Length: 4.9 km (3.0 mi), with Ascent/Descent of 70/82m
Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ¼ hours, Toughness: 1 out of 10
Take the 17.46 Thameslink stopping service from London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks (calls Elephant, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, …, Catford (18.10), …, arrives Ravensbourne 18.17. [From LBG: 17.52 Hayes (Kent) train (board train at the front) to Catford Bridge (18.05), walk across to Catford.]
Return trains from Beckenham Hill: xx.00 and xx.30 (to Blackfriars). Both stations are in Zone 4.
This partly undulating route winds its way through an attractive park in South East London, partly on grounds formerly used for a public golf course. The park is bounded to the east by the Ravensbourne River and the route initially follows parts of the well-waymarked Waterlink Way along it through open meadows. You then cross the railway line into the more undulating westerly part of the park, famous for its bluebell displays in season. Recent major investments in the landscaping of the park have spawned some interesting new features: A Mounded Garden, a Wet Woodland, a Wild Swimming Lake and the replanted Ornamental Garden with its beautiful café in the former homestead of the mansion (but not open in the evening).
There is a late bar (that should be open) and another daytime café as well, both in the Palladian Beckenham Place Mansion.
Please keep to the main paths in the woods– especially during bluebell season – unless where stated.
The route is walkable at all times of the day.
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.46
4 comments:
Other trains:
From Victoria: 17:42 to Rochester, changing at Denmark Hill
Fromm Brixton: 17:49 to Bromley South (calls at Herne Hill, West Dulwich, Sydenham Hill, Penge East ...) changing at Shortlands to arrive Ravensbourne at 18:18
n=9 set off in w=dry-and-cloudy weather, forming grouplets of varying degrees of stability. Eventually a small group, following the text, sped away, which left the text-less rest finding their very own route through the park. The textless many got to the late bar of the Homestead Cafe first and were seen getting drinks there, while the smaller group went straight for the 19.30 train...
Just thought I’d record here some feedback after my two visits to Beckenham Park this week apparently the largest park in the uk at 1k square. The Stables cafe is serving homemade style mushroom soup plus a variety of pizzas which can all be eaten in the large courtyard complete with tables benches and umbrellas. Outdoor heaters are planned. The walks follow sections of the Green Chain Way through the woods plus a section of the Capital ring and the newly laid out gardens and raised beds of vegetables surrounding the lake and stables area are still unfinished but the landscaping is an attractive area to stop and picnic. Marketing material says that wild swimming is permitted in the lake. I followed a tarmac road from Beckenham hill station through the car park past the stables and mansion to Beckenham Junction on one occasion. Another route takes you from Mottingham station to Ravensbourne station through the woods following the Green chain walk. I used Denmark hill station as an interchange from the Overground at Clapham Junction where south east trains run to Sevenoaks every half an hour. Highly recommended as a short walk with good refreshments
At 96 Hecatres, Beckenham Place Park is Lewsisham's largest green space, but not the largest in the UK.
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