Parametric data
-
Route name:
Sutton station. -
This route on OS maps:
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/14181042 .... -
Distance:
11.3 miles. -
Duration
5.8 hours. -
Topology:
Point to point (southward). -
Ascent:
311 metres. -
Stiles:
4. All on the southern half. -
Landmark of note:
The water tower at Cane Hill. -
Feasible excursion:
There is a reasonable footpath around Castle Road. Next time. Definitely. -
Avoiding roads:
About 300 metres of Castle Road in Coulsdon. The M1 it
is not, but if you are unlucky enough to see oncoming
then your only option is to dive over the hedge.
¼ mile of Harps Oak Lane with its 50 limit. Nasty during peak periods or when nearby routes are snarled up. -
Footpath construction:
First ⅓ 100% tarmac. Mix the remainder.
-
Footpath condition:
Parts ploughed up. A short stretch choked.
-
Refreshments:
White Hart. -
Blackberries:
They were not abundant along Sutton High Street. Try
Scratch Wood.
Route map and notes.
A North Downs walk with some challenging stretches over chalk, this route never strays far from the 'as the crow flies' line but its zig-zags make it about three miles longer than the crowtorway. The first three miles, in fact, are wholly tarmac: either Sutton's retail extravaganza or its leafiest suburbs.
Scratch Wood (west of Lakers Rise) has some fine views to the south. The water tower you can see on the horizon is that at Cane Hill, actually little more than a mile distant. A maternal gt2 grandfather died there in 1903. The drop down to Holly Lane Car Park might be along a slightly different path to that I show.
One day I may reroute the walk through Banstead Woods but, tempus fugit, Chipstead Bottom has an absurdly good perimeter path taking you under the railway line and up Castle Road (which is less good). Mercifully, the left turn for the ascent to lunch and Chipstead High Road is reached soon enough. Clues observable to the right of this trail suggest the land there must once have included ornamental grounds.
Pressing on southward once more you go almost ¼ mile past Hogcross Lane before the footpath leading to Harps Oak Lane. As you approach the last field it is rather easy to continue right, along the farm track, and emerge too soon in the lane. Instead look for the path proper as it enters the trees dead ahead. There's no SP but it is there , trust me. The lane is not at all good if there is traffic but this is normally light. I saw none at all.
The leg down to Church Hill gave a few problems. After the thrashing it had earlier my battery decided to pack up. This became an issue because the fields here were being ploughed. Not a trace was left of the path. No real SP provides guidance as you go into the third field. Spot this opening only with better eyesight than mine. Having eventually located it, the path became sufficiently choked with brambles to slow my progress still further. Oh, well, I've a couple of hours light left today. It's enough.
