Route Section

Green Chain Walk

Section 3 (Bostall Woods to Oxleas Meadows)

Description:

The greenest Green Chain Walk (GCW) section, with only short bursts across or along roads. Together with GCW 4 it leads on from GCW 2 at Longleigh Lane between Bostall Heath and Woods, then almost immediately splits from GCW 4 to follow a combe down through the woods, coming out beside Plumstead Cemetery to cross Wickham Lane.

You climb over the broad but sometimes rather bleak East Wickham Open Space, then a short stretch along residential roads leads to Woodlands Farm - one of the few stretches of farmland through which the GCW passes. Now run by a trust, its current projects include a network of health walks. Here the route follows a stream for several hundred metres. You cross busy Shooters Hill to enter Oxleas Wood, a local nature reserve. Here you pass the junction with GCW 6 then continue round to Oxleas Meadows to meet GCW 4 and 5.

Please be aware that a number of walkers have experienced locked gates on the Woodlands Farm section of the Green Chain (Bostall Woods to Oxleas Wood). Details of an alternative route can be found under Route Downloads on the right hand side of this page. We advise you to contact the farm on 020 8319 8900 in advance of your visit to ask if the gates will be open. We apologise for any inconvience caused and can assure you that we are doing our best to try and resolve the problem.

Interesting Places on or near the route:

Oxleas Woodlands

Boroughs which the route passes through:

Bexley
Greenwich

Distance:

2.7 miles ( 4.3 km)

Start:

Bostall Woods (Longleigh Lane, GR 471-779)

Finish:

Oxleas Meadows (GR 439-762)

Recommended direction:

Northeast to southwest

Terrain and surface:

Undulating with some fairly steep climbs. Mostly on rough paths, tracks and grass. No stiles. 0.8km (0.5ml) beside roads

Signage:

Complete. Logo: 'a linked G-C' and text 'Green Chain Walk'

Temporary Diversions:

None

Refreshments and toilets:

Pubs at Wickham Lane, Edison Grove, Shooters Hill. Cafe at Oxleas Meadows. Toilets at Longleigh Lane and Oxleas Meadows

Public transport and breakpoints:

Rail: Falconwood
Buses: Longleigh Lane, Bostall Hill, Wickham Lane, Edison Road, Shooters Hill, Falconwood

Links with other walks:

Green Chain Walk Sections 2, 4, 5 and 6

Map required:

Explorer 162 (route marked) Green Chain route guide (£3.50) (This can be ordered from the South East London Green Chain on 020 8921 5876 or www.greenchain.com)