Length: 9.3 km (5.8 mi)
Ascent/descent: 120m
Net Walking Time: ca. 2 hours
Take the 18.05 Hayes (Kent) train from Charing X, calls W’loo
East and London Bridge then all stations via Lewisham, arrives Hayes
at 18.50. Hayes is in Zone 5.
Return trains: xx.00, xx.13, xx.30 and xx.43.
Sunset will
be at 20.18, with light for walking until 21.00.
This short walk crosses three commons which have been used for hundreds
of years as a source of wood as evidenced by the many coppiced trees. Today
coppicing is still practised but the mix of woodlands also provides habitats
for a variety of animals. The walk follows in part the River Ravensbourne which
fills the three Keston ponds straight from its source and flows into the Thames
at Deptford as Depthford Creek. Charles Darwin who lived nearby in the village
of Downe, carried out parts of his research on Keston Common. On the way you
get a glimpse of Ravensbourne Lodge previously owned by the Bonham-Carter
family. The most ancient remains encountered on this walk are from the iron age
around 200BC. The walk was inspired by the marked Three Commons Circular Walk
and broadly but not exactly follows it.
Refreshments:
En route: The Fox is under new mgmt. since 2021, but hasn’t
left any traces on the internet for a few months, so may be closed. The Greyhound
seems a going concern though.
At the end: The New Inn.
4 comments:
Hi, What time will the walk start?
as per the posted train: at 18.50
I was in Keston Village today - I often walk the Three Commons Circular. The Fox was once a great place for ham, egg and chips but, like many other pubs, had difficulty finding a chef once it reopened in 2021. The Greyhound, on the other hand, remained open. It's a very friendly pub and welcomes walkers and dogs. Definitely worth a visit. I also went to the New Inn (a Reagan's pub) today. Very roomy, nicely presented food, at a reasonable price, though the service was a bit slow. The Nash Circular is also a very pleasant walk.
4 off the train plus 4 car drivers (some at the station, others up on the common) plus 1 other a train behind who deployed a shortcut to meet us at The Greyhound. Before then, we had diligently followed the route through the woods and across some commons and along The Ravensbourne, initially with the sun still out, but more and more with grey clouds taking over. This was very enjoyable, what with the sun's rays creeping through the canopy, some firm and bouncy paths and the varied treescape.
3 stayed on at The Greyhound for a bevvie, while the other 6 marched on to beat darkness, although soon after 4 of those took a gadget-led shortcut. The 6 reunited in Hayes, where The New Inn had already stopped serving food (it was 21.03 hours). After a little recce (the walk notes did not provide sufficient detail on 'tea' options), 5 of us sat down at Thara Thai for a meal, which was very nice.
n=9 w=sunny-start-then-overcast
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