Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village walk

Dulwich Wood, Sydenham Hill Wood, Horniman Gardens, Dulwich Park and village, Belair Park

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Thu, 07-Apr-22 Evening Walk: Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Park 5 cool windy conditions
Thu, 01-Jul-21 Evening Walk - Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village 5 dry
Tue, 11-Aug-20 Evening Walk - Woods, Horniman Gardens and Dulwich Park 11 hot for an evening
Fri, 23-Aug-19 Evening Walk – The Battle of the Summer Pavilions (I): Dulwich (Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village) 16 perfect
Fri, 21-Jul-17 Evening Walk – Dulwich Summer Pavilion: Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village 9 dry but overcast
Wed, 11-May-16 Midweek evening walk 3 dry but humid
Stargazer
Stargazer

Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Park Walk T=Short.9

Distance: Approximately 4.1 miles/6.6 km

Difficulty: 1.5 out of 10

Transport: Take the 18:27 Orpington bound train from London Victoria, arriving at Sydenham Hill at 18:42. Returns trains to Victoria are frequent from West Dulwich.

This short walk explores the pretty little woodlands of Sydenham Wood and Dulwich Wood where there may be some signs of Spring. It then passes through Horniman Gardens with its fine views of London before a final stretch though Dulwich Park followed with some well-earned refreshies in Dulwich village…..With sunset now at the whopping late time of 19:45ish….we should have just enough time to complete the route in dusk…..

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 08-Apr-22

    Four assembled at Sydenham Hill station and set off almost immediately into a pretty wooded hillside where they soon came across number 5 who had taken a bus to near the Horniman and back walked the route to meet the others. The woods were very pretty in the evening light and we were not disappointed in terms of signs of spring -- the woods were well dotted with patches of wood anemones....more open than I had expected in the evening....though some were visibly shivering in the cool breezy air....Since the back walker had noted the Cox bridge still closed, we opted for the "alternate route" passing the folly which avoids the need to use the closed bridge....Leaving the woods, we then made a circuit of the Horniman Gardens which we had almost entirely to ourselves, save for a fox, what a peaceful joy! After admiring the flowers and the views, we headed on to Dulwich Park which we explored in the growing dusk....Although there were a few more people about, it was still fairly empty by comparison to times past and provided for a quiet relaxed promenade....Leaving the park, we all headed to the pub for post walk refreshments before heading our mostly separate ways home....A fine evening out in cool windy conditions .

Thomas G
The Walk Poster will not be present, and the two other regular and not-so regular evening walk posters are also not available this week.
Evening Walk Regular Phil F has kindly stepped up to be the Covid-Deputy Officer on the day.
COVID 19
Track-and-Trace: please provide email address (preferred) or mobile phone number at the start
Rule of Thirty: for the foreseeable
Length: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs
Meet: Sydenham Hill Station/College Road exit (Zone 3) at 18.45 (i.e.: take the 18.28 Orpington train from Victoria (Brixton 18.35, Herne Hill 18.38), arrives Sydenham Hill at 18.42).
Return: from West Dulwich (one stop closer to London), every 15 minutes on xx.08
This walk takes you through Dulwich Wood & Sydenham Hill Wood (together the largest extant part of the ancient Great North Wood in the Borough of Southwark), the splendid Horniman Gardens (with fine views of the City of London) and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for refreshments. If you get disorientated in Dulwich Wood or Sydenham Hill Wood, don’t worry too much, as wandering around, you will in time come across the car wide metal bridge, from which you may resume the directions.
Note: this bridge is very likely still closed. Use the diversion further through the park and turn right up along the (busy) road to Horniman Park.
Tea: Crown & Greyhound and various bars and restaurants in Dulwich Village, and Belair House Bar & Restaurant on the way to the station.

For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.9

  • 02-Jul-21

    As forwarded to me:

    "Four walkers ( 4 ) emerged from the train and met on the platform before proceeding to the exit. A fifth who had been deputised to help with the track and trace was expected but not a sign of whom was to be seen. After waiting for a minute the four proceeded up the hill and then into the long stretch of the wood. As they approached the disused train track they surmised correctly that the bridge that was down on last year’s walk was still down. So they deviated from the path a bit further on to a parallel track. This proved to be lovely and somewhat preferred diversion taking them past a folly.

    A local collie caught up with the walkers bearing a ball and tempted a susceptible walker into a game of catch. The owner eventually caught up with the walkers and remarked on the collie’s record of success with the gullible ones.

    The walkers emerged from the woods and made their way to the Horniman Garden. There a bold fox emerged across their path and approached a set of picnickers seated on the grass, hot on the scent of something. The walkers naturally took the opportunity to snap multiple pictures while the picnickers sought to placate the fox with some strawberries - to little effect. The walkers moved on and only on the exit noticed a sign to not feed the foxes.

    Then it was down the hill, across the road and on to Dulwich Park with its American Garden. Passing the lake in the park a group of ducks approached expectantly hoping to be fed but instead were met with empty hands. Finally out the other gate the walkers proceeded to Dulwich and the reliable Crown and Greyhound pub where refreshments were had before heading to the train." dry

  • 04-Jul-21

    plus 1 other evening walk regular, who arrived half an hour late and did some version of the walk, but never intersected with the group

    5

Thomas G
Length: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs

Meet: Sydenham Hill Station/College Road exit (Zone 3) at 18.45 (i.e. take the 18.27 Orpington train from Victoria (Brixton 18.34, Herne Hill 18.37), arrives Sydenham Hill at 18.42).
Return: from West Dulwich (one stop closer to London), every 15 minutes on xx.05
This walk takes you through Dulwich Wood & Sydenham Hill Wood (together the largest extant part of the ancient Great North Wood in the Borough of Southwark), the splendid Horniman Gardens (with fine views of the City of London) and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for refreshments. If you get disorientated in Dulwich Wood or Sydenham Hill Wood, don’t worry too much as wandering around, you will in time come across the car wide metal bridge, from which you may resume the directions.

Tea: Crown & Greyhound and various bars and restaurants in Dulwich Village, and Belair House Bar & Restaurant on the way to the station.
For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.9
  • Anonymous
    07-Aug-20

    Lovely walk but the footbridge may still be closed for repairs. It was still in April and the Council and Woodland Trust were 'discussing' how the repairs should be done. Not a problem, just continue straight down to Lordship Lane at the old Harvester and then walk up(ie turn right) if you want the Horniman Loop.

  • 11-Aug-20

    5 off an earlier train (which left time for a good distanced chat), 5 off the posted one, plus 1 joining in Horniman Park, having left home late and trained it to Forest Hill instead and walked up the hill from the other side. As per below comment, the footbridge in the wood is still very firmly closed, so we had a bit more road walking than normally on this walk, but the wood itself and the views from Horniman's compensated for that. Fluffy clouds with a pink tinge, anyone?

    Most, maybe even all (some were inside, some out), frequented the Crown & Greyhound at the end, and from there dispersed to the various Dulwich Stations some time after 9 o'clock. A very enjoyable evening out.

    11 hot for an evening

Length: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs

Meet: Sydenham Hill Station/College Road exit (Zone 3) at 18.45 (i.e. take the 18.28 Orpington train from Victoria (Brixton 18.35, Herne Hill 18.37), arrives Sydenham Hill at 18.42).
Return: from West Dulwich (one stop closer to London), every 15 minutes on xx.05

Dulwich Picture Gallery has its bi-annual Summer Pavilion back this year, rivalling the established West London one at the Serpentine Gallery. And it’s got Free Friday Lates. Let’s be checking it out… (Note: Friday Lates are free, but must be booked ahead. Book your ticket here.)

This walk takes you through Dulwich Wood & Sydenham Hill Wood (together the largest extant part of the ancient Great North Wood in the Borough of Southwark), the splendid Horniman Gardens (with fine views of the City of London) and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for refreshments. If you get disorientated in Dulwich Wood or Sydenham Hill Wood, don’t worry too much as wandering around, you will in time come across the car wide metal bridge, from which you may resume the directions.

Tea: apart from the Pavilion Bar, there are the Crown & Greyhound and various bars and restaurants in Dulwich Village, and Belair House Bar & Restaurant on the way to the station.
For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.9
  • 23-Aug-19

    13 met at Sydenham Hill at about the posted time (the Victoria train was a few minutes late), and then bumped into 1 other, then 1 more other in Sydenham Woods, who had bused it to the Horniman Gallery from home/work and reverse-walked the route until they met us. A 16th walker had missed the train, eagerly cut out the loop through Horniman Park as a means of catching us up, but inadvertendly had overtaken us by doing that, so was awaiting us at the Dulwich Picture Gallery when we got there. All (seemingly) had booked tickets, and conveniently one of the hourly free guided tours through the current exhibition was about to start, so most went on that.

    The rest admired the pavilion (it looks more interesting in reality than on the pictures you may have seen in the press) and then sat in the garden with a drink from the pop-up cocktail bar. As dusk descended, and with no sign yet of the free tour attendees re-emerging, 5 went on to the trusted Rocca Italian Restaurant.

    Splendid evening.

    Weather: perfect Attendees: 16 Of that number also on yesterday's Wanstead Park walk: 3

  • Anonymous
    24-Aug-19

    So, 25 different walkers over 2 consecutive evenings. Of those, current regular Wednesday day walkers: 1

Length: 6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs

Meet: Sydenham Hill Station/College Road exit (Zone 3) at 18.45 (i.e. take the 18.30 Orpington train from Victoria, arrives Sydenham Hill at 18.44).
Return: from West Dulwich (one stop closer to London), every 15 minutes on xx.06

So, ‘Sarf’ London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery has its own Summer Pavilion this year, rivalling the established West London one at the Serpentine Gallery ? And it’s got a Pavilion Bar and Free Friday Lates? Let’s be checking it out… (Note: a Pavilion-visit is free, but must be booked ahead. Book your ticket here.)

This walk takes you through Dulwich Wood & Sydenham Hill Wood (together the largest extant part of the ancient Great North Wood in the Borough of Southwark), the splendid Horniman Gardens (with fine views of the City of London) and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for refreshments. If you get disorientated in Dulwich Wood or Sydenham Hill Wood, don’t worry too much as wandering around, you will in time come across the car wide metal bridge, from which you may resume the directions.

Tea: apart from the Pavilion Bar, one pub and various bars and restaurants in Dulwich Village, and Belair House Bar & Restaurant on the way to the station.
For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here.T=short.9
  • 17-Jul-17

    Pavilion Friday Lates tickets are sold out, but ... "Once advance registration has sold out there will still be spaces available on the door - just turn up! Once we reach capacity a queuing system will be in operation so please arrive early to avoid disappointment." No chance of arriving early if you're doing the walk first, but you might still be lucky enough to get in - just don't count on it.

  • 19-Jul-17

    After a long period of closure for refurbishment, the Crown & Greyhound pub in Dulwich Village recently re-opened. It appears to be a rather more upmarket establishment than previously, but might be a welcome watering-hole towards the end of the walk.

  • 22-Jul-17

    9 walkers were up for this walk, in dry but overcast conditions.

    The woods and the park didn't disappoint, the pavilion at the gallery was interesting to look at and provided for an interesting drinks provision, even if the waiting time for service was much too long. The pre-booked ticket wasn't really needed, as anyone w/o one could register on the spot and get in.

    5 went on to have dinner at Rocca, a very-good-value-for-money Italian.

    Hard rain had begun while we were at dinner, so it was a hurried dash for the train afterwards.

Wed, 11-May-16 : Midweek evening walk 3
DAC
DAC
Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village
Time: 19:00 prompt
Distance: 5km
London Victoria 18:45 Sydenham Hill: 18:59. Meet 19:00 at the College Road entrance to Sydenham Hill station. (Return trains from West Dulwich: xx:06 xx:36 until 23:36) This is a self-led walk through Dulwich Wood, Sydenham Hill Wood, Horniman Gardens and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for drink / meal: Directions here
T=short.9
  • 12-May-16

    Nice walk through woods and parks that I hadn't even known existed in this far away part of town... The heavy rainfall of the last two days made for some mud in the woods, and unfortunately also meant that we didn't have clear far views in this dry but humid weather, but nevertheless we could identify most of London's skyline from the heights of Horniman Park.

    Dulwich Park was particularly nice, in my mind, and we (all 3 of us) then decided to check out the recommended pub in Dulwich Village, only to find it boarded up for an (eternal) refurb!

    Never mind: with three other restos to choose from on that stretch of road, we settled for Rocca (also in South Ken), an inspired choice, as it turned out.

    Recommended.