http://www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk/walkfinder
A walk from the South Lewisham Health Centre, 50 Conisborough Crescent, Catford, London SE6 2SP
Downham Fields
Description: Enjoy a Woodland Walk (part of the Green Chain, one of London’s seven strategic long distance routes) and then discover the open views of Downham Fields on this longer walk.
On the two occasions when we walked this route, the pedestrian gate on the edge of the new estate in Downham Playing Fields was open (Point 8 below), however, apparently this is not always the case. This uncertainty may discourage your from taking this route. We have devised an alternative Downham Fields 2 route that deviates at Point 5 below. If your way is blocked, we would recommend retracing your steps to point at which you entered (beside Number 82 Downham Way) and then follow the Downham Fields 2 route description from Point 8.
Distance: 3 miles Duration: 55 mins Paces: 5975 paces
1. Turn right out of the health centre following Cosniborough Crescent around to the left, at a pedestrian gate, follow a path uphill into Forster Memorial Park. Alternatively, take the first right, and then turn left to walk beside Whitefoot Lane (and continue from point 3).
2. As you reach the brow of the hill path, fork right at the red dog waste bin, to join a wider tarmac path that circles the park. Follow this to the right as it bears left to the main driveway (marked by a copper beech hedge), where you fork right to reach the gate on Whitefoot Lane. [0.5 miles, 10 mins, 1,000 paces]
3. Turn left along Whitefoot Lane to cross at the pedestrian crossing, and then turn right and immediately left down Downderry Road (signposted Green Chain Walk).
4. At the red post box on the opposite side of the road, turn left through a pedestrian gate to join the Woodland Walk (signposted Green Chain).
The oak trees that line this woodland walk have ancestors that date back into ancient times…… Over to your right, through the trees you can see the intriguing properties on Nubia Way, one of the earliest streets of self-build houses.
5. Turn right at the T-junction with Moorside Road. [1 mile] Look out for the Cycle route sign to your right (two bollards stop vehicles using this route) that marks the entry into a path that leads steeply down across Downham Fields – take this path [1.2 miles, 22 mins, 2,380 paces].
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A walk from the South Lewisham Health Centre, 50 Conisborough Crescent, Catford, London SE6 2SP
Downham Fields - continuation
6. As the path ends go straight across Churchdown Road, turning right on Downham Way, walking in front of the old Methodist Hall (now an Adult Education centre). Look out for Rangefield Road, a turning on the opposite side of the road, also marked as a cycle route, and with a vehicle gate across it. Cross Downham Way here. Don’t walk down Rangefield Road, instead turn right to walk a few metres further along Downham Way.
7. Beside house Number 82 turn left through a narrow pedestrian gate into Downham Playing Fields. Follow the gravel path as it bears right to cross a footbridge over the river Ravensbourne.
8. Turn sharp left back on yourself to rejoin the gravel path that follows the river, and then curves right to the back of the new estate, where you can pass through a pedestrian gate to leave the fields [1.7miles, 33 mins, 3,350 paces].
9. Walk through the new estate, and turn right along Bromley Road. Take the third right up Brockman Rise to its end and turn left onto Haddington Road [2.5 miles, 47 mins, 4,890 paces]. This ends at Whitefoot Lane opposite the main entrance to Forster Park.
10. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn left down Whitefoot Lane, taking the next right into Conisborough Crescent, to bear left to return to the health centre.
If you have time, you could choose to walk through Forster Park.
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