Length: 22.2 km (13.8 mi) [much shorter walks possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 213/228m
Net Walking Time: 5 hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 10.05 Dartford via Bexleyheath train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10.08, London Bridge 10.14, Lewisham 10.28), arrives Blackheath (Zone 3) at 10.30.
Return from Deptford (Zone 2): there are no trains today, so you can take the DLR from Deptford Bridge either to Lewisham (trains to London Bridge and Charing Cross or Cannon Street or Thameslink) or to Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line and Crossrail); or bail out at New Cross Gate (1.3 km from the end, trains to London Bridge and Overground).
This is an urban route almost entirely in the London Borough of Lewisham, stringing together some genteel residential areas and streets, a large heathland with views, many well-kept parks (some with rivers running through them), a large Victorian cemetery and plenty of hills-with-views to either Crystal Palace and the North Downs, Canary Wharf, the City of London and/or the West End and Nine Elms.
You start with a long loop through the acclaimed Blackheath Cator Estate, a Victorian and Georgian private estate with some impressive large houses and tree-lined wide and quiet streets, but also sprinkled with award-winning modernist houses. From there, traverse the upland heath and descend into Lee, also with streets full of attractive residences, some almshouses, a Manor House with a fine park, and the River Quaggy. On through Hither Green to a hill-park-with-views and down across the Ravensbourne Valley. The Brockley Three Peaks await next, with Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery walked through in-between. The final stretch leads over Telegraph Hill into Hatcham (New Cross) and on to Deptford.
All the route is on hard surfaces and mud-free. Alternative earth or gravel paths are shown on the map where appropriate.
Shorter Walks:
· An Early Shortcut, straight from the station, cuts out the loop through Blackheath Park and across the Heath. It cuts 2.9 km and 20m ascent
· A Late Shortcut through Camberwell New Cemetery (shown on the route map) cuts out One Tree Hill (cut 600m and 50m ascent)
· Many bus stops are passed on the route
· Bailouts at intermittent mainline and overground stations: Hither Green (6.5 km), Ladywell (10.3 km, a little off route), Catford and Catford Bridge (11.8 km, a little off route), Honor Oak Park (13.2 km), Crofton Park (15.2 km), Brockley (18.6 km), Nunhead (19.8 km, a little off route), New Cross Gate (20.9 km)
Food & Drink: Leading through fully gentrified parts of Inner London, a plethora of good refreshment options are passed. See page 2 of the pdf for details.
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.421
Note: Special Thanks to those friends of mine who over the years have introduced me to the areas featured on the route. You know who you are!