Lovely walk some steep hills in, and out, of valleys....

Strider

At Shirley Church Road we head right along the pavement, then follow the busy Shirley Road northwards, eventually turning right onto Glenthorne Avenue, which leads to a surfaced path into Ashburton Playing Fields, which we soon leave to head along the left edge of the park. A well trodden path takes us through a small wood, and the rest of the walk into Elmers End is a simple pavement walk....

Hugh Hudson

Had to clamber over a few fallen trees and the paths in the woods were quite boggy, but not impassably so....

David Sanderson

Also it's along tarmac paths the whole way, which might be a plus, but Spout Hill is pretty steep, about 14 degrees using a mapping app. The route is quite roughly drawn but if it was more accurate it could be marginally more pleasant: it could flag up that there is an option between ///piano.buzz.alive and ///unfair.tummy.gifts to use a non tarmac path (for 600m) beside Kennel Woods that is sometimes shielded behind trees, instead of staying on the pavement opposite. There is a different path in Kennel Woods that dips further inside (but not as far as the London Loop) would add <10m and provide this route with a short but genuinely off-road section. If you use either Kennel Woods path use the width restriction at ///piano.buzz.alive as your road crossing, there's a tight bend....

Daisy C

The gradient coming down to the A2022 at Kent Gate was extremely steep, albeit short, but a walking pole would be handy for this section. I wasn’t sure why the road crossing at Kent Gate is plotted with a walk up and down the road; but I took it to mean take care and get the best visibility possible before crossing!...

Jane Taylor

Unfortunately, the route wasn't passable at the north end of the field, with too many brambles (photo #2). After a short section along a road (Clacket Lane, safe), the route then meanders alongside woods (photo #4), across a field, another short section along a lane (photo #5), and then through a wood up to The Avenue (also safe). After a short section along Lusted Hall Lane, the route continues along the sides of a field with some great views; and also a section with cows. At the north side, after leaving Beddlestead Lane/House (photo #10), the route goes down a steep slope, and then up again, before doing a strange twist through a field that was waist height with grass and stingy things; the path on the last section closest to Chelsham Court Road was not even visible (photo #11). After crossing it, there was a final steep ascent (photo #12) up the Hutchinsons Bank, where a fairly narrow path (photo #13) then brings you to the finish with some great views (photo #14)....

Derick Rethans

This is a very pleasant walk in an area straddling countryside and urban London. The Croydon end is residential but the route is largely off road and many of the footpaths are much greener and more open than you might guess from a map, e.g. in the Forestdale/Selsdon area.The previous two reviews have plenty of details and better photos than mine. These are a few things they didn't mention, perhaps because they both walked in the opposite direction than I did.. 4) At Heathfield House/gardens the car park onto Riesco Drive is locked half an hour before sunset with no alternative pedestrian exit that side. But the Coombe Lane entrance has no gate to lock so you shouldn't actually be trapped. 7) If you don't need the shop or chippy in Forestdale that bit of route is fiddly, just stay in the alley linking Selsdon Park Road straight to Pixton Way....

Daisy C

From New Addington's tram stop, you quickly end up going down the very steep Hutchingson's Bank (photo #1) to end up next to Featherbed Lane, which has a lovely (metalled) footpath alongside it (photo #2). You then continue following the LOOP across Coombe Lane's tram stop (photo #6), and through woods (photo #7) you end up in Lloyd Park (photo #8)....

Derick Rethans

The next crossing across Shire Lane was a little easier, and there was a footpath to the North of it, so no road walking was needed, except for a few meters west of New Road Hill along Downe Road. From here it was a slog up a newly ploughed field up the hill towards Biggin Hill airport, where a jet just took off. Instead, I walked first along the edge of the airport, before going around the edge of the field back to the gate where the path ended up. Although there is a road here, there is also a permissive path along the edge of the field first, and then in between the field and the road on the other side of the hedge (photo #11)....

Derick Rethans

I started this route at Addington Village Tramstop....

JohnMyerson

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

Uses paths and cycle paths mostly, except one section in the middle running alongside some woods....

Steve Mmm

It leaves New Addington very quickly and pretty quickly at Westerham, the other roads were all very quiet when tested. It crosses the North Downs so inevitably it is steep in a few places but the long pull up the edge of the North Downs was far gentler than any other similar Slow Way I have tested. The climb up through Hutchinson's Bank nature reserve on the edge of New Addington is also much gentler than the path used in NewWes 1 (also in SelNew 1)....

Daisy C

Only 3 stars because although the countryside was lovely and there was a lot to enjoy in the first half, the second half had unsafe road walking amongst other problems. I started from Westerham and it was a good route all the way up to Chelsham Court Rd which is where the route earns its flag. If you cross to see the oncoming traffic there's not even a hedge to push/lean into, only the space between the white line and a fence. It took a long time for a relatively short distance as I had to stop and press into the hedge so often, the traffic often didn't slow or sometimes wouldn't move even slightly even when there was enough space in oncoming traffic. The level of traffic on that road wasn't any better on the second visit either (testing for NewWes 2), a constant hum from across the fields. More road walking on Fairchildes Rd - better verges but also quite a lot of traffic. The relevant bit of Park Rd is now closed to motor traffic and then there's a very good footpath to take instead of Skid Hill Lane, coming out by the secondary school. There's more non-pavement road walking on Featherbed Lane near New Addington, the verges look pretty poor on Google Street View...

Daisy C

The advantage of starting at New Addington is that the route begins by going downhill through a nature reserve. The house isn’t open to the public and there’s no cafe, but its a good place to picnic. Next up is a tram stop at Coombe Lane and then the route plunges into the woods at Addington Hills. This is the trickiest area underfoot I would say - the tram runs quite close by on a fairly flat gradient, while the path in the woods has some steep and rooty ups and downs. There’s a cafe and its a lovely place to picnic. There are some steps and steep paths, a number of refreshment stops, and also picnic spots; very good public transport at each end, with a drop out point at Coombe Lane....

Jane Taylor

Good route, direct, well plotted, almost entirely off road....

Jane Taylor

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

Michael Stone

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 along some streets (photo #1) and roads (photo #2) in Warlingham, the route almost exclusively goes through woodlands (photo #3, #4, #5, #6), first up towards Farleigh with its church (photo #7), and then continuing through a golf course (which you can hardly see) (photo #8, #9, #10)....

Derick Rethans

The mapped line of this route fits the OS maps line, but the actual path line is a bit different, notably the permissive path on Shire Lane, field boundaries in the valley between Layhams Lane and New Addington and in the woodland near Vulcans Way (see John M's helpful map). There is a permissive path (stiled, fenced and marked with Yellow Arrow local route signs) just north of the hedge. Farnborough and Leaves Green both have very attractive village greens, with nearby pubs. Down the hill just after this, the actual route goes north of the hedge line then around a field edge, although OS map paths and this route goes, impassably, south of that then through the woods. Third was just before the Vulcan Way Estate (John M's map of the actual path line was helpful) where the path goes through some woods with some flytipping but the locals have used a gap in the hedge by the industrial estate then walked along the field edge. See Bromley Council Circular Routes for Farnborough and Leaves Green, Bromley CAMRA routes 7 & 8 plus the London Loop....

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

Fairly easy to navigate too, the only bit that could have been tricky was Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve, which has many branching paths, but actually this route is ok, especially as you can just follows the London Loop and Vanguard Way signs through those woods (also on footpaths through Selsdon). Access wise the worst bits was probably the very steep tarmac path down Hutchinson Bank; the restrictions across the path might catch you if you tumble, but are probably just to stop dirtbikes....

Daisy C

Turn left next to a culvert from the field path then go along the back of the factory and turn right up Vulcan Way to the pedestrian crossing on King Henry's Drive (see photo)....

JohnMyerson

Follow LOOP signs to Swallowdale then turn left, right and left to Sundale Avenue which leads to the Old Farleigh Road near Sainsbury's (toilets)....

JohnMyerson

Lovely route with a very long woodland section. The southern section all the way from Addington Vale (photo 1) to Shirley Church Road is through a long chain of contiguous woodlands with a few meadow and even heathland sections (photos 2 - 7). I considered deducting a star but the route is otherwise as good as it can be and makes very good use of some lovely green spaces. The route joins the London Loop at the top of that hill. You could find a shorter way through to Shirley Church Rd but on sometimes woodland paths are disorienting and I appreciated the good signage of the London Loop (with thanks to the Inner London Ramblers)....

Daisy C

I was pleasantly surprised by this walk, which we completed Orpington to New Addington, September....

rambler

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

Richard Walking

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

The majority of the route takes place on the uplands or the North Downs, with a brief dip into a valley at the end just before arriving in New Addington. The first part of the route zigzags through residential paved roads and a small track between riding stables, before peeling off onto the Green Lane track for approx 800m, a quiet, straight path backing onto gardens but with plenty of hedgerows and a commanding view of the grazing land in between Warlingham and Chelsham. Much of the route through the golf course is either lined with fences or small trees and thick hedgerows, providing a safe haven for wildlife and a shield from flying golf balls! Glimpse across the golf course will reveal the valley below and the apartment blocks on the other side, which indicates the remainder of the route towards New Addington After about 150m horizontal (40-45m vertical), before weaving through residential streets and an estate towards New Addington Tram Station, the end of the route, with public transport access to West Croydon...

Smatticus1991

Starting off at the tram station, which is easily identifiable and provides good public transport links to West Croydon, the route weaves through a residential estate before descending down a steep concrete track with steel barrier chicanes. At certain points, large burrows have been dug out along the path (fox or badger, possibly), which could present problems for disabled users. The entrance is just next to a cul-de-sac residential estate, but the path leads uphill through coppiced woodland. It ultimately leads to a long, straight residential road which runs parallel to Selsdon high street, before stopping/starting here It follows a direct route which leads through pretty woodland, with few prohibitive barriers (gates, stiles etc) for disabled users and relatively unchallenging terrain, save for a short, steep hill near New Addington Main criticisms are that some of the urban areas may intimidate users around the waypoints of Selsdon and New Addington, and some stretches of footpath may prove tricky for disabled users due to uneven surface (erosion, animal burrows)...

Smatticus1991

The majority of the route takes place on the uplands or the North Downs, with a brief dip into a valley at the end just before arriving in New Addington! The first part of the route zigzags through residential paved roads and a small track between riding stables, before peeling off onto the Green Lane track for approx 800m, a quiet, straight path backing onto gardens but with plenty of hedgerows and a commanding view of the grazing land in between Warlingham and Chelsham. Much of the route through the golf course is either lined with fences or small trees and thick hedgerows, providing a safe haven for wildlife and a shield from flying golf balls. Glimpse across the golf course will reveal the valley below and the apartment blocks on the other side, which indicates the remainder of the route towards New Addington!...

Smatticus1991