Description
This route is not a tweak or improvement of Eltwoo One, which is a nice route, but I know the area pretty well and this way also has lovely wild sections, wonderful views, and both have a nice "cafe in the park" mid-route. The big difference is Eltwoo Two is very direct, and only just over half the distance. Maybe it could be combined with an adjoining route?
Turning right out of Eltham Station under the bridge there is a small parade of shops, including a small supermarket, bar and cafe, plus a pub within the park across the road. The route goes gently uphill to the NW along quiet and quite pretty residential roads. After crossing Rochester Way the route continues to get steeper especially once you turn up a footpath into Castlewood. Walk up the hill, beside a meadow then around a small formal garden. Next is a steep(er) climb up (many) steps to some benches where, if you haven't already, you can catch your breath and turn around to see the fabulous views. Carry on up the path to Severndroog Castle, not really a castle but a tall Gothic tower. There is a tearoom at the bottom and, if you are up for more steps, 360 views from the top. Past the tower the route heads down through more meadows and more ancient woodland. Cross Shooters Hill Road at a junction and soon there is a footpath into Woolwich Common, a mosaic of meadow, scrub and woodland with more views but to the north. This path roughly follows the road but it is well out of sight behind trees and feels remote. After leaving at the south east corner of the Common this route follows a quiet one way road down into busy Woolwich town centre.
Other people's photos (full credit on linked pages)
Some of the steps up to Severndroog: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3965911
Severndroog Castle: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5349901
A view north from Woolwich Common: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4215103
This route is not a tweak or improvement of Eltwoo One, which is a nice route, but I know the area pretty well and this way also has lovely wild sections, wonderful views, and both have a nice "cafe in the park" mid-route. The big difference is Eltwoo Two is very direct, and only just over half the distance. Maybe it could be combined with an adjoining route?
Turning right out of Eltham Station under the bridge there is a small parade of shops, including a small supermarket, bar and cafe, plus a pub within the park across the road. The route goes gently uphill to the NW along quiet and quite pretty residential roads. After crossing Rochester Way the route continues to get steeper especially once you turn up a footpath into Castlewood. Walk up the hill, beside a meadow then around a small formal garden. Next is a steep(er) climb up (many) steps to some benches where, if you haven't already, you can catch your breath and turn around to see the fabulous views. Carry on up the path to Severndroog Castle, not really a castle but a tall Gothic tower. There is a tearoom at the bottom and, if you are up for more steps, 360 views from the top. Past the tower the route heads down through more meadows and more ancient woodland. Cross Shooters Hill Road at a junction and soon there is a footpath into Woolwich Common, a mosaic of meadow, scrub and woodland with more views but to the north. This path roughly follows the road but it is well out of sight behind trees and feels remote. After leaving at the south east corner of the Common this route follows a quiet one way road down into busy Woolwich town centre.
Other people's photos (full credit on linked pages)
Some of the steps up to Severndroog: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3965911
Severndroog Castle: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5349901
A view north from Woolwich Common: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4215103
Status
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Photos for Eltwoo two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 0
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Eltham
Grid Ref
TQ4271174900
Lat / Lon
51.45510° / 0.05263°
Easting / Northing
542,711E / 174,900N
What3Words
grows.chef.survey
Woolwich
Grid Ref
TQ4372878823
Lat / Lon
51.49009° / 0.06885°
Easting / Northing
543,728E / 178,823N
What3Words
legend.tester.drives
| Eltham | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ4271174900 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.45510° / 0.05263° |
| Easting / Northing | 542,711E / 174,900N |
| What3Words | grows.chef.survey |
| Woolwich | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ4372878823 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.49009° / 0.06885° |
| Easting / Northing | 543,728E / 178,823N |
| What3Words | legend.tester.drives |
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review
Daisy C
08 Sep 2022 (edited 28 Jun 2023)Enjoyable walk through pleasant back streets and "wild" green spaces.
Good views and a mid-route tearoom at Severndroog Castle (not so much a castle, more a single turret). This route is almost as direct as walking beside the most direct and busy road route. Woolwich Common is a rare, large, unmanaged and unwooded wild place in London. It's often, cough, overlooked in favour of the more famous woodlands of Oxleas on Shooters Hill. When your digital map is zoomed out, that part does seems right next to the road but it's set back and sheltered by a wide band of scrubby woodland, you might forget it's there.
All the green spaces are unlit at night, but not locked;
There are several long steep parts, it's unavoidable here as there's no gentle way down to Woolwich, lean into it, climb the hill and enjoy the fabulous views.
If the long steep steps just south of the castle are just too much there is a gentler way around the west side of the hill.
Some gravel and earthy surfaces and gentler earth/plank steps down the other side of the woods.
The path onto Woolwich Common, from the south, is often wet due to a nearby spring, there is concrete beneath, you won't sink, but white shoes or sandals are not advised.
ETA a photo of Severndroog Castle.
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