9.50 train from Victoria (9.57 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to Riddlesdown, arriving 10.18.
This walk is within zone 6, so use Oyster, contactless, passes etc
For walk directions click here (for the Kingswood ending click here), for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
Looking for something to cater for the Clapham Junction/East Croydon crowd on this RMT strike day, I was surprised to find that Southern/Thameslink are operating a remarkably comprehensive service, with trains apparently operating late into the evening on many routes. (Future RMT strike day posters might like to note this...). I was therefore tempted to post something further afield....but the weather looks disappointing and so walkers might prefer something closer to civilisation.
Often posted as a short walk in the winter months, this walk actually deserves a summer outing. It crosses plenty of patches of downland which should be awash with flowers at this time of year, even if the butterflies that would normally accompany them at this time of year might be put off by the rain.
Lunch is at the large, but always busy Fox after 3.9 miles. After lunch the main walk loops up to the North Downs Way, but you can short cut that by going directly to Happy Valley, cutting the walk to 7.3 miles. If you combine this short cut with the alternative ending in Kingswood, the walk is 9.3 miles.
Tea is limited to a park cafe (which might not be open if it is wet) in Coulsdon South. In Kingswood there is the Kingswood Arms by the station
Trains back from Coulsdon South are at 27 and 57 past to London Bridge or 49 past to Victoria **, with more options if you change at East Croydon.
Trains back from Kingswood are at 18 past **, a shuttle to Purley today, where there is an 11 minute wait for a London-bound train.
*** All these trains run until well into the evening, according to the National Rail journey planner, which has supposedly been updated with the strike timetable, but check on the day just to be sure.
