London Loop: Section 5 Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South (part 1)
A fabulous stomp across snow covered fields
(Photos/words © urban75, 10th January, 2010)
We're slowly walking our way around most of the London Loop, and on a gloriously snowy January Sunday we undertook the six mile (9.6km) stretch from Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South.
It's normally a fairly easy walk (albeit with a few steep climbs), but the thick snow made the walk a bit more challenging (and a whole load more fun!).
Here's the photos:
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-08.jpg)
Getting to the start point involved getting a train from Brixton to Beckenham, then a tram to West Croydon, followed by a bus to Hamsey Green.
Despite the weather, all the connections ran on time, so if you're thinking of doing this walk, you can safely leave your car at home, even if Hamsey Green is in the middle of nowhere.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-05.jpg)
On the tram to West Croydon.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-06.jpg)
Ah, the beauty of West Croydon Bus Station.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-07.jpg)
Arriving the meet-up point at the Good Companions pub.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-09.jpg)
A short walk later and we were deep in snow country!
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-10.jpg)
A snowman against a darkening sky.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-11.jpg)
Incoming!
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-12.jpg)
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-13.jpg)
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-01.jpg)
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-14.jpg)
Snowman construction, followed by another snowball battle.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-15.jpg)
Old chalk quarry, looking positively alpine in the snowy conditions!
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-16.jpg)
The journey down the valley was particularly hazardous, with the icy path invited dramatic faceplants.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-17.jpg)
The high cliffs of the old chalk quarry from the bottom of the valley.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-18.jpg)
Crossing the railway.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-19.jpg)
And up the valley.
![Walking the London Loop. Section 5 - Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, London and Surrey, England UK, January, 2010](images/kenley-common-walk-20.jpg)
Kenley Common, which covers fifty-six hectares of green open space around an old Battle of Britain airfield.
Lurking under the snow cover is a mixture of chalk grassland and ancient woodland, and there's some stunning views across the Caterham valley and the North Downs beyond.
Originally bought by the Corporation of London in 1883, it was later purchased by the Government, with subsequent land acquisitions seeing the common almost doubling in size.
« Walks home Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South Part Two »
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