Skirting the edge of the park eventually leads to the service lane of a school and then a long walk down a suburban residential street. This seemed a little endless, with every roundabout and road junction hoping that route would change, but didn't. Eventually I pass a no through road sign and the end of the houses is in sight. I had got so hypnotised by the houses that I forgot to check the map at this point and tramped into the woods in completely the wrong direction. Eventually it dawned on me that I'd gone wrong, and I backtracked to find the much broader track through Sparrow and Roundabout Woods.
I like woodland walking, but this was some how second rate. The principal complaint was the condition of the ground underfoot, and the continuous dodging of very very large puddles meant this bit of the walk took much much longer than intended. The worst point was where the path crossed a small stream where it looked like the stream was crossing the bridge, not going under it. After this through the path dried a little and soon came to a more open grassland area with a few trees dotted around. Down to a tarmac path then led to the main road at Crofton.
Crossing this road I head past the scout hut and down a winding alleyway between gardens and houses. At first this is dark and claustrophobic, the sort of place you wouldn't want to walk down at night. I quickly catch up with a doddering old lady, who I think feels the same way and seem quite alarmed as I approach. Soon I back with the houses, but only briefly and then I walking up hill through Darrick Wood, a much more pleasant plot of trees. But I'm quickly through the trees and passing a playing field and tennis courts. Then something of a surprise view with benches waiting to take it all in. And I could do with a short break - its quite humid today. Sadly both benches are occupied, and look like they'll be occupied for some time, by four middle-aged women with, at a guess, 12 dogs in tow. So instead I drop down the grassly slope, to the hedge and road below.
Crossing the main road, takes me to an alley way between houses and then onto Gladstone Road and into the village of Farnborough. Walking through this little village and take to path to the village church - St Giles the Abbott and finally take my break on the bench under the church's dominant yew tree, planted in the 1640s, when the nave of the church was rebuilt following storm damage.
A short stoll through the churchyard leads to an open, undulating grass field. The trees here are more exotic and it definitely feels like ornamental park land. And so it is because a short walk through the woods at the end of the field lead to the car park of High Elms Country Park. This was once the home of the Lubbock family, but since the 1960s it has been owned by Bromley Council. The house is long gone, but the stables still exist and house a wildlife centre. There's also a Eton wall game court. Passing this the exact route of the LOOP becomes indistinct. There's lots of paths but no signs. I cross the formal terraced gardens and find myself on the edge of High Elms golf course. Clearly this isn't quite right, but I press on and drop down past the clubhouse into the car park, then down the course's driveway.
I now follow a small path parallel to the road and pass a farmhouse with an impressive weathervane. Its here I turn up the hill, cross another part of the golf course, then head into more woodland, to eventually emerge onto North End Lane.
From here I follow an old green lane, but for much of it there's a handy path along the edge of a cropped field. In the warm sun this provides great views across the rolling countryside, and amazes me that I am walking inside Greater London. I could be in rural Oxfordshire! This route has the charming name of Bogey Lane, confirmed by the street sign at the junction with Farthing Street.
I follow the sharp corners of Farthing Street to the busy Shire Lane. Here I'm worried. The cars are going pretty fast here, but handily there is a path behind the far hedgerow. The downside is that it is heavily overgrown with cow parsley. The benefit is you get good views of the parkland up the hill to the north and importantly Holwood House, the former home of William Pitt the Younger.
Finally, after fighting with the jungle, I head up the hill towards to house, and before heading into more woodland get some more stunning views of the London countryside. Then up ahead I reach the Wilberforce Oak, or what's left of it. In fact there are two old tree stumps here, and at first I get the two mixed up. The Wilberforce Oak is the one that is fenced in and somewhat overgrown by surrounding plants. There's also large stone bench, but this is on the estate land behind a huge security fence. All a bit over done if you ask me and spoils the setting a little. For it is at this spot that William Wilberforce is supposed to have decided that he would pursue a campaign to abolish slavery.
Now its down the hill towards Keston Common and its lakes. Crossing the car park takes you past the source of the Ravensbourne, which has been bricked in and looks like a water feature in an 1970s shopping centre. There are three ponds here, covered in lily leafs with flower buds ready to burst. There are also a few families of wildfowl with mallard dusk and young coots on the water. By the third pool is an ice cream van and I stop for a 99, before heading on towards Keston village.
The village you just skirt before your back into more woodland, this a thin strip that leads to West Wickham Common. This is later confirmed by a huge Corporation of London sign, for it is the City elders that own this plot. Like Petts Wood its purchase was an early attempt to preserve some green space in South London in the early part of the 20th century. And you're quite high up here, with some good views of suburbia.
However, eventually the common ends and I arrive at a busy road junction that marks the end of the walk today. I now make my way along the very undulating path that leads to the shops around Hayes station and the train home.
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