Bromley Bimble

Life has been pretty stressful of late. I am finding being in the city hard going; the noise, the crowds, the claustrophobia. I needed to get away, even if for a few hours. Ideally I wanted to go somewhere green, in the countryside, with space, quiet and nature.

Matt S offered me a timely solution. He wasn't working on the Monday and asked if I wanted to go on a long run. Five minutes later I had booked the day off and we had arranged to meet after the school run to head south on a route through Bromley that he had put together. It linked all the trails, woods and green spaces heading south and looped back around to complete a 26.2 mile circuit.

We met at 9am next to the congested south circular road near Grove Park. Matt was keen to get a marathon distance completed as he hadn't run long for a while. We had no time in mind, just to enjoy the day and one another's company.

The two of us crossed the rail tracks beside Grove Park Nature Reserve and made our way through the Downham Woodland Walk. This pleasant narrow trail winds through a housing estate but is shielded on both sides by trees. We watched squirrels chasing each other through the branches while robins sang above our heads. We chatted while making steady progress. Both of us were feeling tired and struggling to get going. This was in part due to the cold temperature. It was just above freezing, but there was a cloudless blue sky and low winter sunshine that casted shadows across our path.

At the end of the trail we crossed a zebra crossing and entered Beckenham Place Park. Another wonderful green space to explore. The winding trails within Summerhouse Hill Wood brought us out into Beckenham. A mile running through quiet streets and past expensive properties led us to Kelsey Park with its large lake replete with geese, swans, ducks, coots and moorhens. There was no sign of the herons that nest here every year - a bit early.

After crossing a main road we plunged into another wood which I remembered from one of my first runs in London. The landscape was familiar, but I hadn't known it was so close. We ran beside the Beck stream and more robins and the occasional wren burst from the bushes and passed in front of us. I was getting a healthy dose of nature and the tranquility I had been seeking. 

Becalmed, I didn't mind the next long stretch of asphalt. What I did take issue with was the person who decided it was ok to throw their sandwich wrapping on the floor. I helpfully (sarcastically) pointed out the bin not 20 yards away and received a look of complete indifference. Why do people do that? 

My mood was saved in the nick of time when we arrived at High Broom Wood. A stunning area of natural beauty through which The Beck continued it's journey. Stepping Stones took us across from one side to the other. We were climbing towards its source but had to detour through a West Wickham housing estate. When I say housing estate, this wasn't your typical sprawling urban estate. These were large houses. You could comfortably fit two or three families in each one. The roads were empty and we could still hear the bird song.

Our conversation ranged from work to family, running and politics. It was the easy conversations of two close friends with nowhere to be and nothing to do except enjoy the day. Neither of us had to be back until the schools finished and we were able to stop and eat, walk if we wanted to and really unwind.

Threehalfpenny Wood was another lovely place to explore. The muddy trails were dry yet soft, the only other people were dog walkers who were friendly and returned our smiles and greetings. A different world from the streets of Catford just a few miles away.

By now we had reached Addington and stopped to buy some water with electrolytes. It was warming up and hydration was a factor. A couple of sausage rolls ensured our muscle stores were full. 

We had been climbing steadily and more elevation was ahead. The route involved a few smaller climbs and descents, but was generally uphill for 13 miles and back down on the return. Much better that way. Our next woodland was Selsdon Wood. This stretched on for a nice distance and gave us views of the surrounding hills. Although we were technically in Bromley, a borough of London for all intents and purposes this was Kent countryside.

We reached Chesham, the most southerly point of the route and passed a gated community with mansions, towers, stables and a private school. How the other half live. A series of narrow trails overgrown with brambles and lined with barbed wire brought us onto a track that bisected two fields of horses. It descended steeply before ascending equally precipitously like a rural rollercoaster. At the top was a giant polar bear. The statue was in the grounds of the White Bear pub which has been there since the 16th Century. We agreed to return in the summer and to stop there for a cooling brew.

With many miles now in our legs it was a bit of a struggle to get over the sequence of styles that confronted us as we passed through a local farm and Jewels Wood beyond. We managed however and stopped to watch planes landing and taking off at nearby Biggin Hill airport.

Another descent and sharp incline meant hands on knees as we walked up to the hilltop and admired the view which reached as far a Canary Wharf far off in the distance. We traversed the village of Leaves Green with not a leaf in sight and after another climb reached Holwood House. Here we saw a sign for the Wilberforce Oak and a stone bench. This is the place where where William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce met and decided to abolish slavery leading to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

We stopped for a sandwich, but had to sit on a more recent wooden bench as the stone one is fenced off. Even the tree isn't the original as it died and was replaced in 1969. The replacement has since died but the hollowed out stump remains at the centre of a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

Refuelled and refreshed we ran on to Keston Common and the ponds beside the spring which is the source of the River Ravensbourne. The same river runs past my home and out to the River Thames at Deptford. We passed through Padmall Wood where a bird of prey was being harried by two shrieking crows as they spiralled through the air above us.

Both is us were now feeling tiredness and my right hip was playing up, but we were on familiar ground. We continued through Colyers Wood and emerged at Norman Park. Another pit stop was in order for drinks before passing through Southborough, past Bickley Station and into Chislehurst. This section was all on road with huge mansions on either side of us. Some wealth here.  

Eventually we hit another green space, Elmstead Woods. We were only a few miles from home. Both of us run here regularly and it is a fantastic location for trails. We continued through the wood and along the path to Chinbrook Meadows. The last mile was along the road from Grove Park to our starting point where a well earned coffee and sarnie was awaiting us. 

Matt had a meeting to attend, while I was due at the school in 45 minutes. No time to shower and change. I ran the four miles to school arriving just in time. Altogether I had managed a nice round 50k or 31 miles in under six hours, the length of the school day. In that time I had managed not only to enjoy hours in the company of a good friend, but some of the incredible natural beauty located in the south of London, namely Bromley Borough.

The starkness of winter, the clear sky and cool air was wonderful. However, I am sure there would be even more to appreciate and enjoy in the summer when the flowers, leaves, butterflies and insects have re-emerged. It is definitely a route I will return to.