London Loop: Section 5: Hamsey Green to Banstead Downs

A surprisingly warm and sunny October day - weather has been better in our Autumn than we had in the Summer. Still as I had made an early start there was still frost and a heavy bejewelling of dew in some of the pretty wooded hollows near the start of the walk.
The walk starts from Hamsey Green, a bus ride away from the centre of Croydon, the bus goes past some of the buildings burnt out in the recent riots, a sombre start to the day's walking. Climbing up onto Kenley Common I looked back to be surprised to see huge chalk cliffs the remains I assume of quarry workings.

Chalk Cliffs

After a short section of suburban walking the views open up and you find yourself on an old coaching track known as Riddlesown Road. It is always a bit special when you encounter an old track like this or a section of Roman Road when out walking, for me this is more exciting than finding a building and it is easy to imagine other people walking the same route as you several hundreds of years before.
Once through Old Couldson you enter possibly the most stunning part of the LOOP so far. Wide open views of chalk downland. Coming from Hampshire with its similar geology and terrain I felt very much at home and nostalgic. Other than the odd dog walker and a few people on horseback I had the landscape to myself and with clear blue skies and warm sunshine above was very happy.

Happy Valley

More ancient landscape follows as the walk continues along Farthing Downs with a Saxon burial ground just off the track to the right and stunning views of the city as you reach the end of the ridge.
Back to earth after leaving the downs with a dull trudge uphill through the urban sprawl of Coulsdon (sorry any readers from that suburb). Once back into the countryside you find yourself in rather depressing open space with views to Wembley in the distance including the arch of Wembley Stadium. Mood was lightened by the scent of lavender which appeared at first to be coming from nowhere but it turned out to be a lavender farm. The lavender had been harvested but the scent of the herbs still hung in the air. Across the road the route goes through Oaks Farm (the original owners of which gave their name to the famous horse race) where there is a craft centre but more importantly a cafe which serves good food, just what the doctor ordered!
 The path then follows a slightly sunken way past stables and a prison before emerging onto more downland. The path then crosses a VERY busy dual carrigeway with four lanes of fast moving traffic. Getting across was a bit of a challenge with no lights, subway or zebra crossing and with legs a bit leaden after 10 miles of walking. Eventually there was a gap and I managed to get across. Then followed a rather comic period where I managed to get lost on a golf course. I waited or a golfer to make a real pig's ear of getting out of a bunker (first shot went 6 inches the next sailed over the green ad into the shrubs on the other side. Once he stopped swearing he gave me directions to the station at Banstead.
After a god start and a fantastic middle the walk went down hill a bit at the end with too much urban walking and too many busy roads.

London Loop: Section 4: West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green

Realise I have been a little slack and have not written about these two walks yet even though I did them one and two months ago. Leg 4 from West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green starts with a long link section that goes up and down along  a fenced path. I remember this from the previous walk where I was pretty tired and this long and rather dull link at the and was the last thing I needed. More suburban street walking follows until you reach an old church with fine views over wooded countryside. The next section through sports fields leads to a steep climb up to and through woodland. All still in leaf at this point and including sweet and horse chestnuts, oaks, hazels and even an almond. Nut-tastic! As you emerge from the Theehalfpenny Wood you get a good view back to London including a glimpse of the Shard which is now almost complete. This building near London Bridge station has been one of the landmarks of the LOOP so far as for several legs London Bridge station has been my starting point.

The path then meanders through more meadows before climbing up to the viewpoint on Addington Hill. From here on a clear day you can get a fantastic panorama of the London skyline. Today was a bit overcast but the view was still pretty good. It would have been better if someone hadn't stolen all the brass identification plates so I could have known what I was looking at!

View from Addington Hill

I could identify the Shard, Docklands, Gherkin and a windmill in Shirley. Descending through a nice park you then emerge back into the suburbs and my first encounter with Croydon's tram system. Quite an extensive network and quite quiet so you may not notice them coming! More pleasant open space and woodland follows until you arrive at the small hamlet of Hamsey Green where I picked up a bus back to Croydon. Took a tram back to Wimbledon for a change of pace rather than a mainline train back to the city.