The Vanguard Way is a 112km walking route that connects the suburbs of the city to the coastline in the south. From Croydon to Newhaven the route makes its way through some amazing countryside including two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Surrey Hills, High Weald) the South Downs National Park and the Heritage Coast of Sussex. Full guidance, maps and information is available at www.vanguardway.org.uk. At least for the moment I am just doing the first section down to the edges of Greater London.
The walk starts outside East Croydon station where I arrived around 10.15am. Then a short walk through the built up area of Croydon passing the now closed Croydon Park hotel which is to be redeveloped into more tower blocks against strong opposition from the residents of the adjacent Altitude 25 apartment block.
The walk now continues along Fairfield Path, an ancient path where Fairs were once held but now largely urbanised. A short diversion took me into Park Hill Recreation Ground, a small urban park. The listed water tower dates from 1867. Within the park is Coombe Cliff, built for John Horniman, founder of the Horniman museum, now a school, its adjacent walled garden which I found somewhat overgrown, and a old milestone.
A fenced path leads down to Lloyd Park, another pleasant area where the game of Croydon Disc Golf is played where strange elevated baskets are seen in the playing ground.
The tramline is reached and walked alongside for a short while and then along the busy A212 before turning off along Conduit Lane which soon becomes a path between Coombe Wood and the grounds of Royal Russell School. Here I met a chap walking his dog and we chatted for a while until he left me a little further on.,
There are some very nice houses in this part of the walk, which the chap assured me was very much still Croydon. Suddenly quite a nice view through the trees.
A short stretch of road then Littleheath Woods are entered. Then the Vanguard Way joins up with section 4 of the London Loop for a couple of miles.
Little Heath Woods continue for a while, then the busy A3022 is crossed and a pleasant bridleway leads down towards Selsdon Wood. I got a bit lost here last time but all was fine today.
Into Selsdon Wood following the Addington Border path. It was quite steep at first though there was a convenient seat for a rest at the top.
Out of Selsdon Wood then along Baker Boy Lane and the Tanbridge Border Path.
At the end of Baker Boy Lane is the entrance to Farleigh Golf Club where the London Loop turns away. Vanguard Way follows the side of the golf course, I should have followed it through a wood here but the signposting was missing so went along outside the wood which was quite muddy from horse riding and in a couple of places quite steep.
At the top of this path I turned right and headed towards Chelsham village. The Church of St Mary the Virgin was built in 1083.
The wooded path runs alongside the up market Big Wood private estate. It passes under a bridge that carries a road to the estate. Although it looks like a railway bridge there does not seem to ever have been a railway here.
Section 1 ends outside Warlingham Park School. Straight on continues to section 2 but I followed the suggested route to Warlingham Sainsbury's to catch the bus back to Croydon. I should have taken a bridleway but missed the entrance so it was all road walking with a narrow pavement, passing Chelsham Common and the Bull PH on the way. Back then to Clapham Junction and a rather late lunch after a quite nice day's walk.