Abbbex two

Verified Slow Way

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This route includes a simplified way through Lesnes Abbey Woods with views towards East London, a reclaimed meadow at Clam Field Rec at the top of the escarpment, and a uncomplicated way through the quiet of Bexleyheath Cemetery. The long section on quiet, if rather samey, residential roads is broken up by Bexleyheath station (quite distant from Bexleyheath town centre) plus a good number of associated eateries and shops. I tested several paths up through beautiful, peaceful but steep and labyrinthine Lesnes Abbey Woods. This way has slightly gentler inclines and is pretty easy to follow. AbbBex 2 is only 150m longer than the true length of AbbBex 1, has fewer decision points, and the line through the green spaces matches paths on the ground.

If you don't want to use the small high street at Abbey Wood, it is much more straightforward to cross at the lights immediately outside the station, turn right and down the flyover for about 200m. This brings you directly to the Knee Hill entrance into Lesnes Abbey Woods.

Surrounding Lesnes Abbey Wood there are, unfortunately, motorbike restrictors (with kissing gate) as they have had significant problems in the last few years. The woods lie on the slope of tall steep hills and even the route I chose has two sharp, short inclines which are near the point where you cross into the woodland from the viewpoint on the meadow edge. There will be good bluebell displays and, possibly off route, carpets of native daffodils and white wood anemones. You'll get the best display of these to the south and east of the lodge the other side of New Road, where there is also a small kiosk for paninis and coffee.

Bexleyheath Cemetery closes pretty early. A helpful man explained he locks the Upland Rd gate at 3pm and the other two gates at 4 GMT or 6 BST. The alternative is simply Church Rd and Broadway

This route includes a simplified way through Lesnes Abbey Woods with views towards East London, a reclaimed meadow at Clam Field Rec at the top of the escarpment, and a uncomplicated way through the quiet of Bexleyheath Cemetery. The long section on quiet, if rather samey, residential roads is broken up by Bexleyheath station (quite distant from Bexleyheath town centre) plus a good number of associated eateries and shops. I tested several paths up through beautiful, peaceful but steep and labyrinthine Lesnes Abbey Woods. This way has slightly gentler inclines and is pretty easy to follow. AbbBex 2 is only 150m longer than the true length of AbbBex 1, has fewer decision points, and the line through the green spaces matches paths on the ground.

If you don't want to use the small high street at Abbey Wood, it is much more straightforward to cross at the lights immediately outside the station, turn right and down the flyover for about 200m. This brings you directly to the Knee Hill entrance into Lesnes Abbey Woods.

Surrounding Lesnes Abbey Wood there are, unfortunately, motorbike restrictors (with kissing gate) as they have had significant problems in the last few years. The woods lie on the slope of tall steep hills and even the route I chose has two sharp, short inclines which are near the point where you cross into the woodland from the viewpoint on the meadow edge. There will be good bluebell displays and, possibly off route, carpets of native daffodils and white wood anemones. You'll get the best display of these to the south and east of the lodge the other side of New Road, where there is also a small kiosk for paninis and coffee.

Bexleyheath Cemetery closes pretty early. A helpful man explained he locks the Upland Rd gate at 3pm and the other two gates at 4 GMT or 6 BST. The alternative is simply Church Rd and Broadway