It’s time to continue the London Outer Orbital Path from last spring. This is a 150 mile long trail around London linking together parks, meadows, woodland, rivers and streams, and some suburban streets in a kind of Odyssey.

We shall continue from where we left off in Nonsuch Park and should reasonably expect to get to Kingston, a distance of around 8 to 10 miles (with all the little add-ons), but it’s possible to leave at some points by bus or train, should you wish to.

We shall pass the site of Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace (nothing left above ground now, of  course), likely make a short visit to the Bourne Hall Museum in Ewell, and then largely follow the Hogs Mill stream/river path to Kingston. Kingston is a good place to finish before embarking later on in the year on the first part of the LOOP north of the Thames.

Fairly straightforward topography most of the way, with no serious hills (as far as I recall!).

Buses and trains back from Kingston – train via Clapham Junction, or maybe better to get the SL7 express bus back to West Croydon.

HOW TO GET THERE!

Please catch a SL7 express Heathrow bus from WEST Croydon bus station, stop B3, and alight/get off at CHEAM VILLAGE, THE BROADWAY. There’s a bus at 10.08 BST, and I shall meet that bus at around 10.45 at that stop in Cheam.

Alternatively, you can catch the bus a few minutes later at East Croydon, stop E8 in Dingwall Road.

We then walk across Cheam Park to reach the point at which we left-off the LOOP six months ago. (If you don’t mind I’ll meet you at Cheam rather than Croydon, as it’s easier to get there from where I live.) One could get to Cheam by train, as long as you get to that bus stop for 10.45 please.

Any queries, phone me. DO NOT EMAIL ME AFTER 11.59pm on Friday – I don’t have email ‘on the go’.

Bring your usual supplies, but there may be one or two cafes and pubs along the way, and certainly at Kingston.

Yours, Paul Newbold

Tel. 07968 223589