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Blackheath to Deptford Walk

Genteel streets, grand houses, a large heathland with views, well-kept parks, a Victorian cemetery and green hills with magnificent views

London

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
Sat, 25-Jan-25 Inner Southeast London Parks and Hills: Blackheath to Deptford (mud-free) --- from as little as 6.5 km... 10 cool but sunny
Thu, 17-Oct-24 a Evening Walk - Hither Green to Blackheath: well-kept parks, heathland, grand houses, genteel streets (map-led or by reverse reading the text) 8 clear medium cold
Sat, 23-Mar-24 Inner Southeast London Parks and Hills: Blackheath to Deptford (mud-free) [New Walk] 19 mainly sunny

Saturday 25-Jan-25

Thomas G
Length : 22.2 km (13.8 mi) [much shorter walks possible, see below]
Ascent /Descent: 213/228m
Net Walking Time : 5 hours
Toughness : 4 out of 10

Take the 09.55 Dartford via Bexleyheath train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 09.58, London Bridge 10.04, Lewisham 10.13), arrives Blackheath (Zone 3) at 10.16.
Returns from Deptford (Zone 2): xx.02 (Cannon Street via LBG) xx.20 (Thameslink via St. Pancras), xx.32 (Cannon Street via LBG), xx.50 (Thameslink via St. Pancras).
This is an urban route almost entirely in the London Borough of Lewisham, stringing together some genteel residential areas and streets, a large heathland with views, many well-kept parks (some with rivers running through them), a large Victorian cemetery and plenty of hills-with-views to either Crystal Palace and the North Downs, Canary Wharf, the City of London and/or the West End and Nine Elms.
You start with a long loop through the acclaimed Blackheath Cator Estate, a Victorian and Georgian private estate with some impressive large houses and tree-lined wide and quiet streets, but also sprinkled with award-winning modernist houses. From there, traverse the upland heath and descend into Lee, also with streets full of attractive residences, some almshouses, a Manor House with a fine park, and the River Quaggy. On through Hither Green to a hill-park-with-views and down across the Ravensbourne Valley. The Brockley Three Peaks await next, with Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery walked through in-between. The final stretch leads over Telegraph Hill into Hatcham (New Cross) and on to Deptford.
All the route is on hard surfaces and mud-free. Alternative earth or gravel paths are shown on the map where appropriate.

Shorter Walks:
· An Early Shortcut , straight from the station, cuts out the loop through Blackheath Park and across the Heath. It cuts 2.9 km and 20m ascent
· A Late Shortcut through Camberwell New Cemetery (shown on the route map) cuts out One Tree Hill (cut 600m and 50m ascent)
· Many bus stops are passed on the route
· Bailouts at intermittent mainline and overground stations: Hither Green (6.5 km), Ladywell (10.3 km, a little off route), Catford and Catford Bridge (11.8 km, a little off route), Honor Oak Park (13.2 km), Crofton Park (15.2 km), Brockley (18.6 km), Nunhead (19.8 km, a little off route), New Cross Gate (20.9 km)
Food & Drink : Leading through fully gentrified parts of Inner London, a plethora of good refreshment options are passed. See page 2 of the pdf for details. Recommended from the last outing is The Chandos , Brockley Rise (very good pizze and a pretty decent beer selection).
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.421
  • Fri, 24-Jan-25

    Why the late start? Austen

  • Fri, 24-Jan-25

    Some of us have to travel in to London with engineering works to connect with an outgoing train

  • Fri, 24-Jan-25

    Well, really it's about the short journey time. Even with the 'late' start, this walk starts earlier than the other ones. And any early morning person can get there a tad early, take a window seat in the next door cafe and watch the world go by!

  • Fri, 24-Jan-25

    Oh, and the fancy market will be on in the station car park

  • Mon, 27-Jan-25

    I was waiting for a report from someone who completed the walk but as none has appeared:

    10 met at Blackheath Station, waiting a short time for one who was ultimately defeated by the trains. We moved on (away from the very busy High Street) to do names at the turning into Blackheath Park, part of the Cator Estate and interesting mix of Victorian (and possibly earlier) mansions and 1960’s architect-designed “Span” infill, and an even more modern Huf (prefabricated) Haus. Despite concerns about some of the instructions on Blackheath we did find our way across and down some interesting little lanes to Lee – unlike many country churches, St Margarets was firmly locked. Despite many opportunities for the group to disintegrate (information boards on the Heath and by Boons Alms Houses, loos in Mountsfield Park and Ladywell Fields) we stayed together until the recommended lunch stop, the Chandos on Brockley Rise. Three went in, presumably to eat, one walker disappeared for an evening event, two walked on to picnic on One Tree Hill, 4 ate in the Amrutha, a vegan restaurant on Honor Oak Park, of which one continued to Deptford, two got the bus and one walked home. So I don’t know how many made it to Deptford in total. The weather was cool but sunny and every park was packed with people, children, dogs all enjoying the sun and relative warmth.

Thursday 17-Oct-24

Thomas G
Length: 6.5 km (or as short as 3.6 km with shortcuts)
Ascent/Descent: 56/49m
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hours
Take the 18.04 Orpington train from Cannon Street (London Bridge 18.09, then New Cross and St John’s), arrives Hither Green at 18.21.
Return trains from Blackheath are 7 per hour to either Victoria, Cannon Street or Charing Cross.
The start of SWC 421 Blackheath to Deptford but in reverse, as the two public parks en route (Manor Park and Manor House Gardens in Lee Green) close at 19.00 hours:
“The River Quaggy, well-kept parks, a large church (with Gothic Revivalist interior), a large heathland with views, genteel streets, grand houses (Victorian, Georgian, Modernist)”
Shortcuts: Straight to Blackheath Station after crossing the railway line (as per SWC 421), or improvised from the two pubs en route.
Eat/Drink: Two pubs en route (or just off it), Hare and Billet and The Princess of Wales. Plus plenty of options in Blackheath village.
For walk directions, map and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.421.a
  • Thu, 17-Oct-24

    Local boy hopes to join.

  • Thu, 17-Oct-24

    8 walkers on a clear medium cold night started 5 mins late due a late train, managed the early parks before they closed and proceeded at good pace through Lee Green and across to Blackheath.

    The full moon was spotted first time just before we reached the heath and we then kept walking into the moon. The very genteel streets of the Blackheath Cator Estate followed, where 1 branched off home to Kidbrooke. 1 other didn't quite fancy a group dinner, so only 6 partook in a Nepalese meal, which was very nice indeed.

Saturday 23-Mar-24

Thomas G
Length : 22.2 km (13.8 mi) [much shorter walks possible, see below]
Ascent /Descent: 213/228m
Net Walking Time : 5 hours
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Take the 10.05 Dartford via Bexleyheath train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10.08, London Bridge 10.14, Lewisham 10.28), arrives Blackheath (Zone 3) at 10.30.
Return from Deptford (Zone 2): there are no trains today, so you can take the DLR from Deptford Bridge either to Lewisham (trains to London Bridge and Charing Cross or Cannon Street or Thameslink) or to Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line and Crossrail); or bail out at New Cross Gate (1.3 km from the end, trains to London Bridge and Overground).
This is an urban route almost entirely in the London Borough of Lewisham, stringing together some genteel residential areas and streets, a large heathland with views, many well-kept parks (some with rivers running through them), a large Victorian cemetery and plenty of hills-with-views to either Crystal Palace and the North Downs, Canary Wharf, the City of London and/or the West End and Nine Elms.
You start with a long loop through the acclaimed Blackheath Cator Estate, a Victorian and Georgian private estate with some impressive large houses and tree-lined wide and quiet streets, but also sprinkled with award-winning modernist houses. From there, traverse the upland heath and descend into Lee, also with streets full of attractive residences, some almshouses, a Manor House with a fine park, and the River Quaggy. On through Hither Green to a hill-park-with-views and down across the Ravensbourne Valley. The Brockley Three Peaks await next, with Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery walked through in-between. The final stretch leads over Telegraph Hill into Hatcham (New Cross) and on to Deptford.
All the route is on hard surfaces and mud-free. Alternative earth or gravel paths are shown on the map where appropriate.
Shorter Walks:
· An Early Shortcut , straight from the station, cuts out the loop through Blackheath Park and across the Heath. It cuts 2.9 km and 20m ascent
· A Late Shortcut through Camberwell New Cemetery (shown on the route map) cuts out One Tree Hill (cut 600m and 50m ascent)
· Many bus stops are passed on the route
· Bailouts at intermittent mainline and overground stations: Hither Green (6.5 km), Ladywell (10.3 km, a little off route), Catford and Catford Bridge (11.8 km, a little off route), Honor Oak Park (13.2 km), Crofton Park (15.2 km), Brockley (18.6 km), Nunhead (19.8 km, a little off route), New Cross Gate (20.9 km)
Food & Drink : Leading through fully gentrified parts of Inner London, a plethora of good refreshment options are passed. See page 2 of the pdf for details.
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.421
Note: Special Thanks to those friends of mine who over the years have introduced me to the areas featured on the route. You know who you are!
  • Thu, 21-Mar-24

    Will be joining.

    Can we not visit my building site at Kidbrooke: 5 Moorhead Way?

    Austen

  • Sat, 23-Mar-24

    12 off the train, with 5 others loitering outside (earlier trains or walk-ins from home), ie 17 at the start. 2 others were bumped into on the descent off the Heath across to Lee, those having started with the early shortcut (1 because of a missed train connection, 1 by choice), so 19 in the end.

    We had 2 precipitation events: a two minute shower, just as we were approaching the Good Hope Cafe (and toilet block) in Ladywell Fields, and one ten minute hail then rain shower, just before we passed the Hill Station Cafe and Bar between Upper and Lower Telegraph Hill Parks. Both establishments were therefore frequented.

    Inbetween we had stopped for lunch in Honor Oak Park, at The Chandos for very good pizze and a very decent beer selection. 11 ate there (I think), 4 or so had sandwiches outside and one of them then walked on with us, the others sped ahead. Some others again walked on anyway. 1 of us then bailed out at Honor Oak Station, some others at subsequent Overground stations. At least 12 walked all the way to Deptford though (10 diners plus 2 of the sandwichers), where 6 ended at The Village Brewery Taproom. All 19 seemingly enjoyed the route, and the very most had not been to any parts of it before.

    Snowdrops, daffodils and celandines were spotted in good numbers.

    And great, clear views were had what with all the clean air and just a few fluffy clouds around. Apart from the short rain/hail events mentioned above, it was mainly sunny

  • Sat, 23-Mar-24

    Correction/Addendum: the snowdrops were three-cornered leeks, I'm told;

    some of the folk swear they saw bluebells, fully out; and we also passed the Home Secretary with his bags of shopping going home to Greenwich from Blackheath, with wife, dogs and security detail...