Our Post-Prandial Walk

The post-prandial part of the walk led through a mix of open and wooded countryside to Selsdon, where some of us escaped dusk by catching an early bus home. The more determined were rewarded by further wooded countryside leading to Heathfield House with its picturesque - even in late autumn - gardens. The final reward, just before nightfall, was the Addington Hills Viewpoint, affording splendid views over Croydon and South London, almost to the heart of the Capital.

This is what you will see on this page. Happy browsing and perusing!

• Onwards to Selsdon
• Heathfield House and Gardens
• Addington Hills & Home

Onwards to Selsdon

Determined to make the most of the diminishing daylight at this time of the year, I made a quick getaway from the "White Bear". The aim was to reach Addington Hills with its its popular viewpoint, before sun-set. Thank you Peter for the tip! With brisk walking - oh, how I needed that exercise! - it was just in the realms of the possible. The next hamlet was Farleigh, where I joined the Vanguard Way and the London Loop, both of which shared a common path for a lot of the stretch.

In Farleigh, there's much equitation.
One of the riding centres has a pair of these horses's heads gracing its main entrance.




This is surburbia, Farleigh style. With all that space, why build terrace housing?!




A short detour brings me to Farleigh's 11th century church.
It's Sunday, and the church is closed for a well rehearsed reason.
No doubt, a key is available somewhere but sunset is coming on, and daylight time is at a premium.




In Farleigh, I join the combined Vanguard Way and London Loop, and ...




... I'm rewarded with a distant view of part of the Capital.




Signs of affluence here ...




... ere I enter Selsdon Wood.




Daylight is at a premium ...




... but boundary and way markers are still able to display their proud presence.




More wood and ...




... more info for the walker,




Yes, we are still on the combined Vanguard Way and London Loop.

Heathfield House and Gardens

After being squeezed for a short while between the 1960s-1970s housing of Selsdon and Forestdale, I enter some more woods with views towards the north east. Then it's a short descent to Heathfield House, built in the late 18th or early 19th century - the exact date seems to be a mystery, suggesting that records were not too well kept in those distant days. Anyway, Heathfield House is a Grade II listed building, now owned by Croydon Council, who seemingly do a good job maintaining house and gardens, and leasing the farm to - would you believe ? - a farmer. The house is used as a training centre. Training for what? However, there seem to be not just training activities, but educational ones as well, for Heathfield House appears to have links with Germany's Largest Private University for Technology, the Wilhelm Büchner University in Darmstadt. So what do you know?!

Before the path takes me to Heathfield House,
there's a view towards the south east and the end of the day.




The terrace of Heathfield House looks east and ...




... its smallish main entrance is on the south side. Looks Christmassy, but is it really old?




The east-facing outside sun or rain roof ...




... has Regency-style supports ...




... as this picture clearly shows.




The gardens are well kept courtesy of Croydon Council rate payers,
and must look very nice indeed in spring and summer.




Here's another view of the house, with what looks like a reflection of the setting sun on the left hand side. Can't quite make it out, but then, there are many things about which I'm still learning!

Addington Hills & Home

I now meet up again with the South London Tramlink, which I first saw when it opened in 2000, 48 years after London lost its first generation trams. The tram will whisk me back to East Croydon Station and a train to London Bridge. Before that, I visit the interesting viewpoint (built 1963) giving wide views over Croydon and towards London. Dusk is approaching, so the nearby windmill will have to wait for another day.

This tram is headed towards Croydon on a training run. It has just climbed a step hill. The ability of trams to tackle steep hills (cf. Lisbon) and also to use confined spaces such as tunnels and old railway alignments, as in the Croydon area, was no doubt a factor in their rediscovery in several parts of Britain.




Trams are also good compact people movers, as this picture, taken at Coombe Lane tram station, of a New Addington bound tram, suggests.




The New Addington bound tram now accelerates quickly on its way to its destination. For the record, the Croydon Tramlink system is 28 Km (17 miles) long, and is the third-busiest UK light rail network behind the Tyne and Wear Metro and the Docklands Light Railway.




A short walk through the woods brings me to the viewpoint.




Transmission masts, including the Croydon transmitter, come into view, ...




... as do the skyscrapers in Canary Warf.




Lights are coming on as South London prepares for the night.
It's been a good walking day with nice winter weather.




Back at the Coombe Lane tram stop,
my tram comes in to whisk me to East Croydon Station.
By the way, Tramlink fleet numbers continue on
from the highest fleet number of London's first generation trams.




The tram's modern interior seems, in its way, quite welcoming.
So ends another nice IVC day!