Route Section LOOP Walk

Section 3 (Jubilee Country Park, Bromley to West Wickham Common, Bromley)

Description:

This very pleasant section passes through attractive countryside linking several country parks and commons.

Starting in the Jubilee Country Park, close to Petts Wood station, the first 4km (2.5 miles) are fairly level, alternating between paths through woods and commons and residential roads in Crofton.

This leads to the charming village of Farnborough with its churchyard where Gypsy Lee is buried. After that it is almost non-stop countryside with outstanding views.

High Elms Country Park has magnificent trees, and fascinating remains of the old house, its gardens and outbuildings. The terrain now gets more undulating on footpaths through fields, with some quite steep slopes. In quick succession, the route is either shared with or brushes no fewer than six routes in the Bromley Circular Walks and Trails series (Petts Wood, Farnborough, Cudham, Leaves Green, Nash and Three Commons), so there are plenty of opportunities for making up longer routes and links at will.

At the top of one long climb is a memorial to the abolishment of slavery (because William Wilberforce discussed the subject with Prime Minister George Pitt here). You descend to the section's only water feature, Keston Ponds, passing a spring known as Caesar's Well, a source of the River Ravensbourne. Biggin Hill Airport lies a little to the south, and you are likely to see several movements by the small private aircraft that use it.

The route now becomes fairly level again through Keston village and along the well wooded West Wickham Common to the finishing point on Gates Green Road, where a link leads to Hayes station.

Distance:

8.5 miles ( 13.5 km)

Start:

Petts Wood (Jubilee Country Park, GR 440-680)

Finish:

West Wickham Common (GR 396-654)

Recommended direction:

Northeast to southwest

Terrain and surface:

Mostly level, but with some steps and quite steep slopes. Mostly on rough paths, tracks and grass. Three stiles. 2.7km (1.7 miles) beside roads

Signage:

Signage complete both ways

Refreshments and toilets:

Pubs and cafés at Petts Wood, Farnborough and Hayes. Pubs at Keston. Public toilets at Farnborough, High Elms Country Park and Keston Ponds

Public transport and breakpoints:

Rail: Petts Wood, Hayes.
Buses: at these points and also at Crofton, Farnborough, Keston Ponds and Keston village

For more information on public transport please see Transport for London's Journey Planner.

Links with other walks:

Petts Wood, Farnborough, Cudham, Leaves Green, Nash and Three Commons Circular Walks

Map required:

Explorer 162