Wandle trail Thames to Croydon cycling and walking trail
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Thames Cycle Route NCN Route 4 to Richmond Thames Cycle Route NCN Route 4 to Richmond ToWaterloo ToWaterloo Wimbledon Park South Wimbledon Morden Colliers Wood Southfields Earlsfield Haydons Road Mitcham Junction Wandsworth Town Phipps Bridge Rawnsley Avenue enue Rawnsley Avenue Nature Reserve managed by the National Trust,not open to the public e-mail: [email protected] www.nationaltrust.org.uk Morden Hall Park is open all year 8am - 6pm for more information - call 020 8546 6850 The Trail is accessible 24 hrs www.nationaltrust.org.uk Deen City Farm is open all year, for more information call 020 8543 2300 118 201 200 93 470 57 152 200 219 493 470 200 156 156 39 156 37 170 220 270 44 44 270 28 220 270 37 39 77A 156 170 337 77 44 77 270 57 219 493 470 280 118 201 280 127 S1 S1 118 154 157 80 118 157 164 201 S4 470 163 164 293 413 S4 80 93 Mitcham Morden Road Tramlink to Wimbledon Northern Line to Central London Northern Line to Central London & Morden Northern Line to Central London & Morden District Line to Central London & Wimbledon District Line to Central London & Wimbledon Tramlink to Croydon Thames Link & South Central Trains Central London Surrey stations SouthWest Trains Central London Surrey & Sussex stations Proposed future route The Tham es Proposed future route M E R T O N S U T T O N W A N D S W O R T H WANDSWORTH M E R T O N MERTON SUTTON MERTON F a i r f i e l d S t r e e t G a r r a t t L a n e M e r t o n R o a d D u r n s f o r d R o a d Durnsford Road H a y d o n s R o a d M o r d e n R o a d L e y t o n R d . C h r i s t c h u r c h R o a d C h r i s t c h u r c h R o a d ChurchRoad H a n o v e r R o a d W a n d l e B a n k GarfieldRoad CaxtonRd. East R o a d ChaucerWay Morden Hall Road W e i r R o a d Weir Road Garratt Lane G a r r a t t L a n e G a r r a t t L a n e R a m S t . Bridge Road Wandsworth High Street E a s t H i l l Wandsworth S w a n d o n Way A r m o u r y W a y P l o u g h La n e EnterpriseWay Mapleton R o a d FerrierStreet OsiersRoad O l d Y o r k R o a d P e n w i t h R d . R a v e n s b u r y R o a d Windsor Avenue HomefieldGardens P h i p p s B r i d g e R o a d Deer Park Road Lombard Road Green Road B u d g e L a n e A v e n u e Buckhurst WatermeadLane Mill L i b e r t y A v e n u e J u b i l e e Way A r t h u r R d Merton High Steet N o r t h R o a d B y e g r o v e R o a d S o u t h R o a d All Saints Road Station Road MerantunWay Burr Road B o d m i n R d . K i m b e r R o a d Kimber Road Brathway R o a d R e p l i n g h a m R o a d P i r b r i g h t R o a d Close Gill N e v i l l e M i d d l e t o n R o a d C a r s h a l t o n R o a d B is h o p sf o rd R o a d d a o R e l d n a W d a o R h g u o r o b r e t e P d a o R n o d n o L d a o R n o d n o L d a o R d l o h k c u B B u r r R o a d AcubaRoad Holmes Road Priory Rd. Willow Cottages Morden Road Trewint St. Summerley Street Wandsworth Plain Causeway Seddon Road P P P Poulter Park Watermeads Morden Hall Park Ravensbury Park Deen City Farm Wandle Park Wandle Meadow Nature Park Garratt Park King George’s Park Poulter Park Watercress Park Watercress Park Watermeads Morden Hall Park Ravensbury Park Deen City Farm Wandle Park Wandle Meadow Nature Park Garratt Park King George’s Park N Merton Abbey Mills Merton Abbey Mills Ravensbury Mills Ravensbury Mills Bennett’s Hole Bennett’s Hole Bishopsford House (der (derelict) Bishopsford House (derelict) RiverWandle Wandsworth Museum Wandsworth Museum King George’s Park Walk and Cycle Route ❼ POULTER PARK TO MORDEN HALL PARK ❽ (1.87km, 25 mins) Pass Bishopsford House and sports pitches on left. Continue to Bennetts Hole. Go , past Watermeads Nature Reserve on your right, to Bishopsford Road. over road bridge and cross the road using central refuge. into Ravensbury Park. Cross over 2 small bridges, . Continue through park, with river on your left, to emerge at Morden Road by Ravensbury Mill. Ravensbury Mill still retains 2 water mills which were in operation until the middle of the C20th. Ravensbury Park is managed as a Local Nature Reserve. along Morden Road and cross at controlled crossing. After 50 metres into Morden Hall Park. Morden Hall Park took on most of its present character when it was acquired and laid out in the middle of the C19th by the Hatfeild family. ❽ MORDEN HALL PARK TO MERTON ABBEY MILLS ❾ (1.76km, 25 mins) Follow the avenue of trees through the park. Cross the bridge over the main river channel. Ahead you will see Morden Hall. Morden Hall was built in the mid-C18th on the site of an earlier building by Richard Garth, lord of the manor of Morden. then cross the two smaller bridges and again. Follow the path through the wetland to the tramlink crossing. Cross carefully, checking both ways for trams. over the small wooden bridge, then follow path round to to rejoin river on your right. Continue past Deen City Farm on your left, coming out at Phipps Bridge. Continue along tarmac road. Cross over Windsor Avenue. Continue . Soon you will see Merton Abbey Mills on your right across the river. Merton Abbey Mills and their C18th wheelhouse were used by Littlers in the C19th, and Liberty’s Print Works in the C20th. ❾ MERTON ABBEY MILLS TO WANDLE PARK (Merton) ❿ (0.78km, 11 mins) When you reach Merantun Way cross at the controlled crossing, and go through the archway. Cross over Station Road and go along the riverside path. Soon you will see Savacentre on your right across the river, and you will pass a plaque marking the site of the C19th William Morris factory. Exit the path and across the bridge over the river (towards Savacentre) then with the river on your left. Follow the path across the bridge over the Pickle Ditch and , follow the path round the building and down some steps to Merton High Street, then cross over the access road to Priory Retail Park (to avoid the steps, keep right after the Pickle Ditch and go around the pub keeping it on your left). You then come to a large road junction. and cross using controlled crossing towards Wandle Park. Enter the park, follow path over 2 footbridges, then and follow the path, leaving the park, with the Lodge on your right, into Bygrove Road. The large former water mill building on your left is the old Connolly’s Mill, built in the late C18th by John Rennie, and which was linked to Wandsworth by the Surrey Iron Railway. KING GEORGE’S PARK (1.27km, 17 mins) Before rejoining the river you will pass an acid grassland, the remains of a WW2 army coal depot. Keeping to the right of the Park (and left of the river), follow the river over Kimber Road, into a sports field, then leave the river to travel down to a lower field. to travel behind the Leisure Centre over a footbridge into Garratt Lane, then into Mapleton Road. At the junction with Neville Gill Close, re-enter King George’s Park. The walls of the river here support a range of ferns, including Male Fern and Harts Tongue Fern. in the Park to pass ornamental gardens, tennis courts, bowling green and lake, then onto Buckhold Road. At the High Street cross, then . KING GEORGE’S PARK TO THE THAMES (1.15km, 16 mins) Looking downstream, you can see Youngs brewery on the right. This is the oldest site in Britain upon which there has been continuous brewing. There are shoals of Dace in the river here. The Grey Wagtail is a frequent visitor. Hemlock, Water-Dropwort and Hemp Agrimony grow on the shelves at the base of the concrete channel. Almost immediately into Wandsworth Plain, using the left-hand pavement. All Saints Church is on your left at the junction. Cross the busy Armoury Way. on the other side, by the Crane pub into The Causeway, which bears left as it rejoins the river. Looking North, the patch of silty land to your left provides a nesting ground for Moorhens each Spring. Water Mint and Brooklime have found a foothold on the recently added tidal terrace. You can sometimes see a Kingfisher here. Follow the river round past Bell Lane Creek to The Spit, and a view of the River Thames. The walls of Bell Lane Creek are heavily vegetated with Marsh Yellow Cress and Garden Angelica. There are large numbers of Eels in this stretch and Pike can occasionally be seen taking advantage of this food source. The Spit is an area of land protruding into the Wandle just below its confluence with the River Thames. Smelt, Dace and Flounder spawn in this area, attracting a variety of birds including the Great Crested Grebe. Tidal terraces have recently been created to encourage such bird life. ❼ ❽ ❾ ❿ map continues over page ➔ The Wandle near Young’s Brewery Lower Wandle Nature Reserve Morden Hall Park Ravensbury Park The River near Wilderness Island The Wandle near Dale Park Wandsworth Museum P Borough Boundary Parking Public Telephone Public House Refreshments Seating Toilets Disabled Toilet Links to the London Cycling Network Wandle Trail for Walkers & Cyclists Connection to the Trail Wandle Trail for Walkers Proposed Future Route Tram Stop Key to map *this bridge is planned for construction in 2005 PLOUGH LANE TO KING GEORGE’S PARK (2.10km, 30 mins) Follow the path for about 1 km, through the Lower Wandle Nature Reserve. The path emerges at Trewint Street Bridge. over the bridge into Trewint Street. Muddy deposits at the edge of the river allow some plants to get a foothold, including the pretty, but invasive Himalayan Balsam and Pendulus Sedge. along Summerley Street then again onto Garratt Lane. Pass under the railway bridge with Earlsfield station on your right. into Penwith Road then into Acuba Road. At the junction of Acuba Road and Bodmin Street, enter King George’s Park. ❿ WANDLE PARK TO PLOUGH LANE (1.56km, 21 mins) along Bygrove Road, cross the bridge over the river, along the path. When you reach the next bridge* cross the river into the Wandle Meadow Nature Park. Wandle Meadow Nature Park was until recently a sewage works, but is now managed as a Local Nature Reserve. under the road bridge and leaving the river, walk past the pylon through the centre of the park towards the railway. Leave the park via the gateway next to the tunnel under the railway line. This tunnel indicates the position of the Surrey Iron Railway (early C19th). Pass under the railway, continuing along the path to Plough Lane. and cross Plough Lane at the controlled crossing in the middle of the bridge. and then immediately along path, with the river on your right. On your left used to stand the former home of Wimbledon Football Club, winners of the FA Cup in 1988. The Wandle near Deen City Farm Wandle Park On all routes… Please be courteous! Always cycle with respect for others, whether other cyclists, pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, horse riders or drivers, and acknowledge those who give way to you. On shared paths… ● Give way to pedestrians, giving them plenty of room ● Keep to your side of the dividing line, if appropriate ● Be prepared to slow down or stop if necessary ● Don’t expect to cycle at high speeds ● Be careful at junctions, bends and entrances ● Remember that many people are hard of hearing or visually impaired – don’t assume they can see or hear you ● Carry a bell and use it – don’t surprise people ● Give way where there are wheelchair users and horse riders Good Cycling Code ● Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work ● Guard against all risk of fire ● Fasten all gates ● Keep your dogs under close control ● Take your litter home ● Help to keep all water clean ● Protect wildlife, plants and trees ● Make no unnecessary noise ● Follow the Good Cycling Code Countryside Code 2010
- 2. Hackbridge Carshalton Waddon East Croydon station Wallington 151 407 410 455 726 407 410 726 455 463 455 289 407 410 463 726 127 151 157 410 463 S4 151 410 463 127 151 127 157 127 407 726 Thameslink & South Central trains Central London to Surrey and Sussex stations 119 130 94 197 198 264 312 367 409 410 466 26 T33 Tramlink to Croydon Tramlink - Croydon to Wimbledon, Elmers End,New Addington and Beckenham Wandle Park Short Cut SUTTON S U T T O N C R O Y D O N C u l v e r s A v e n u e C u l v e r s A v e n u e London Road London Road L o n d o n R o a d A c r e L a n e H i g h S t r e e t North Street C r o y d o n R o a d Croydon Road Limes Av. Mill Lane Waddon Road George Street Crown Hill Street Ch ur ch S y l v e r d a l e R d . Church Rd. O ld Pa la ce R d . Lodge Av. Richmond Green Road Bridle Path Church Lane WhelanWay PurleyWay P a r k L a n e H i g h S t r e e t SurreyStreet N o r t h E n d H i l l i e r s L a n e L a n e Plough P u r l e y W a y Duppas Hill Road Park Lane Manor Road d a o R e l a g n i t h g i N y a w e s u a C e h T River D e n m a r k R o a d Wandle Side Derek Avenue Mill Lane C h u r c h R o a d W a n d l e R d . G u y R o a d C e d a r s R o a d S a l c o t t R o a d L a v i n g t o n R o a d A l d w i c k R d T h e R i d g e w a y V i c a r a g e R d T h e R i d g e w a y W a n d l e S i d e W a d d o n C o u r t Court Dr. G a rd e n s Avenue Dale Park Butter Hill W e s t c r o f t R o a d d a o R m o s p E d a o R d r o f f a t S d a o R y u G Quinton Cl. Kingston Gds Waddon New Rd. R o m a n W a y e n a L y r r e b w a r t S Westcroft Leisure Centre Elms Pond Carshalton Ponds (Grove Canal) P Ruskin Rd. Bridges Lane Wilderness Island Dale Park The Grove Beddington Park Wilderness Island Dale Park The Grove Beddington Park Waddon Ponds Wandle Park Waddon Ponds Wandle Park N Carew M w Manor Carew Manor Beddington on Mill Beddington Mill Canon Bridges’ bridge Canon Bridges’ bridge By train to East Croydon Station (Brighton/Gatwick Airport-London/Luton) (Purley/Tattenham Corner/East Grinstead-London) (south coast-London) By train to Waddon Station (Dorking/Epsom/Sutton-West Croydon/London) Ring 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. By tram to Wandle Park tram stop/East Croydon Station. Trams run about every 10 minutes Ring 020 7222 1234 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/trams for details By bus numbers 64, 119, 130, 194, 197, 198, 312, 367, 409, 410, 466, 726 and T33 to East Croydon Station Ring 020 7222 1234 for local guides/times or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner ❷ WADDON PONDS TO CAREW MANOR ❸ (1.44km, 20 mins) Pass the Ponds on your left, continue along bridleway. At Mill Lane Trading Estate, take right fork in path. At Lavington Road , cross footbridge over river, along Richmond Green. Take left fork in path at junction with Petersham Terrace, follow river. at junction of Kingston Gardens and Wandle Road. In front of mill into Bridges Lane. Pass the row of cottages called Mount Pleasant. Beddington Mill was probably founded on the site of a medieval mill. During the eighteenth century it was used to grind corn and later to grind tobacco into snuff. The existing brick mill was built in the 1890s for J and TH Wallis, who ran a bakery as well as a flourmill. Take riverside footpath between Wandle Court (on left) and river. At end of path, cross Hilliers Lane at controlled crossing, go into Guy Road. 100 metres across the bridge. and keep river on your left, take left fork behind first block of flats. Path curves right into a copse and left at the large cedar tree. When path forks (tarmac path goes right), follow track to left towards Carew Manor. Carew Manor was the home of the Carews of Beddington for 500 years. The house still contains a Great Hall with an impressive timber arch-braced hammer-beam roof, which dates from around 1500. You can also see the Dovecote, dating from the early eighteenth century. It has nesting boxes for pigeons, which were reared for food. ❸ CAREW MANOR TO ELMS POND ❹ (0.86km, 12 mins) At the end of the brick wall, follow rough path across an open space, until it emerges into a car park. Cross car park, walking past the cottages, then across bridge over river. and continue through Beddington Park. Pass Canon Bridges’ terracotta bridge on your left. The Watcombe Pottery, Torquay, built this ornamental terracotta bridge for Canon Bridges, the Rector of Beddington, at the end of the nineteenth century. He acquired the Park in 1859 when the last of the Hallowell-Carew family was forced to sell the estate to pay gambling debts. Continue through a gap in a post & rail fence, through a copse, past a small flint bridge on your left. Beyond bridge towards the lake. Keep lake on your left, cross 2 small bridges before coming to a car park. Cross car park diagonally and into the gardens. Go through gardens and cross Derek Avenue into Lakeside. Go , cross Quinton Close and into London Road. Cross London Road, using the central refuge. and pass Elms Pond on your right. ❺ CARSHALTON PONDS TO WILDERNESS ISLAND ❻ (0.84km, 12 mins) Keep the ponds on your left and before the bridge spanning the river. Continue past weir and alongside river on your left to park entrance. Cross bridge here and along shared pedestrian and cycle path between houses and river. Cross Papermill Close, then across the footbridge, then along tarmac path to Butter Hill. across river again. (At this point short cut rejoins Wandle Trail) Cross Butter Hill, continue under railway bridge. Pass the entrance to Wilderness Island. Wilderness Island is a statutory Local Nature Reserve. Tufted ducks breed on this part of the River and common darter dragonflies can be seen in the summer. Kingfishers breed along the River between Wilderness Island and Beddington Park. Some thirty species of birds have been recorded on the Island, including all three British woodpeckers, tree creepers and nuthatches. Useful numbers & Contacts National Cycle Network Route 22 - see inset below The Story of the Wandle Trail How to get there Groundwork Merton Telephone: 020 8687 4050 www.groundwork.org.uk/merton Sustrans Telephone: 0845 113 0065 www.nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk (for interactive mapping) London Borough of Sutton Telephone: 020 8770 5000 www.sutton.gov.uk London Borough of Merton Telephone: 020 8274 4901 www.merton.gov.uk London Borough of Wandsworth Telephone: 020 8871 6000 www.wandsworth.gov.uk The River Wandle has two sources, in Waddon and Carshalton, and flows to join the River Thames at Wandsworth. In its industrial heyday, it was Britain’s ‘hardest working river’, with over 90 mills along its banks. The Wandle Group, the Wandle Industrial Museum and the riparian London Boroughs have developed the (20 km/14mile long) Wandle Trail. The Trail allows local people to enjoy the heritage interest and flora and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of south London’s most industrialised landscape. The route description guides walkers from south (East Croydon) to north (the River Thames), but is easy to follow in either direction. We have included estimated walking times for each section. In places, the ground is uneven, making the Trail difficult for wheelchair users. However, the Wandle Trail Partners are committed to making it safer and more accessible for all users. Improvement work is in progress. The text describes alternative routes for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, where necessary. The map shows both walking and cycling routes, which coincide for much of the way but differ in places. It also shows links to other cycle routes and public transport. Part of the Trail is National Cycle Network Route 22. The Wandle Trail Art Programme is providing numbered gateways, viewing platforms and distinctive waymarkers. A travelling ‘waste wall’ will be the focus of community rubbish collection events. Visit www.wandletrail.org for further information. The Wandle Trail partners (the London Boroughs of Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth, Groundwork Merton and Sustrans) have published this map leaflet. The idea developed from the Wandle Industrial Museum’s earlier map and ‘The Wandle Guide’, published by the London Borough of Sutton for the Wandle Group. Beddington Park Waddon Ponds This leaflet has been produced in partnership with: Canon Bridges’ bridge Carew Manor Wilderness Island from River Gardens map continues over page ➔ ❺ Walk and Cycle Route S t a n l e y P a r k R o a d B o u n d a r y R d . B o u n d a r y R d . Woodmansterne Rd. The Oaks Park The Oaks Park The Oaks Park Oaks Track (cycling not permitted) From Westcroft Leisure Centre the route continues as part of the National Cycle Network,via Epsom Downs to Dorking, Guildford and the South Coast. For more information see www.nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk Route continues from main map -see above Croydon London Printed on 50% recycled paper and pulp from sustainable forests. This paper can be recycled ©2003 The Wandle Trail Partnership Designed by Squiggle Design Partners T: 020 8383 8660 W: www.squiggle.co.uk ❶ EAST CROYDON STATION TO WADDON PONDS ❷ (2.08km, 30 mins*) Leave station into George Street. Cross Park Lane and continue along George Street. At North End down Crown Hill towards church. into Old Palace Road at the Gun Tavern, first into Church Road. 20 metres, down alley towards church, along side of church, past west front. Through subway beneath Roman Way, then along St John’s Road. First into Sylverdale Road and at end through alleyway, to Waddon New Road. Over footbridge into Wandle Park(Croydon). then next to leave park, cross tram track by Wandle Park tram stop. (To avoid bridge along Waddon New Road, at lights along Waddon Road. Rejoin Trail at Vicarage Road). Along Vicarage Road, into Waddon Road. Keep . Cross Purley Way, down Mill Lane to Waddon Ponds. *Estimated walking time for this and other sections of the Trail, are based on an average walking speed of 4.5kmph ❹ ELMS POND TO CARSHALTON PONDS ❺ (1.26km, 17 mins) (Short cut: into Butter Hill. At far end, cross bridge and into Mill Lane.) Cross Butter Hill towards Rose and Crown pub. past shops then into Westcroft Road. 250 metres along, Westcroft Road is split by bollards - towards Westcroft Leisure Centre. Before you reach front of leisure centre, across bridge over canal into Grove Park. Follow path , passing the bowling green on your left. At T-junction of paths and follow tarmac path past the café and toilets, then between the Council buildings. With the main building on your right go down slope towards Carshalton Ponds. The two ponds at Carshalton were probably created in the early eighteenth century. The white stone bridge where the River leaves the ponds is often attributed to the Italian architect Giacomo Leoni. It bears the griffin from the arms of the Scawen family. They lived in Stone Court, a large house that stood on the west side of the River, one hundred yards downstream. ❻ WILDERNESS ISLAND TO POULTER PARK ❼ (2.72km, 40 mins) continues over page Keep into River Gardens. 150 metres on, just after River Gardens swings left, along riverside public footpath. Pass a weir and an industrial estate to a grassed area. Cross this diagonally to Nightingale Road. over bridge. Cross Nightingale Road and then onto riverside path (pedestrians can use left hand path, closer to river). Pass the white bridge on your left, and continue through a play area, to Culvers Avenue. Cross Culvers Avenue and keep along shared-use path with houses on right and river on left. Take left fork in shared-use path, then next left fork. towards bridge and cross it, then towards industrial estate. At Budge Lane , then continue along shared-use path to Middleton Road. Cross at controlled crossing. then into Watermead Lane. Pass the cottages and go into Poulter Park. The River is most attractive in its semi-rural setting by Poulter Park. The water is much cleaner due to the extensive submerged vegetation filtering it. Reed mace, reed sweet-grass, nettles and creeping thistle grow here on the banks. Carshalton Ponds (Grove Canal) Did you know that walking can have benefits for your health? As well as being a great way to get out in the fresh air and see your surroundings, walking can help to: ● Increase your fitness, stamina, confidence and well-being ● Reduce the risk of heart disease ● Control body weight ● Strengthen bones ● Reduce high blood pressure ● Reduce stress and anxiety ❹ ❻ ❸ ❷ ❶