Description
ElmBro 1 is a bit uninspired, along fast busy roads. This is quieter and the same distance. It breaks away from ElmBro 1 after nearly a mile and uses quieter roads and three green spaces, the Harvington Estate (aka Harvington Woods or Playing Fields), Queensmead Recreation Ground and Glassmill Ponds.
The entrances and paths through Harvington aren't shown clearly on maps. The western edge is basically unfenced so you just walk across the grass, towards the northern edge and keep roughly beside it through the woods on the most obvious 'straight through' path. The eastern end is a bit weird, easy enough to leave by but from the other way it just looks like a shadowy space behind a tree. If you see some new-ish houses labelled "Hampstead Mews Private" you're in the right place. Next is the "Chinese Garage", formerly a quirky pagoda styled 1950's petrol station but now a Grade II listed Tesco Express. There's a few shops there on Wickham Rd, and the entrance to Kelsey Park is just beyond has public toilets. There are a few short sections along busier roads, but it's basically along quiet, leafy and expensive roads until the railway footbridge, including a short steep bit down Kingswood Road with a view across to the parks and the back of the high street. Over the railway footbridge next - several dozen steps - then along the edge of Queensfield Rec (until you hit the River Beck if you cross the road and walk along the park edge). Then right down Glassmill Lane and into Glassmill Ponds (a ribbon park/path along the River Beck). At the other end of the park this route goes uphill on Ethelbert Rd to Bromley High Street opposite the Glades shopping centre (more public loos) then downhill to the station. But if you go straight on along Ravensbourne Rd you could avoid the busy high street
ElmBro 1 is a bit uninspired, along fast busy roads. This is quieter and the same distance. It breaks away from ElmBro 1 after nearly a mile and uses quieter roads and three green spaces, the Harvington Estate (aka Harvington Woods or Playing Fields), Queensmead Recreation Ground and Glassmill Ponds.
The entrances and paths through Harvington aren't shown clearly on maps. The western edge is basically unfenced so you just walk across the grass, towards the northern edge and keep roughly beside it through the woods on the most obvious 'straight through' path. The eastern end is a bit weird, easy enough to leave by but from the other way it just looks like a shadowy space behind a tree. If you see some new-ish houses labelled "Hampstead Mews Private" you're in the right place. Next is the "Chinese Garage", formerly a quirky pagoda styled 1950's petrol station but now a Grade II listed Tesco Express. There's a few shops there on Wickham Rd, and the entrance to Kelsey Park is just beyond has public toilets. There are a few short sections along busier roads, but it's basically along quiet, leafy and expensive roads until the railway footbridge, including a short steep bit down Kingswood Road with a view across to the parks and the back of the high street. Over the railway footbridge next - several dozen steps - then along the edge of Queensfield Rec (until you hit the River Beck if you cross the road and walk along the park edge). Then right down Glassmill Lane and into Glassmill Ponds (a ribbon park/path along the River Beck). At the other end of the park this route goes uphill on Ethelbert Rd to Bromley High Street opposite the Glades shopping centre (more public loos) then downhill to the station. But if you go straight on along Ravensbourne Rd you could avoid the busy high street
Status
This route has been reviewed by 5 people.
There are no issues flagged.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 5
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (5)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 3
Surveys
What is this route like?
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| Grade 2X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Note | ||
| Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles. 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 | |||
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Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 100.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 12.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 7.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 2.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)
Successfully completed
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Terrain
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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
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There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
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1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Elmers End
Grid Ref
TQ3580068436
Lat / Lon
51.39871° / -0.04925°
Easting / Northing
535,800E / 168,436N
What3Words
haven.ticket.rooms
Bromley
Grid Ref
TQ4041968709
Lat / Lon
51.40004° / 0.01721°
Easting / Northing
540,419E / 168,709N
What3Words
face.newly.stages
| Elmers End | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ3580068436 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.39871° / -0.04925° |
| Easting / Northing | 535,800E / 168,436N |
| What3Words | haven.ticket.rooms |
| Bromley | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ4041968709 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.40004° / 0.01721° |
| Easting / Northing | 540,419E / 168,709N |
| What3Words | face.newly.stages |
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reviews
Jane Taylor
30 Jun 2026Good urban route with a few parks (including benches). Refreshment opportunities along the way if desired, and of course Bromley is a thriving well-provided town centre.
Walked Elmers End to Bromley. Route well plotted.
4 stars as some busy road, but also some *very* nice residential streets.
I especially enjoyed the pagoda garage, a real hidden gem!!.
Strider
24 Apr 2025I walked from Elmers End to Bromley on a warm sunny day.
Not much to add to the description and previous reviews, it's a good walk.
There are some road works on Wickham Way near the Chinese Garage causing a slight diversion, but this is temporary.
Nice walk using green spaces well.
Steps over the railway and grass make it unsuitable for wheels.
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Derick Rethans
17 Mar 2024I walked this on a warm early afternoon, from Elmers End to Bromley. It had rained significantly in the morning.
The first stretch was fairly residential (photo #1), along not-so-busy roads (photo #2). The woods and stream (photo #3, #4, #5) at Harvington Estate were lovely, but the walk along Hayes Way (photo #6), was less so, nor crossing Hayes Lane or Shortland Road (photo #7, #8). On Kingswood Road, the route goes down (photo #9), and you can see Bromley on the hill across the valley. After crossing the railway, you go up slowly but steadily through Queensmead Recreation Ground, leaving it soon enough to continue along some ponds which are being redone (photo #10), and then steeply up the hill to finish at Bromley proper.
A fairly good route, with lots of green, but also fairly residential.
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JohnMyerson
20 Jan 2024Four stars because of the less interesting road walks, but Eden Park, Harvington Woods and Queensmead Recreation Ground are pleasant. I diverted after the larger pond up the steep paths through Church House Gardens to the Churchill Theatre in the High Street. Toilets in the Glades shopping centre are on the first floor above Waterstones.
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Daisy C
09 May 2023 (edited 13 May 2023)I walked this on the same day as ElmBro 1 and it's definitely quieter traffic, with more off-road, and even greener along the roads. Where it doesn't overlap with ElmBro 1 the roads were actually incredibly quiet but perhaps that was a bit exaggerated by the Bank Holiday weekend. The two routes are the same length.
Some busy roads at the Elmers End end. Then a restful break in Harvington Woods along a gently winding path between freshly greened trees, cow parsley and bluebells. Some signs it had been a bit muddy but it was fine for me.
The 'Chinese Garage' was a quirky pagoda styled petrol station and is now a Grade II listed Tesco Express. There's a short row of shops on Wickham Road, and just beyond is the entrance to Kelsey Park where there are public toilets.
There were Coronation picnic parties with bunting and gazebos in Queensmead Rec. Glassmill Pond is almost adjoining. I expected an alley from maps but it's a nice ribbon park along a stream with ducks, small reed beds, and tree-lined grassy paths. Then up a small hill up to Bromley High Street which is a big shopping destination and generally heaving with crowds.
You could jump on a 367, 167 or 352 bus at various points on the route. There's a railway footbridge and steepish bits of road shortly before and after it (nice views though).
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