Starting from Chislehurst, the first part of this route is not very enjoyable as Bromley Road is an extremely busy A road. From there it is not far to Bromley North station where you have to cross the very busy Tweedy Road, which has pedestrian controlled lights, then East Street and the High Street down to Bromley South station....

Sarah Crofts

Lots of stairs over rail lines, 40cm narrow in places, more cycle barriers than you can shake a spanner at, not for wheels....

Strider

I crossed Beckenham Lane with a zebra crossing just a little up the road from where the route goes....

Derick Rethans

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)....

Derick Rethans

Plenty of shops in Bromley High Street....

JohnMyerson

From Bromley High Street I accessed the route through Church House Gardens next to the Churchill Theatre....

JohnMyerson

Four 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....

JohnMyerson

Quiet, some off-road, and direct while avoiding the busy road which connects the end point....

Daisy C

After the second field it's possible to go straight on through the wood to meet the path in Birch Wood coming from Addington Road (see map #1) to save a little distance and road walking. In Beech Wood to turn towards the fields and miss out the road walk for West Wickham church, look out for the intertwined tree trunks (see my map and photo #8)....

JohnMyerson

Good route, direct, mostly off road, makes use of the Green Chain network which runs through south-east London....

Jane Taylor

I enjoyed this route especially the woodlands and amazing London views. All the road crossings were safe enough. Paths in Elmstead Woods are not that clear but I didn't get lost!...

JohnMyerson

I walked this route from Orpington to Bromley on a very windy autumn day started at around 10 am. The route can be roughly cut into 3 sections, Orpington to Crofton, Crofton to Southborough, and Southborough to Bromley. From Orpington to Crofton, it is mostly on the road and back alleyway through quite residential areas. From Crofton to Southborough, we enter the wilderness. The first turn on this route after entering Crofton Wood from the Crofton Lane direction is not very clear on the real path. Beyond Crofton Wood, you would find Bromley Golf Centre and Parkfield Recreation Ground. The last part of the journey, from Southborough to Bromley is very much like the mirror image of the first section....

Xiao Shan

A stop in Hayes at a lovely micropub, https://whatpub.com/pubs/BRO/15134/real-ale-way-hayes , was very enjoyable....

Michael Stone

Follow the orange Capital Ring signs through the Park, this adds about 500m to the walk....

Strider

From Hayes High Street quiet suburban roads with green patches all the way to Bromley High Street. Okay for wheels from Hayes to Bromley but not from Hayes to New Addington....

Strider

There is a 25 meter stretch of annoying road walking (photo #3), but you soon get to go through fields towards Wickham Court School (photo #4, #5) and across Coney Hall Recreation Ground to Coney Hall (photo #6)....

Derick Rethans

After going underneath the railways (photo #4), the rest of the route is along mostly quiet residential roads (photo #5, #7, #8, #9, #10), including a bridge over the same railway again (photo #6)....

Derick Rethans

Particularly quiet streets from Bromley to Chislehurst Station and then through the Hawkwood Estate and after a few houses through the meadow and woodlands of the southern part of Chislehurst. Only busy roads are Bickley Rd and Page Heath Lane. If in doubt use the decent crossings for both at their junction....

Daisy C

Plenty of other green and even rural feeling sections, plus quiet residential roads Loses a star for the line being messed up twice, briefly just north of Orpington Station but also the km leading to Bromley South Station. GPS signal didn't work under the leafy canopy of Crofton Woods and OS maps don't show all the paths or which bits are now woodland. Bromley South Station is the other end of the carpark. But if trying to use the actual route coming from Bromley, you would probably go up a set of steps behind the other side of the station, and end up on the A21 anyway, except the crossing would be further away, perhaps hidden by the rise and bend of the road....

Daisy C

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. 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....

Daisy C

I really liked Martins Hill, a small semi-wild space at the top of the hill near Bromley High Street, contiguous with Queensmead Rec. The flatter alternative mentioned by Marmot is pretty much the Bromley end of ElmBro 2, out of Queensmead Rec into Glassmill Lane and immediately into Glassmill Pond - a linear park beside the Ravensbourne. Ravensbourne Rd is flat and comes out just at the station so it avoids Bromley High St!...

Daisy C

I made this route and after reading the other reviews I'm going to add that I also lost GPS, or perhaps internet signal, briefly in the New Addington woods but it didn't actually matter. The woods are basically linear so you if you go off route but keep basically heading north you will end up at Kent Gateway (or Johns shortcut) anyway. 9, 10 turning places for John M's Kent Gateway shortcut (see route description)...

Daisy C

Also, if coming from Bromley, when you get to the junction of Shortland Road and Hayes Lane, go through the modal filter onto Whitecroft Way and then go along Hayes Way....

Jack Cornish

There are a free steps along the route which would make this not the most accessible route (such as at the very beginning near Orpington Station) but these could be avoided with some small road diversions....

Jack Cornish

I know the route from Elmstead (before Mottingham) to Eltham really well so I'm' happy to write up my review. In short, it's a nice route, quiet, lots of green spaces, somewhere to stop for a break, even catch a bit of heritage at Eltham Palace. The only drawback was crossing the busy-ish road at Plaistow Lane (nr Sundridge Park station), no visible crossing point or lights. Bromley North station is on the route, Sundridge Pk is a little further off, and Elmstead Woods a little further still (but Green Chain signposted)....

Daisy C

Even got 'busy' at the Hawkwood section walking on path next to a field, twice I had to step into small clearing to allow walkers approaching from the other direction to pass on the narrow path. This section shares one of the Bromley circular routes, signs are displayed frequently along that part of the route....

NickD

Near the end, recommend crossing the busy Bromley Road, at the top of Camden Park Road, as the pavement from there to the end of the walk, is only on the one side of the road....

NickD

The start avoids the hustle of Bromley High Street and I believe the end is a far nicer walk and view - but try them both and compare for yourself....

NickD

Near route end, the walkway to side of Orpington Station, does end in steep set of stairs, that some may find difficult?...

NickD

Completed Bromley to Catford, will do the reverse hopefully soon....

NickD

A lot of walking along pavements of relatively quiet roads. Pleasant walks through parks and woods....

Richard Walking

Boring first mile from Bromley South along pavement of very busy A21....

Richard Walking

There's even a section of park near Bromley....

Marmot

For an urban route there is a lot of off road, though unfortunately some busy roads encountered without regulated pedestrian crossings...

S J Blann

This section takes you from the station along Bromley Common Rd which is quite busy but fortunately lasts for only about a mile. We would suggest you take the entrance where the explanation sign board is, and turn right heading South East across the glade in the middle of the woods. You will then come out into Rookery Lane just South of Bromley College. When you come out to the road head East and then South East along the track with the woods on your left and paddocks with horses in them (probably) on your right. After just over a mile, you will have to enter the wood then turn sharp right heading South- South-East through Barnet Wood. It is quite easy to take the wrong track here so when you are at the South East tip of the clearing which will be to your right, make sure you head South West and you will come out on the road, with Keston common just over the road on your left. Having crossed the road walk up Commonside, being very careful about the traffic coming down onto the A 232 which you will have just crossed. At the bottom of Fox Lane, turn left into Jackass Lane and take an immediate right along a footpath which will take you to Nash. Turn left and walk down Nash Lane until you come to T junction with the Police Dog Training Centre directly ahead of you....

Randonneur

We walked this route in the opposite direction suggested, so of course if you're coming from Catford station just follow the description the other way round. Turn right upon leaving the station and walk up Bromley High Street. At the top of the High Street turn left into Beckenham Lane and walk down the Hill on the right-hand side of this rather busy road. Just after Valley Primary School on your left, look out for Farnaby Road on your right-hand side. The road curves to the left at the junction with Warren Ave and Bromley Ave, so continue along Farnaby Road and cross the culverted river Ravensbourne. Turn right and follow the signs for the station. Cross the road opposite the station and you will find the entrance to Beckenham Place Park. Turn sharp left, cross the road at the pedestrian refuge and turn right into Braeside. Walk down this steep residential road and either turn left into Overbrae, then right at the bottom onto Worsley Bridge Rd or carry on along Braeside (both quite steep) turn left in to Greycot Road and again right onto Worsley Bridge Rd. You can either carry on along Worsley Bridge Rd to the busy road junction at Southend Lane, or when you cross the small river (the Pool) turn right along the footpath and follow the river which will be flowing on your right-hand side. At the bottom of Meadow View Rd turn left onto Worsley Bridge Rd until you reach Southend Lane. on the right-hand side, cross over Southend Lane at the traffic lights, turn right, then straight away left into Moormead Rd. The River Pool can be quite deep in places so just be careful. About halfway down, just beyond the pumping station you will see a picnic table on your left. If you are walking on the riverbank rather than the cycle track you will eventually have to come up onto the track itself just before the bridge at the confluence between the Pool and the Ravensbourne When you come out to the passageway, you have Catford Bridge station on your right and Catford station on your left...

Randonneur