Hurst Green to Riddlesdown

17.3km (10.7 miles) if you take a bus from Warlingham Green 

19km (11.8 miles) if ending at Upper Warlingham 

21.6km (13.4 miles) for the full walk to Riddlesdown T=swc.367

9.50 train from Victoria (9.57 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to Hurst Green, arriving 10.34

OR 

10.07 train from London Bridge (10.22 East Croydon) to Hurst Green, arriving 10.38

Buy a day return to Hurst Green, though if extending from zone 6 you only need a single, as both the return stations are in zone six.

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here. 

This walk last had an outing in January 2024, when it worked well as a winter outing. In hopefully more cheerful March conditions it might be even better. It is basically a walk across Limpsfield Common and a climb up over the North Downs. 

Lunch is at the Old Ship in Tatsfield after 5.4 miles, described as walker-friendly, but turning out to be a bit smarter than that implies on our last outing. Still, it served us well. 

 

The 10.7 mile version of the walk ends up in Warlingham Green, which has two pubs for tea. Also two cafes but one closes at 3pm and the other at 4.30pm. From Warlingham Green there are 403 buses every fifteen minutes or so to Sanderstead station (12 minutes). These are TFL-operated, so passes or Oyster are allowed on them. 

Otherwise, you can pop down to Upper Warlingham station in 1.1 miles or carry on for another 2.7 miles to end at Riddlesdown station. There are a couple of alcohol-only pubs near Upper Warlingham station, and you might just get to the park cafe before it closes at 4pm. There are no refreshment options at Riddlesdown.

Trains back from Upper Warlingham are at 02 and 32 past, and from Riddlesdown at 06 and 36 past.