visible on the top of a hill. It is now owned by property developers and was securely locked away from prying eyes. Holwood House is famous for the meeting between Pitt and William Wilberforce, when Wilberforce decided to oppose slavery in Parliament. The meeting took place under an oak tree, a victim of the 1987 hurricane. There is a memorial seat, also securely locked away. There is a great view over the Vale of Keston from the ordinary seat.

This leg was significant for me as it was the first time I met other Loopers. I stopped for a chat with them at the Wilberforce Oak, Several members of the group had made more than one circuit.

The only water feature on this leg is Caesar’s well, the source of the river Ravensbourne which flows into the Thames in Wandsworth. It feeds Keston Ponds, located either side of Fishponds Roads. I stopped for an ice cream, another first for the Loop. The final part of the day took me through Keston, once the home of Margaret Thatcher and finished at West Wickham Common. This common is one of the many areas purchased by the Corporation of London in the nineteenth century, to preserve the countryside for people like me.

Time for leg 5hr 10m Distance 10 miles Time for Trip 8hrs 50m
Walk Log
Fares this leg £11.20

Section 03 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 9 miles 5 hours

Walking conditions: Mostly level with a few longish, steep slopes. Stiles and gates and some small flights of steps. Some sections are suitable for the less mobile and pushchairs: From Petts Wood station to High Elms Country Park; from Keston Ponds to Hayes Station.

02 Old Bexley Village to Jubilee Country Park

2009-03-01T19:58:00.020Z

1st March 2009

I left at dawn for the latest of leg of the London Loop from Bexley to Petts Wood, a distance of just over seven miles. Although the start point was just over seven miles away by crow, it was twenty five miles by public transport and took over two hours, due to missing the train replacement bus by being at the wrong stop. It was a grey, misty morning in London, cool but with little wind.

The first stretch of the walk from Bexley station was through reclaimed land toward the Cray Riverway. It was well away from traffic so you could appreciate the birdsong. This area is known to be inhabited by parakeets, exotic birds from the Himalayas who have settled all over South London. Eventually I spotted one in the trees, it was green and looked like an overgrown budgie.

The Loop followed the river bank south towards Foots Cray Meadows, the largest open space in Bexley. It was very popular with dogs and their owners, in fact I don’t recall a Loop section being as popular as this one. Five Arch Bridge is a survivor from the original estate of Foots Cray Place, the house was destroyed by fire years ago. The path finally meets the road again after two miles by All Saints Church in Foots Cray.

There was a short section of road walking followed by a series of footpaths past playing fields, horses and allotments to emerge in the grounds of Sidcup Place, a large eighteenth century house which has had many roles through the ages and is now a pub. There were three enormous redwoods reminding me of the Wellingtonias in Havering. Sidcup Place would have made an excellent borough top with a view south to Shooters Hill, the second highest hill in the old county of London. It was too early in the year for blooms in the formal garden but the crocuses made a fine display.

Another short road stretch under the A20 led to Scadbury Nature Reserve in the borough of Bromley. This is the remains of ancient parkland with old oaks and coppices. In the heart of the park are the ruins of a moated manor house. Once away from the sound of the A20 it had a very rural feel. The Loop runs for about a mile then crosses a road into Petts Wood owned by the National Trust. Both Scadbury Park and Petts Wood were very popular with walkers and cyclists. There were even sheep grazing in fields of the Hawkswood estate.

I knew that the next train from Petts Wood left at 12.04 and if I took a short cut I might just make it. I broke a habit of a life time and asked for directions from a local, which was useful as I was walking in the wrong direction. I caught the train with seconds to spare and was home in time for lunch. This section of the Loop was very enjoyable with a variety of scenery and only two short road sections.

Time for leg 3hr 05m Distance 7¼ miles Time for Trip 7hrs 05m
Walk log
Fares this leg £7.50

Section 02 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and time 7¼ miles 5 hours

Walking conditions: Mostly level with a few gentle climbs. This section is suitable for the less mobile and is accessible for pushchairs in parts of Scadbury Park and Foots Cray Meadow.

01 Erith to Old Bexley

2008-09-04T20:35:00.028+01:00

1st September 2008

I have no idea how fast a crow flies but I’m sure it wouldn’t have taken an hour and forty minutes to cover the six miles from my house to Erith. But then again it wouldn’t have had to take three trains to get there either. Today I crossed the Thames to the official start point of the London Loop at Erith Riverside using the District Line, DLR and Southeastern trains. In fact I was well-served by all three arriving to start the walk just after 11am.

This leg of the Loop followed the course of three rivers, the mighty Thames and the not-so-mighty Darent and Cray using the Thames Path and the Cray Riverway. Erith Riverside is quite pleasant with gardens and a pier but sadly a large part of the first mile was along a busy road lined with industrial estates, equally as unattractive as Ferry Lane in Rainham and a lot more dangerous. The Thames was at low tide so I didn’t walk out onto the Deep Water Jetty but I did take time to seek out Coldharbour Point Light on the north bank where I had been six months ago. I also noticed this mural painted on the side of a pub.

Once rejoining the Thames near Erith Yacht Club on the last mile of the Thames Path, the walk improved greatly. It was a fine day (following the pattern of previous September walks), the sunny intervals were warm and there was a pleasant cooling breeze. Big skies, wide views, birdlife and the occasional passing boat were the order of day, dominated by the Queen Elizabeth II bridge to the east. Although the landscape was mainly industrial, it was very peaceful.

At the river Darent Flood Barrier, the Loop turns south leaving the Thames behind. We won’t meet up again for another 50 miles. It was goodbye too, to the Wellingtonias (of Section 21) still clearly visible on the horizon 12 miles away. The views from the banks of the Darent were also mainly industrial but you got the odd glimpse of nearby Lesnes Abbey Wood and the distant North Downs. After a couple of miles of silence and solitude I came across the inevitable industrial estate, lorries & landfill site. The Cray River Way then followed a series of paths that ran along the backs of houses until it arrived, not unexpectedly in Crayford.

I lingered in Crayford only for long enough to find the local Sainsburys and was on my way. I can’t remember anything of note about it. After a little bit of roadside walking the Loop met up with the Cray at some playing fields where I took a well-earned rest and ate my lunch. I had intended to visit Hall Place, medieval house with topiary garden, and highlight of Section 1. However, it was closed for refurbishment so I trundled on.

The last part of the route took me over a railway, under the A2, through a wood and finally the overgrown churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Bexley. The church had a pleasant exterior with a broach spire, which are quite common in Essex. Bexley felt like a village that badly needed a by-pass, lots of quite pleasant old buildings but no where very safe to admire them.

Unfortunately for me, I arrived at Bexley Station at the same time as the train, but after eight miles (or possibly seven) I was in no position to run for it. The walk from Erith had taken me four and quarter hours, including rest stops and which wasn’t bad for eight miles. I thought my first excursion to the dark/south side went very well, with no major transport difficulties and the leaflet instructions were once again excellent.

Time for leg 3hr 45m Distance 8 miles Time for Trip 7hrs 50m
Walk log

Fares this leg £7.00

Section 01 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time 8½ miles 5 hours

Walking Conditions: Mostly level with a few short climbs; paths alongside the River Darent and Cray be muddy; the section is suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs around Riverside Gardens and Erith Pier.

24 Rainham to Purfleet

2008-03-04T22:40:00.010Z

1st March 2008

There appears to be a pattern forming for the March walks as the weather was once again sunny and bright but with a very strong, very cold wind. If ever a there was a bit of the London Loop in need of a route improvement, this is it. I’ll be very surprised if there is a less attractive part than the first mile from Rainham station. Despite a slight delay waiting for the level crossing to rise, I was on my way half an hour after leaving home. Once over the Tilbury line, the Loop crosses the new high Eurostar line by means of a long complicated ramp. I didn’t have to wait too long before one of the new sleek trains came by, not at full speed I think, but very impressive and very quiet.

The Loop then proceeds through the industrial wastelands of Rainham, under the A13 and past abandoned factories, car breaker yards and other dubious enterprises. To the east, there were views over Rainham marsh to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. Rainham marsh is one of those places that is always being threatened by developers. Do the words Flood Plain mean nothing! All right if you want an upstairs swimming pool.

Past the factories, there is a most unexpected footpath which stops at a wall, you look over it and you have a wonderful view of the Thames looking upstream. This was an old favourite walk of the Cobb family in the 60s, when we would come to the riverside for fresh air and exercise. I think both the air and the river are a lot cleaner now.

A temporary closure of the footpath by the Tilda Rice factory meant a mile and half detour to rejoin the river bank by the abandoned barges. Relics of WW2, they saw duty as flood defences during the Great Flood of 1953. They are now home to seabirds and gently mouldering away. Havering Council has developed the area around the barges into a picnic area and viewing point, but sadly I’m unable to take the Aged Parents there due to another height barrier. The path along to Coldharbour Point used to be grassy but has turned into a tarmac path. Coldharbour Point used to be the end of this section and is the nearest point to Section 1 on the south bank of the Thames. I continued along because I wanted to see where I would be in 6 months time. You get some fine views across the river and I was able to trace the route of the Green Chain Walk that Noddy and I discovered a few years ago. It is an excellent series of walks linking woodlands and parks in South East London.

I expected to have to return to the barges and continue along a newly opened cycle path to the new finish in Purfleet. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the route continue after the lighthouse. While I was wondering whether to continue or not I started to hear voices. This was a bit disconcerting as I had seen a soul in hours, when I realised the voices were coming from my jacket! My GPS had decided to give up the ghost just when I need it and was giving a low battery warning.

It took about 50 minutes to walk to the RSPB Visitor Centre at Purfleet along the bank of the Thames, studiously ignoring the landfill site to the right. There were great views of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and Crayford Marshes over the water. At the point where the footpath met the cycle path, there was a glimpse of the White House and the Wellingtonias, now 10 miles away. The path then runs adjacent to Aveley Marsh, now a nature reserve, but formally an Army rifle range where my Dad learned to shoot in 1945. Luckily for him, he never had to fire a gun in anger as the war ended before his basic training.

The Visitors Centre was a welcome sight and I enjoyed a rest in the snack bar surrounded by loads of men talking about birds. I’m not sure what they had spotted but I’m sure I saw a couple of Right Tits. I then followed the route into Purfleet, past the Heritage Centre and along the riverside to finish at the Royal Hotel. It was a short walk to the station and the train back to Rainham. The train journey took 5 minutes compared with 2 hours plus it had taken me to walk.

This was not the prettiest leg of the Loop, (signage was largely non-existent as well) but there is plenty of interest along the riverbank and the development of access is very pleasing. For me, it was both a trip down memory lane and the end of the easy part of the Loop through home territory. From now on it is all pastures new and very unfamiliar. In September the adventure really begins!

Time for leg 2hr 40m Distance 6 miles Time for trip 5hrs
Walk log
Fares this leg £4.20

Section 24 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time 5 miles 2 hours 40 minutes

Walking Conditions: Almost entirely level with one or two short gentle slopes; mostly hard surface, some on grass or gravel; no stiles; 3 kissing gates; 1.6 miles beside road.

N.B. The official guide does not show the riverside route from Coldharbour light.

23 Upminster Bridge Station to Rainham

2008-02-29T21:26:00.005Z

1st September 2007

This section is the one that passes closest to home with the start and finish being just 20 minutes away by public transport. The weather was very warm (unusual for 2007) so I decided to leave early to avoid the heat. The route was very level following the Ingrebourne valley through Hornchurch Country park. Eventually you will be able to follow the Ingrebourne all the way to the Thames via Rainham creek and this will definitely improve this section, as the last part was all along roads.

Hornchurch Country Park was built on the site of RAF Hornchurch, a famous WW1 & WW2 fighter station. I used to visit regularly but sadly can’t anymore due to a height restriction. (Obviously I can get under the height barrier, but the van can’t.) There is quite an extensive area of countryside here with farmland and woodland on the other bank of the river.

After passing Tit Lake and Albyns farm house, a medieval manor house, it was a boring footslog to Rainham, where I got lost in Tescos looking for a toilet. Rainham has a cute little church, clock tower and Rainham Hall, a National Trust property I haven’t managed to visit. Not the most spectacular leg, but I’m certain this one will be the quickest to complete.

Time for leg 2hr 10m Distance 5 miles Time for trip 3hr 02m Walk log

Section 23 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time: 4 miles 2hours 30 minutes

Walking Conditions: Almost completely level, tarmac or firm gravel paths, no stiles. This section is suitable for the less mobile and is accessible for pushchairs.

22 Harold Wood to Upminster Bridge Station

2008-02-29T20:42:00.003Z

1st March 2007

As the start and finish were very close to home I set off in the afternoon. The weather was sunny and bright but the wind was cool. Most of the section follows the river Ingrebourne and it is hoped that future development of footpaths along the valley will eliminate most of the road sections.

The first part of the walk takes you through Pages Wood, part of the Thames Chase development along gravel paths with the river to the left. The plantation includes oak, hornbeam and ash but looks more like a nursery than a wood. It’s unlikely I’ll be visiting for another walk as the car park had a height barrier.

Then, there followed a road section of a mile or so across the A127 and south into Upminster. There were a few views back towards Havering and I spotted the White House, about 4 miles north and quick glimpse of Canary Wharf.
At the bottom of River Drive, the walk suddenly turned rural again and also very muddy. It was time to put on the wellies.

Through a small wood, over a footbridge and stiles, past a school playing field and alongside a ploughed field, I trudged along enjoying the solitude and the very bright sunshine. Quite unexpectedly I came across a paddock of donkeys and goats, not the sort of thing you usually find in Upminster. The last half mile or so back to the tube was all urban, enlivened only by a glimpse of Upminster Windmill.

This walk seemed a bit tame after the rural delights of the last two sections. I’m sure it will improve when proposed Greenway is finally developed. However it was a lovely sunny day and there were worse ways of spending your 50th birthday.

Time for leg 1h 50m Distance 4 miles Time for trip 3hrs Walk log

Total Walking Time 8hr 05m Total Distance 14.5m Total time 14hr 05m

Fares this leg £6 Fares total £6

Section 22 Essentials
Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time 4.3 miles 2hours 40 minutes

Walking Conditions: almost completely level with one or two short gentle slopes; mostly footpaths, tracks and grass, often with rough surface; 2 stiles from Hall Lane to Wingletye Lane; the section from Harold Wood to Hall Lane is suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs.

21 Havering-atte-Bower to Harold Wood

2008-02-28T20:32:00.009Z

1st September 2006

Before starting section 21, there was the small matter of finishing off section 20. It was a warm, humid day with a hint of rain at the start but the sun came out strongly and it turned into a beautiful day.

I picked up the walk where I left off, at Havering Country park, with some fine views back to Hainault. It was particularly pleasing to spot landmarks from the previous walk like Chigwell Row church as you can gauge how far you come.

I crossed a stile and entered the woods of the country park. The footpath led uphill through the trees to a beautiful avenue of Wellingtonias, sequoias planted by a previous owner. Although they are only babies they tower above the indigenous trees and can be easily spotted on the skyline. The first mile of the walk through the woods was all uphill and at the top in the village of Havering you are rewarded with a seat with a great view looking north into the heart of Essex.

After Havering, the walk goes past the Round House, a white building imitating a water tower, which will become a familiar landmark on later walks, through the old estate of Pyrgo Park with its abandoned wrought iron gates and along a ridge which hid most of London from site. It was quiet, empty and pleasant walking, a mixture of pasture and woodland.

However, this was a walk of two halves. In the first 3 miles, I’d crossed one road, seen one very grumpy horsewoman, sheep, horses and heard mostly birdsong not traffic. Once I arrived at Noak Hill, the scenery changed abruptly from rural to urban. The Loop follows the valley of the mighty river Ingrebourne through a narrow green strip of parkland surrounded by the means streets of Harold Hill, crossing a whole succession of roads until meeting the A12 at a crossing point not for the faint hearted. (The official guide recommends a detour to the nearest pedestrian crossing 500 metres away). After that it was street walking all the way to the finish point at Harold Wood station.

The walk through Havering Country Park to Noak Hill is thoroughly recommended. It is a proper country walk, taking in the pretty village of Havering, with its village green and stocks. Nearby Bedfords Park is on the London side of the ridge and has great views to the heights of Shooters Hill on the south side of the Thames, 11 miles away. This was another Cobb family favourite day being only a bus ride from Dagenham, walking up the hill, feeding the deer, rolling down the hill. Havering always feels to me that it is the place where London ends and the country begins.

Time for leg 2h 30m Distance 5 miles Time for trip 4hr 45m
Walk log

Total walking time 6hr 15m Total distance 10.5m Total time 11hr 05m

Section 21 Essentials

Section Map
Directions

Distance and Time 4.3 miles 2 hours 40 minutes

Walking Conditions: Generally fairly level with some gentle slopes, mostly on rough paths, tracks and grass, four stiles, three kissing gates and two footbridges.

Click here for more details about Bedfords Park

20 Chigwell to Havering-atte-Bower

2008-02-27T21:09:00.013Z

1st March 2006

Resisting the urge to start at section 1, I opted to start the Loop at Chigwell, which according to Autoroute, is 10.8 miles and would take 19 minutes by car! (Only likely if you also have blue flashing light to go with it.) Getting to Chigwell by bus required more determination than I possessed so opted for the Tube which took an hour and 20 minutes to travel those 11 miles.

I started the walk at Chigwell tube on a bright but cold day with a very chilly wind. The first part of the walk takes you along the main road past the attractive church of St Mary’s (with a traditional Essex broach spire and white weatherboarding).

Ignoring the charms of Ye Olde King’s Head, a supposed haunt of Dick Turpin, the walk headed into the Essex countryside and was surprisingly rural. I covered a mile before crossing a road. The walk was gently hilly so afforded good views back towards London and also north into Essex. It was all new territory to me and despite not being very well signposted, I managed to get to Hainault Country Park in reasonable time for a lunch break.

Hainault Country was very familiar to me as it was one of the few areas of countryside easily accessible by bus as a child. I remember visiting here with my family and climbing to the top of Cabin Hill and searching out the dome of St Pauls. The view back towards the city doesn’t quite rival that of Hampstead or Ally Pally but it was a clear day and the London Eye was visible on the skyline.

From Cabin Hill, I descended down across the golf course once again into pastures new. I was able to sit on a stile and pick out all the landmarks of Dagenham, including Fords wind turbine. At this point I was about 1 mile from the borders of Dagenham and 5 miles from home, yet I’d never seen this view before.

I decided to break the walk when the route joined Havering Country Park. This would make it easier for me to get home and avoid climbing up another hill!. This walk had involved over 300 feet of climbing, which is quite a lot for Essex. It took me an hour to get back by bus, ready to enjoy my tea.

According to my pedometer I’d walked 5½ miles, according my GPS it was only 5.15 miles and should have taken me an hour and 41 minutes to complete. I actually took 3 hours and 45 minutes, but I did have a couple of rests and excursions from the route. Anyway, I’m not aiming to be the fastest person to complete the walk. This was a really good walk, with much to recommend as it was, peaceful with very little traffic to worry about and great views to both north and south.

Time for leg 3hr 45m Distance 5.5 miles Time for trip 6hr 20m Walk log

Section 20 Essentials

Section Map Directions

Distance and Time: 6 miles 9.7km 3 hours 10 minutes

Walking Conditions: mostly level, some longish slopes, stiles and kissing gates, some field edges, farmland and woodland path walking, can be muddy in winter.

London Loop Sections

2008-02-26T22:30:00.001Z

	Section	Miles
1	Erith to Old Bexley	8.4	Section Map	Directions
2	Old Bexley to Petts Wood	7.2	Section Map	Directions
3	Petts Wood to West Wickham Common	9.0	Section Map	Directions
4	West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green	9.0	Section Map	Directions
5	Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South	6.0
6	Coulsdon South to Banstead Downs	4.5	Section Map	Directions
7	Banstead Downs to Ewell	4.0	Section Map	Directions
8	Ewell to Kingston	7.3	Section Map	Directions
9	Kingston Bridge to Hatton Cross	8.5	Section Map	Directions
10	Hatton Cross to Hayes	3.8	Section Map	Directions
11	Hayes to Uxbridge	7.3	Section Map	Directions
12	Uxbridge to Harefield West	4.5	Section Map	Directions
13	Harefield West to Moor Park	4.8	Section Map	Directions
14	Moor Park to Hatch End	3.8	Section Map	Directions
15	Hatch End to Elstree	8.3	Section Map	Directions
16	Elstree to Cockfosters	10.5	Section Map	Directions
17	Cockfosters to Enfield Lock	8.3	Section Map	Directions
18	Enfield Lock to Chingford	6.5	Section Map	Directions
19	Chingford to Chigwell	4.0	Section Map	Directions
20	Chigwell to Havering-atte-Bower	6.0	Section Map	Directions
21	Havering-atte-Bower to Harold Wood	4.3	Section Map	Directions
22	Harold Wood to Upminster Bridge	4.3	Section Map	Directions
23	Upminster Bridge to Rainham	4.0	Section Map	Directions
24	Rainham to Purfleet	4.5	Section Map	Directions

London Loop Facts

2008-02-25T22:44:00.002Z

The London Outer Orbital Path or London Loop was devised by the London Walking Forum in the 1990s. It circumnavigates London like the M25 for 150 miles (240kms) with only one break between section 24 at Purfleet and section 1 at Erith as there is no pedestrian Thames crossing downstream of Woolwich.

The route is fully walkable and is divided up into 24 sections started at Erith and finishing at Purfleet. There are still developments taking place on the route as councils develop new country parks and walking routes that will eliminate some of the roadside walking.

The route is well signed with the flying kestrel logo and directional arrow and the guide leaflets devised by the London Walking Forum and distributed by Transport for London are excellent. (Council Tax money well spent!)
The best way to walk the Loop is in a clockwise direction, (as this is how all the guides describe it) and use public transport as all the sections are accessible by bus, tube or overground

Click here for more information on London's strategic routes

London Loopy

2008-02-25T21:45:00.002Z

It all started with ….

Walking the St Peter’s Way in Essex in the autumn of 2004, accompanied by my faithful dog Noddy and finishing in the spring of 2005 accompanied by faithful friends, Frances and Trevor. St Peter’s Way is a long distance walk of 45 miles starting at Chipping Ongar and finishing by the North Sea at the ancient chapel of St Peter on the Wall at Bradwell on sea.

It was a feeling of some achievement when I finally completed the walk after splitting up the route into 15 different circular walks, so in fact I had walked about 90 miles and Noddy probably quite a bit more.

We had passed several other beautiful Essex churches on the way, notably St Lawrence at Blackmore, half timbered with broach spire and All Saints at Stock, before arriving at St Peter’s chapel, made almost entirely from Roman brick in the seventh century and one of the oldest places of worship in Britain.

The Essex marshes are fairly bleak but the last leg was completed in lovely warm sunshine along the sea wall (far too warm for Noddy) with nothing but the North Sea between us and Holland.

The walk had had its highs and lows, Noddy got attacked by a mad horse at Munden, which was also the site of a lonely abandoned church and the most amazing ancient oak trees that dated back the Armada. The marshy section from Mundon to Maylandsea was pretty bleak and if a convict had leapt out demanding vittles it wouldn’t have surprised me.

Highs are not normally associated with Essex but the view from Purleigh Church is quite stunning. The Blackwater Estuary is laid out before you and in the distance you can see the finishing post, the old nuclear power station at Bradwell.

Well, what’s all this got to do with the London Loop?

I was looking for another long distance walk that I could do that wasn’t going to involve lots of driving, (towards the end I was clocking 100 miles trips). This pretty much ruled out all National Trails, like the South Downs Way, Ridgeway and North Norfolk path and Thames Path, all of which have a lot of appeal.

Looking closer to home, I discovered the London Loop or London Outer Orbital Path to give it its full name. It comes with 24 beautiful guides freely available from Transport for London, easily accessible by public transport and offering the chance to discover parts of London, both familiar and unfamiliar. I decided to do two legs a year, one in spring and one in autumn exactly six months apart, 1st March and 1st of September to avoid the extremes of the British weather and to use public transport to get to and from the walk.