Ascent/Descent:
about 100m
Net
Walking Time: 2 hrs
Meet: Banstead
Station
(Zone 6)
Take the 18.03 Epsom
Downs train
from Victoria (all stations via
Clapham J and Selhurst), arrives Banstead
at 18.56.
Return: from Woodmansterne
(Zone
6), every 30 minutes on xx.27 to
Victoria via East Croydon, or from
Coulsdon South (longer, alternative ending).
This
walk passes through some Lavender Farms,
which in July and August, should be a stunning sea of purple. It also goes
through parkland (Oakes Park) and commons (Banstead Downs). The walk starts in
Banstead Downs (now being cleared of scrub after years of neglect) with London
skyline views from the Gally Hills. It then joins the London Loop Long Distance
Path and crosses farmland towards Oaks Park (café, car park) - the parkland grounds of a former country house.
After an optional loop of the park (short or long versions available), you cross public
footpaths through a series of nurseries used for growing lavender. You then
continue along the London Loop before leaving it for Woodmansterne station.
There
also is an alternative, slightly longer, ending via Couldson High Street,
passing The Pembroke pub, to South Coulsdon station, which has a better train
service.
3 comments:
An alternative to the Pembroke Pub is chez J and J where the hosts will be happy to offer some of the wine generously provided by walkers for the party earlier this year. At the end of the walk follow the Coulsdon South option then turn left on Bramley Ave, and then take the 1st right. Our house is first one on the left hand side. J and J
2 local walkers on the platform met 4 others off the train, and there were 3 more on the train who couldn't get off it, as they were in the last coach where the doors don't open due to a short platform, i.e. N=9 in w=humid-but-cool weather.
The main group struggled to find the right route through the first golf course (no one had a compass) and were overtaken by the late group halfway through the walk.
The lavender was already past its best (global warming?), but all in all a nice walk.
Complimentary drinks were offered at J & J's and were gladly accepted by 4 of us.
Next year: post it in early July.
Walk directions at the PDF file of this walk is missing. Mila
Post a Comment