Lloyd Park to Coombe Lane Walk
The Shirley Hills, taking in Addington Hill, Croham Hurst and Coombe Wood.
| Length | 13km (8m) |
|---|---|
| Toughness | 4 / 10 |
| Maps | OS Explorer No. 161. London South. |
| Features |
This GPS/map-led walk explores parts of the Shirley Hills and is mainly through parks, heathland and quiet woodlands, where deer are sometimes seen. It climbs up and across Lloyd Park then explores the woodland and heathland of Addington Hill. Designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, this extensive area of heathland on a plateau of Blackheath pebbles has a viewpoint across to North London and a Chinese restaurant nestled at the top. (The route passes this restaurant early but you could use a map to skirt back here for a meal towards the end of the walk). After Addington Hill, the route leads you to Heathfield House gardens, Bramley Bank Nature Reserve (home to stag beetles, woodpeckers and herons amongst others). The walk then visits Littleheath Woods. and the ancient woodland of Croham Hurst and Breakneck Hill , a Site of Special Scientific Interest with a Bronze Age Barrow and a view to the south of the borough from the top. From there, the walk takes you to Coombe Wood, where there are ornamental gardens, woodland and a cafe, before a final stretch along Addington Hill to Coombe Lane. Thanks to Jane, Sean and Robin for accompanying me on the initial walks checks and providing feedback. |
| Walk Options |
The route crosses the A212 and tram line. There are TFL bus and trams services nearby. You could shorten the route by omiting some of the loops (eg Croham Hurst, Heathfield, Coombe Wood). |
| Travel |
Take a TFL bus or London Tram to Lloyd Park. Trams run directly to Lloyd Park from West or East Croydon (New Addington service) and from New Addington, Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and Wimbledon. Tram services are run by Transport for London and within London Travelcard Zones 1-6 and fares are the same as TFL bus fares. |
| Lunch, Tea etc... |
Lloyd Park Cafe in Lloyd Park. 020 8633 1633 The Royal Garden Chinese restaurant on the top of Addington Hill. Shirley Hills Road, Croydon CR0 5HQ 020 8654 0170. The Coach House Cafe in Coombe Wood. 020 8686 8914 |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Help Us! |
After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks! You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are: |
| By Car |
Start Map Directions Finish Map Directions |
| Amazon | |
| Help |
National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234 |
| Version |
Dec-24 Margaret |
| Copyright | © Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. No derivatives. Free with attribution for one time non-commercial use only. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml |
Walk Directions
- Stepping off the Addington-bound tram at Lloyd Park, turn right along the platform and shortly left into Lloyd Park. Continue in the same direction, passing the cafe on your right, straight ahead towards a line of trees slightly uphill in the distance.
- After about 200 metres,, when you see a bin and a Lloyd Park sign just ahead, continue ahead, initially on a tarmac path then curve left past a wooden post on your left with yellow, green and red arrows. Stay on this path as it curves right. At the next wooden post (yellow, green and red arrows) the path goes initially straight on then curves right to go through a gap between trees into a small woodeed area. Exiting the wooded area, turn left with a wooden post (yellow, green, red arrows) on your right. Stay on this path as it enters the woods and makes its way gently downhill.
- At the bottom, go past a wooden post (yellow, green, red arrows) on your left, ignore the white barrier ahead and veer left to leave Lloyd Park and join a tarmac lane.
- Turn right on the lane. At the end of this lane, cross the road and enter Addington Hill. Ignore a path immediately sharp left and go ahead. After a few metres, where the path forks left and right, take the left fork gently uphill ignoring ways off. You reach a T-junction with a wide path and a wooden post (green, red arrows) in front of you. Turn left along this wide path. At the next wide path (T-junction), turn right. Pass a London Loop signpost on your right. Ignore a path leading to steps and turn left at a wooden post (green, red arrows).
- Carry on, ignoring a path to your right, and go straight ahead down a slope (initially trees roots, then pebbly), cross a wide path and go straight on up the slope on the other side. At the top, turn right at the T-junction emerging after a few metres onto the top of the ridge.
- Continue ahead on the pebbly path with open heathland to your right. At the end of the path you reach an open area, turn right at the T-junction passing a bench and a bin on your left. Continue straight on passing a wooden post (green, red arrows) on your right.
- You reach a cross paths, with The Royal Garden restaurant to your left. Turn sharp right along a wide path reaching the view point.
- Leaving the viewpoint, with the view point behind you and facing the path you arrived on, turn right down steps then left down more steps. At the bottom. go straight across and up the other side. Turn left at the top and stay on this main path, ignoring ways off. When the path eventually forks ahead, take the right fork. At a wooden post (red, green arrows) follow the red arrow to reach the tram crossing. Do not cross the tram line, instead turn left at the crossing to continue parallel to the tramway and along Sunken Road. At the end of Sunken Road, turn sharp right on a hairpin bend onto a path into woodland (with the bus stop is behind you). When you reach a tram crossing, cross it and then cross the road at the traffic lights. Turn right and then, after a few steps, go left to enter the grounds of Heathfield.
- You pass the gatehouse on your left and take the path diagonally left through trees. Continue straight ahead, following London Loop signs on your right and ignoring ways off. When you reach the pond, turn left with Heathfield House on your left and open views ahead. Follow the path left around Heathfield House and straight ahead through the formal garden (yew hedges on your right). The path goes up a some steps, Ignore the first right leading to a small bridge and continue up the steps to cross a small stream via stepping stones. The path curves to the right then down to the other side of the garden where it turns right again, leading you past the old rose garden and the entrance to the garden of Croydon Ecology Centre, which makes a nice picnic spot.
- Leaving the Ecoloyy Centre garden, turn left. When you reach the pond, turn left (ignore steps to the right). Where the path veers right, go left slightly down hill with views of fields on your left to exit onto Riesco Drive. Almost directly opposite, you'll see the entrance to Bramley Bank Nature Reserve.
- Go into Bramley Bank, keeping left after a few metres when the path forks, and stay on this main path. The path exits onto a small green area, where you go directly ahead in the same direction (making your way around metal railings and across a small tarmac path) to enter Littleheath.
- Continue ahead then take the first turning on the left which, after a few metres, brings you out into an open space. Take the middle of 3 paths, through the centre of this open space. After about 150-200 metres, ignore paths to the right and follow the path as it veers to the left. The path leads you out of Littleheath, eventually turning right to arrive at Croham Valley Road.
- Cross Croham Valley Road and continue your previous direction along Crest Road. At the end of Crest Road, veer right along Ballards Way for a few metres then take the first turning on your left onto Ballards Farm Road. Continue along this quiet lane until you reach a fork. If you want to take a shortcut, missing out Croham Hurst, take the right fork and after a few metres turn right and continue along this path to pick up the directions at Point 18* below.
- To continue to Croham Hurst and Breakneck Hill, take the left fork downhill, cross Croham Valley Road and continue in the same direction, following the Public Footpath sign to Croham Hurst on the other side of the road. After about 10 metres, you enter the woodland by a small path ahead, slightly to your right.
- After about 30 metres, you come to open woodland and crosspaths. Turn right. After about 15 metres, turn left to climb uphill. At the top, you reach a main path, where you turn left. Continue along this path, passing the ancient Bronze Age Barrow in your left. Fine views open out on your right hand side and there are a few picnic benches dotted about. continue your direction along this path, following it back into woodland and eventually turning left downhill, then left again to complete the loop, returning you to the point where you came in.
- Turn right to retrace your steps back out of Croham Hurst and re-cross Croham Valley Road. Follow the footpath sign on the other side to contuinue along a small path. Ignore a turning to your right and continue in the same direction.
- * Eventually, the path becomes a tarmac road and just before you reach the main road, turn right into Coombe Park. The Coach House Cafe is inside the park, a few metres to the left.
- You may want to wander around and explore the gardens and woodland in Coombe Park.
- Exiting Coombe Park, turn right and then right onto Coombe Road to cross to the other side at the traffic island. Go ahead into a small car park and turn right to follow the path ahead. Cross the Tram line to reach the bottom of Addington Hill and turn right. Follow this path, ignoring ways off and with the Tram line to your right, to reach Coombe Lane Tram Stop.