Islington U3A Longer Walks Group Walk Title Croydon to Banstead Downs (LOOP) Walk No. 132 Area London Type Linear Date Wednesday 22nd March 2017 Distance 10½ miles (17 km) including to/ from stations. Timing 4 hours walking time + travel + lunch stop. Allow 7 hours in total. Therefore expect to be back in Islington by 6.00 pm (might be 6.30 if Southern is playing up). Meeting up Meet at Highbury & Islington by 9.20 then we’ll travel to Victoria (16 & travel mins). Or meet at Victoria (in front of the ticket office) at 9.40 to catch the 9.54 Southern toward East Grinstead, getting off at Sanderstead (21 mins). From Sanderstead we need to catch a 403 bus (10.29) to get us to the LOOP (10 mins). Return will be from Banstead rail station – Southern train, 16.31 (or 17.05) to Victoria (17.31 or 18.05). Train before this is 15.38. All within the Freedom Zone. Route We immediately pick up from where we left off on our continuing clockwise rotation around the LOOP. While the last section was 95% woodlands, this is 60% open commons. In the Guides it’s written up as “…this very attractive section….” Possibly as we go through four commons and the Farthing Downs A few strenuous ups (& downs). This time of year means there will be some muddy patches as well. For full route details, use the links below (under References). (10.40) From the bus stop at Hamsey Green where we descend we immediately pick up the LOOP and withi 600 metres are out on to countryside – passing a trig point, the only one on the whole LOOP circuit. Soon we join a track - Riddlesdown Road – an old coaching road London to Brighton. After our first down and up we plateau on Kemley commons and the site of the old Spitfire aerodrome (11.40, 6km). Lots of old military jumble about the place. Unfortunately the first pub we come to Wattenden Arms which is full of RAF memorabilia is too early in our circuit (12.00, 7km) so we press on to Coulsdon common. We arrive at The Fox (4½ miles, 12.30) for a lunch stop After lunch (13.30) we leave and soon hit our next down and up, corssing Happy Valley and onto Farthing Downs (14.00) where there are toilets and views up to south London. We then come down off the ridge and walk through Coulsdon South (14.15) and up out the other side. From the top of the hill there is another great view of London, including the masts of Crystal Palace. We cross St Mary’s lavender fields. An unusual sight – particularly with the old phone box in the middle – and then reach Oaks Park (15.40). Last stretch takes us to Bandstead Downs and the railway station for the 16.31 train (or the 17.05). Lunch Food is available at the Fox pub – quite a smart gastropub but with a wide range of just starters or sandwiches, as well as main. Dropping out First one at the lunch stop in Coulsdon Common is the 466 bus to Croydon (at 02, 18, 33, 48 past the hour). Next is at Coulsden South, 14.15 – frequent trains to Victoria. Other bus routes at various places. Suitability Suitable for any reasonably fit regular walker. There are no particular difficulties. Another strenuous section of the LOOP. Terrain: some significant downs and ups; some muddy sections. Bring poles if you have them. Possible obstacles: there are 5 styles to cross (all in the afternoon). Comfortable waterproof walking shoes/ boots. Waterproof jacket. Check weather forecast for temperature and likelihood of rain. Facilities There are toilets at the beginning at Stanstead station. There are at the pub in the middle, at Farthing Downs and at Oak’s Park. There are not toilets at the end at Banstead. Walk source TfL Walking site (as link below) &/or London LOOP book. Map & OS Explorer 161 and 146. other Links: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-loop-section-5.pdf references http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-loop-section-6.pdf Leader & Walk Leader: Derek Harwood contact Phone: 077 5931 4096 details e-mail: [email protected] Interesting Did you know? facts The Quarry at the foot of Riddlesdown is about 200 years old and was working up until 1967. The impressive railway viaduct over the quarry dates from 1884 when the line from Croydon to East Grinstead and Oxted opened. Did you know? In Twelve Acre on Kenley Common, the pyramidal orchid thrives. These commons came into the City of London's care as a result of the 1878 legislation in response to concern at the rapid disappearance of open spaces in Greater London. Did you know? Just around the corner to the left is the Wattenden Arms which is full of World War II memorabilia from the adjacent Kenley Aerodrome, including many original photos. Did you know? The earth banks to the left are blast bays that once protected Spitfires. A short diversion off the route to the airfield will gain you a closer look at the World War 2 blast bays, as well as the RAF monument. You may also see gliders being catapulted skywards, so stay within the fence line! Did you know? Happy Valley is home to one of Britain's rarest plants - the greater yellow rattle. It's so called because when the plant is ready to set seed, the calyx (a group of sepals) dries out and rattles. Did you know? Devilsden Wood appears on the earliest maps and is classified as an ancient woodland. Hazel, ash and cherry dominate the lower path of the wood. Yew and beech can be seen further up the slope. In spring bluebells and wood anemones lay a carpet of blue and white. Did you know? Farthing Downs is also an unusual site in that English Heritage have designated it an area of archaeological interest due to its ancient Roman landscape and Saxon tumuli. Did you know? Before the railway bridge is a milestone - with the distance to Westminster Bridge in Roman numerals and to Brighton in familiar Arabic numerals. This was the site of the one of the first public railways in the world - the Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway, which opened in 1805.It was an extension to the Surrey Iron Railway (the first railway). The lines closed in 1846 following competition from the current railway. Did you know? The houses you see here, all in the same style, were built for the troops coming back after World War 1 - to what Prime Minister Lloyd George described as ''a land fit for heroes!'' The scheme was not very successful but vegetables are still grown on some of the plots today. .