Main Route Instructions - 12 miles

Start in Sparrows Lane, New Eltham (post code SE9 2BP for sat-navs). There is free on street parking in some bays or just 5 minutes’ walk away is New Eltham Station – which is well served by South-eastern train service (about 30 mins to Charing Cross/London Bridge/Canon Street), or by bus routes 160, 233, 321, 314, 162, B13.
  1. Go to far end of Sparrows Lane and take the footpath into Avery Hill Park (start of path is between the gates to Charlton Athletics training ground and the drive into University of Greenwich)
  2. Go to the end of the footpath and turn right across the small wooden bridge and head diagonally (half left) across the fields towards the playground, cafe and beyond to the front of the Winter Gardens
  3. Go left round the outside of the winter gardens and into the university car park, follow the road out under the arch and turn left into Bexley Road
  4. Cross the road and turn right into the footpath called “Gravel Pit Lane” which runs between Eltham Warren Golf Course and Crown Woods School complex
  5. At the end of the footpath turn left into Riefield Road. After crossing the bridge over the A2 the road turns left and becomes “Rochester Way”.
  6. At the traffic lights cross Welling Way and take the footpath into Oxleas Wood.
  7. Follow the main path through the woods, as it emerges into open parkland follow the tarmac path up the hill towards the Cafe and toilets at the top of the hill.
  8. Go round the back of the cafe and into the car park and along the exit road into “Crown Woods Lane”.
  9. When you reach the main A2 turn left and cross over onto the pavement on the other side. Look out for the fine view of Central London as you descend Shooters Hill. Turn right into “Constitution Rise”, again look out for fine views of Docklands and Canary Wharf - if it is a fine day. Follow the road down hill and right, the road becomes “Red Lion Lane”, then “Woolwich Common” and passes the fine “Academy” Buildings on the left hand side.
  10. At the end of Woolwich Common cross the South Circular road at the island and go along “Circular Way” to cut the corner and turn left into Ha-Ha Road.
  11. Cross to the other side of the road and make a short diversion onto the grass to view the “Ha-Ha”.
  12. Carry along the road, over the lights as it becomes Charlton Park Lane. Turn right into Cemetery Lane just past the cemetery.
  13. Continue to the end of the lane, cross Charlton Park Road and enter into Maryon Wilson Park.
  14. Go along main path downhill and take right hand fork downhill. As you pass the animal enclosures keep the Deer pen on your right and continue to the road.
  15. Cross over the road and go slightly right to enter into “Gilbert Pit”. Go across the grass area of the pit and exit on the footpath on the other side. At the end of the path turn left, and go down the stepped path. Where the path divides go right and downwards the exit onto A206 Woolwich Road. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and follow the path through the small park towards the Thames Barrier.
  16. After viewing the river and the barrier retrace your steps and cross back over Woolwich Road into the park. Follow the path to the left that crosses Maryon Park and up some steps at far end. Follow the path to cross over Thorntree Road and into Maryon Wilson Park.
  17. Pass the animal enclosures and meet up with the path you followed in 13/14. When you reach exit turn right into Charlton Park Road.
  18. Cross over and take the road entrance into Charlton Park. Go through car park, turn right and follow footpath along and round to the left to emerge onto Canberra Road
  19. Carry along as the road joins again into Charlton Park Lane. Turn right into Stadium Road and pass the Queen Elizabeth hospital on left and Bus terminus and car park on the right.
  20. Take the footpath at the end of the car park that leads onto Woolwich common. Turn right and follow the path around until it emerges onto Shooters Hill Road
  21. Carry along Shooters Hill Road, over the junction with the South Circular, and cross onto right hand pavement.
  22. Head half right onto the grass common and head towards the woods where a clearly marked footpath leads through the trees towards Sevendroog Castle.
  23. At the castle car park turn right towards the castle then take the footpath that turns left beyond the castle. Head along the path towards the Memorial gardens.
  24. Pass the gardens and take footpath right that leads to the exit onto Rochester Way
  25. Cross the road into Eltham Park North, follow middle path through woods. Emerging to pass the duck pond and then turn left to follow the footpath following the A2. Cross over the A2 at the foot bridge and enter into Eltham Park South
  26. Follow footpath round edge bordering the golf course and emerge and turn left onto Glenesk Road.
  27. At end of Glenesk Rd, turn right and cross onto other side of Bexley Road.
  28. Turn left into Southend Crescent and go downhill to just before Holy Trinity Church, where you take the footpath on the left.
  29. Pass the Tudor aged “Conduit Head” (a tunnel that goes 1 mile to nearby Eltham Palace) and where the path splits turn right and follow path into Avery Hill Park.
  30. Cross the pitches of the park half left to pick up the footpath back to Sparrows Lane

Description for Shorter - 7.5 miles

At step 12 turn left into Stadium Road and continue from step 19

Description for Longer - 14 miles

Instead of step 27 do the following:
  1. At end of Glenesk Rd cross onto other side of Bexley Road and go staright into Butterfly Lane.
  2. At end of lane turn right and go on footpath to pass the Tudor aged “Conduit Head” (a tunnel that goes 1 mile to nearby Eltham Palace). Carry onto emerge onto Southend crescent by Holy Trinity Church, and turn left.
  3. Carry on into Footscray Road and at the junction turn right into Green Lane.
  4. Turn right into Broad Lawn, at the end of the road go into Fairy Hill Park
  5. Go through park and exit at the other end into “Crossmead”
  6. At end of road turn right into Court Road. The “Tarn” park is on right hand side
  7. Retrace steps through Crossmead, Fairy Hill, Broad Lawn. Cross Green Lane and into Park View Road.
  8. Carry along Park View Road, turn left into Southwood Road leading back to New Eltham, Avery Hill Road and back to the start in Sparrows Lane

History of Places along the route

  • Sparrows Lane: At the start of last century Sparrows Lane was a small country lane heading through Apple Orchards towards the farm belonging to the Sparrow family
  • Charlton Athletic Training Ground: Club formed in 1905 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.
  • Avery Hill Park: large open parkland, Winter Garden with hothouse and indoor pond, walled rose gardens, toilets, cafe and children’s play area. The Winter Garden was part of a splendid mansion owned by the Victorian entrepreneur John Thomas North (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thomas_North). North was born in Yorkshire and made his fortune by exporting Nitrate fertiliser from Chile
  • Oxleas Wood & Meadows – an ancient deciduous forest over 8000 years old. Café and toilet facilities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxleas_Wood
  • Royal Military Academy was founded by King George II in 1741, with the buildings on common in 1806 now being converted into house and flats. The game of ‘snooker’ was invented in 1750s by a former cadet from the academy Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain. In 1870 Horatio Kitchener graduated (Lord Kitchener was on the “Your Country Needs You” poster). In 1899 13 year old schoolboy AEJ Collins achieved highest ever cricket score 628 not out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Academy,_Woolwich
  • Ha-ha road. Part of the route of London Marathon and runs adjacent to a ‘Ha-Ha’ which is a deep ditch designed to keep cattle in or out of a piece of Land without spoiling the view. The one on Woolwich common is a listed monument.
  • Maryon Wilson Park – Part of the former Maryon Wilson family estate (former Lords of the Manor of Charlton). A landscape park with an animal enclosure with sheep, deer, pigs, chickens etc
  • Gilbert Pit - a SSSI that gives a glimpse through 55 million year of geological history! More details here http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/sites/local_ID34.aspx
  • Thames Barrier built 1974-1984. At 1/3 mile across it is the World’s largest moveable flood barrier. There is an Information and Visitor centre open during day the day for a small charge - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/38375.aspx
  • Charlton Park – open park with café. Contains Charlton House, built between 1607 and 1612 by Sir Adam Newton, Charlton House is one of the finest examples of Jacobean domestic architecture in the country. http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/Architecture/CharltonHouse.htm
  • Watling street –the famous ancient Roman road from Dover to Wroxeter, but believed to be used before Romans by ancient Britons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watling_Street
  • Shooters Hill – named as a place for archery practice in middle ages and also a haunt of highway men http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooters_Hill
  • Castle Wood, home to Severndroog castle. A folly built in 1784 by Lady James, as a memorial to her husband William James of the East India Company who captured the pirate fortress of Severndroog on the Malabar coast of India on the 2nd April 1755.

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Sunday 13 February 2011

First draft online

Hi, I hope some people will enjoy my favourite run/walk through SE London. This is the first draft so it may contain a few errors. I will also add more history as we go along. But please feel free to suggest or correct the text. Enjoy the run or walk if you manage to do it and do give me feedback. Thanks, Alan.
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