Description
This route replaced SidSwa 1 as the line appeared to all be shifted in a particular direction, except the ends. Foots Cray Meadows and Joyden's Wood are both lovely and the route onwards to the outskirts of Swanley was pretty good too. But I didn't feel it was safe at the crossing of Bexley Lane, and there are few other problems, including some extremely muddy bridleways that will be difficult or impossible to get through after wetter weather. Photos show the route in a dry time in summer, bridleway still muddy then. Even some water sitting within the muddy sections.
There are now two new SidSwa routes, one similar to this with a safer way through Sidcup to Foots Cray Meadows.
Route and original text uploaded in June 2022
This route replaced SidSwa 1 as the line appeared to all be shifted in a particular direction, except the ends. Foots Cray Meadows and Joyden's Wood are both lovely and the route onwards to the outskirts of Swanley was pretty good too. But I didn't feel it was safe at the crossing of Bexley Lane, and there are few other problems, including some extremely muddy bridleways that will be difficult or impossible to get through after wetter weather. Photos show the route in a dry time in summer, bridleway still muddy then. Even some water sitting within the muddy sections.
There are now two new SidSwa routes, one similar to this with a safer way through Sidcup to Foots Cray Meadows.
Route and original text uploaded in June 2022
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
This route has been flagged (1 times) for reasons relating to safety.
Photos for Sidswa two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Maybe (1)
Problems reported - Safety (1)
Downloads - 3
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Sidcup
Grid Ref
TQ4632872634
Lat / Lon
51.43382° / 0.10372°
Easting / Northing
546,328E / 172,634N
What3Words
forum.head.crash
Swanley
Grid Ref
TQ5099368237
Lat / Lon
51.39309° / 0.16891°
Easting / Northing
550,993E / 168,237N
What3Words
boats.making.loudly
| Sidcup | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ4632872634 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.43382° / 0.10372° |
| Easting / Northing | 546,328E / 172,634N |
| What3Words | forum.head.crash |
| Swanley | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ5099368237 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.39309° / 0.16891° |
| Easting / Northing | 550,993E / 168,237N |
| What3Words | boats.making.loudly |
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review
Daisy C
10 Dec 2022 (edited 16 Dec 2023)This was a mostly enjoyable walk which I tested first on a frosty winter day after many weeks of wet weather and again in June after a prolonged spell of dry weather and starting from Sidcup both times. But...
* Crossing Bexley Lane into Foots Cray Meadows is close to a 90 degree blind bend and traffic comes around it very quickly. The visibility if coming from the Meadows is bad as the hedges hug the roadside. I used it and some locals do, but there's a safer way and I can't recommend it.
* In winter the bridleway sections were often extremely muddy and I almost get through. On a long stretch of Parsonage Lane I frequently had to climb up narrow banks, swing round or under trees, etc. In one shorter part in Joydens Wood I got lucky as after several days of extremely heavy frost the mud was crunchy enough to race across. In summer Joyden's Wood was fine, Parsonage Lane was ok for walkers but a passing horse rider said it never really dries and a cyclist turned back.
* There were a few less serious problems including a blocked footpath in Chalk Wood (which would avoid some muddy bridleway in Joyden's Wood and a secluded dark footpath within Swanley.
I uploaded two alternatives, SidSwa 3 is similar to this but might be a mistake after much wet weather. There is less mud on SidSwa 4 which goes south sooner and into Swanley via Hockendon. It has a muddy bit but should be passable if it's wet. Overall I prefer route 3 though.
Edit - I've walked this twice, obviously. Photos attached here are from the winter test, on the route are from summer.
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Daisy C
01 Jun 2023Retested in May 2023. Traffic was much busier. The crossing point on Bexley Lane went from problematic to very worrying because of the blind bend and sketchy 'pavement'.
A good alternative from the start is along Faraday Avenue instead, take Melville Rd and some smaller streets. Then join Bexley Lane near a zebra crossing and then into F C Meadows from the path beside the school.
Conversely Parsonage Lane and Joyden's Wood bridleways were dry enough for pedestrians to use after a long dry spell although still not entirely. The blocked footpath DB41 is still blocked though.
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