The 52 mile Green Chain Walk, London's first long distance footpath, opened in 1977. The network links together the open spaces in the great arc of protected, undeveloped land with a total area of 4,500 acres, that sweeps around South East London from Crystal Palace to the Thames at Erith and Thamesmead. I followed the maps and guidance from the Inner London Ramblers website. Although I have walked parts before this is my project for 2024.
This section combines section 11a from West Dulwich to Sydenham and the remaining part of section 11 from there down to Crystal Palace. This section had been on hold awaiting the completion of the repair to the Cox Walk footbride and re-opening of routes closed during the repair. The walk covers much of the same area as my Dulwich walk last year.
The walk starts at West Dulwich station with a short link to the start of section 11a which took me into Belair Park.
The River Effra runs through the park and is for a short while above ground.
The gates of Dulwich Park where section 11a starts. The path runs through the park alongside the large lake. There is a boardwalk here which was suggested for a short diversion but that was closed off for maintenance.
Carriage Drive leads on to the exit of the park. Now follows a lengthy walk along the South Circular up to Cox's Walk, passing Dulwich Life Bible Church.
Cox's walk is a pleasant path through the woodland and leads to the recently re-opened bridge over the former railway line.
From this spot Camille Pisarro in 1871 painted the former Lordship Lane station which is commemorated on the information board. They seem to have done an excellent restoration of the railway bridge.
From the bridge the route continues along, now as section 11, and on the bed of the railway down to the mouth of Cresent Wood tunnel.
After a long steep flight of steps the route emerges onto Cresent Wood Road. At the end is the house where John Logie Baird lived while working in his television workshop at Crystal Palace. Here I stopped for a pleasant lunch at the Wood House.
After lunch down to former Upper Sydenham station where the station house is now residential. Then a steep path downhill following the route of the old railway.
Emerging in a housing estate I got confused with the instructions and failed to walk the remaining part of the railway or visit the Paxton tunnel. The large concrete block across the road is a ventilation shaft for the Penge tunnel which carries Southern trains. I made my way down to Crystal Palace Park from here and to Crystal Palace station where I ended my day.