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Coulsdon — Kenley

Couken five
Verified route

By Jane Taylor on 15 Apr 2025

Distance

4km/3mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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Description

A shorter, more direct, but less woodlandy, 'up and over' option than Couken Four, between Coulsdon and Kenley. It's a revised version of the original Couken One route, with a correction at Hartley Hill, and going down Park Road (pavement) to Kenley station, rather than Hayes Lane (no pavement).
Mostly quiet pleasant residential roads, with one steep flight of steps, and a short woodland section

A shorter, more direct, but less woodlandy, 'up and over' option than Couken Four, between Coulsdon and Kenley. It's a revised version of the original Couken One route, with a correction at Hartley Hill, and going down Park Road (pavement) to Kenley station, rather than Hayes Lane (no pavement).
Mostly quiet pleasant residential roads, with one steep flight of steps, and a short woodland section

Status

This route has been reviewed by 3 people.

There are no issues flagged.

Photos for Couken five

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.

Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 3

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (3)

There are currently no problems reported with this route.

Downloads - 3

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 3X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.		 Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Maybe present Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Maybe present Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Present at time of survey Train station (1)
Not present at time of survey Bench (1)
Not present at time of survey Picnic table (1)
Present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Not present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Maybe present Very muddy (1)
Very icy (0)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Not present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Not present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Not present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Not present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Not present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Not present at time of survey Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Not present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 60.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 25.0% (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 25.0% (1)

The steepest camber gradient across the path 5.0% (1)

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

There is no data on how much of this route is on roads

There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night

Thereis no data on amount of route paved

There is no data on muddiness

There is no data on rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

3X May 2026 by Strider
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Coulsdon
Grid Ref TQ3007559741
Lat / Lon 51.32191° / -0.13467°
Easting / Northing 530,075E / 159,741N
What3Words sorry.detect.after
Kenley
Grid Ref TQ3241160111
Lat / Lon 51.32470° / -0.10103°
Easting / Northing 532,411E / 160,111N
What3Words caked.vines.raves

Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.

reviews

Strider

04 May 2026 Spring
Report

I walked from Coulsdon to Kenley on a muggy day.
Good route for aspiring fell runners. Some 25% gradients, many gradients of 15%+, many stairs. You're either walking uphill or downhill.
But a short sweet route with some lovely woods in the middle. Views across the valleys.
Enjoyed this one. Not for wheels.

JohnMyerson

03 Dec 2025 Autumn
Report

Plenty of ups and downs on this route and two lots of steps. One small area of woodland. But a good route between Coulsdon and Kenley. One surprise was being able to see Crystal Palace TV aerial and The Shard behind in the distance (photo #7)! Trains at each end every 30 mins. Free toilets in Brighton Road, Coulsdon outside ALDI. Several other food shops there too.

Jane Taylor

15 Apr 2025 Spring
Report

Walked Coulsdon to Kenley, early Spring, sunny.

I think this route works pretty well. It’s more direct than Couken Four, and a good choice if you just want to get between these places, maybe as part of a longer day out.

There are some ups and downs, steps (photo) and a short woodland section. Roads are mostly quiet, with pavements. Firs Road at the top of the hill doesn’t have pavements, but is access only and almost no traffic.
The residential streets are all leafy green, and in early Spring the front gardens displayed primroses aplenty.
Coulsdon has plenty of shops and cafes, Kenley not so well provided, but there is a small shop by the main road.
Half hourly rail service to London, and buses, from both places.

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Overall ratings

3 reviews

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Ascent

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Descent

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Distance

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Descent

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