Crosel one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Really good Slow Way, direct, mostly quiet streets, paths and woodland. A short section of B road at the Selsdon end is why I lopped a star off, but otherwise a full 5 star experience.
No refreshments en route but plenty at either end.
The woods at Croham Hurst were the highlight.
No steps, gates or stiles; the path in the woods was soft and a bit muddy, nothing serious though.

A surprisingly green and quiet urban route, even beyond the 3 officially green spaces. But slightly marred by two uncomfortable road crossings where a couple of traffic islands seem like an obvious local need. If a road has an A or B number recognising higher traffic, don't pedestrians needing to cross it deserve a bit more help? A couple of traffic islands is not a lot to ask.

The beginning of Fairfield Path is only a few hundred metres from East Croydon station, and although it starts as an alleyway there's little of that, it is mostly linked small green spaces in small quiet estates. After skirting Lloyd Park, there were a few quiet streets to Croham Hurst Woods. But Coombe Road /A212 was fairly busy with no crossing point so I went a little further west, for better sightlines, then forgot to walk back to Croham Manor Close. It would have been better going east though to use the traffic lights next to the tram stop. The next road to cross is Croham Lane, again quite busy but with a traffic island, not a numbered road though.

At the woods I took another detour, deliberately this time, up to the top of the steep hill along "Public Footpath 149". I was tempted by the signposted Bronze Age Barrow but in situ found it hard to envisage. I did love the sense of being so high, the small heathland patches and gnarly oak trees literally dripping with interesting lichens, plus two great views over the leafy suburban valleys of South Croydon. I would have designed this route using the simple line of the bridleway too. But now I've been there I would recommend FP 149 if you are up for the climb. It was easy to follow being straight up and then along the top of the ridge and, until the very south east end, is clearly the most well used path. Heading down and keeping left worked out fine there.

I rejoined the bridleway at the golf course, but again I'd like a traffic island where it comes out (beside a bus stop!) and you *must* cross over Upper Selsdon Rd / B275. Happily there is a zebra to cross back later. Traffic was busy but is unavoidable and oddly most of it used the same cut through as the route. But it did slow down. And then you are at Sainsbury's and almost at the meeting point.

I walked from Selsdon to Croydon (after walking from Warlingham to Selsdon). The best part is through Croham Hurst woods although from Lloyd Park (café and toilets) you follow the Fairfield Path along footpaths and quiet roads into East Croydon. There's a large Sainsbury's at Selsdon at the start, with toilets. Bus 64 to/from Croydon.

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