Evening Walk - Scenic amble through a couple of small but well-kept urban parks on raised ground: Brockwell and Ruskin Parks (Herne Hill to Denmark Hill)

Length: 6.7 km (4.2) or 3.9 km (2.4 mi) 

Ascent: 70m or 40m 

Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hours or 1 hour

 

Meet at Herne Hill station (Railton Road side) at 18.25.

 

From Central London, 

 - either take the 18.12 Orpington train from Victoria (18.19 Brixton), arriving Herne Hill at 18.21, 

 - or the Thameslink service to Sutton (17.57 St. Pancras via stations to Blackfriars (18.06), then Elephant 18.10 and Loughborough Junction 18.16), arriving 18.19. 

From Outer London: 

 - either take the 17.50 Victoria train from Orpington (arrives 18.22)  

 - or the 17.46 St. Alban’s City train from Sutton (arrives 18.11).

 

Return trains:

 - from Herne Hill: 4 per hour in every direction;

 - from Denmark Hill: plenty trains (to Victoria or Blackfriars (Thameslink) or Gravesend or Gillingham or Sevenoaks) or Overground (to Clapham Jct or Dalston Jct).

 

Variation of an established short walk, with Ruskin Park added on (linked by quiet residential streets), meaning a finish at Denmark Hill Station in Camberwell, which has a lovely pub within the station. Brockwell Hall has experienced a “transformative refurbishment” and has now re-opened and looks stunning inside and out (judging by photos in the Southwark News).

 

Here is the blurb for the Brockwell Park Circuit:

"This is a short meandering route through a small but well-kept urban park in Southeast London on raised ground within the valleys shaped by one of London’s Hidden Rivers, The Effra, and a couple of its tributaries. Created from the purchase of the existing private gardens of the Brockwell Hall estate and some smaller neighbouring properties, it is noted for its 19^th century layout as a gracious public park, a clocktower, water garden, and walled garden, as much as for the Art Deco Brockwell Lido. Brockwell Hall has served as a café since the opening of the park in 1892 (but will be shut for the evening).”

Both parks ought to be open to “…15 minutes before sunset.”, according to Lambeth’s website, i.e.: to 19.20 hours at least… but in practice, we found both parks open long enough for this walk last year (on 30 March)…

Tea: 

 - en route: Bullfinch Brewery Tap Room Arch 886-887, Rosendale Road. Open to 22.00 hours;

 - at Herne Hill Station: plenty of options, see the walk directions for details;- in Denmark Hill: FCB Coffee (open to 20.00) or The Phoenix, a well-regarded pub.

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=short.39.b