I don’t have high expectations for this leg. I’m starting it on a bus out of Croydon and finishing in Lewisham – think it might be urban all the way! (Spoiler – it’s not – hurrah). As I say it started on the top deck, front seats, of the 403 bus being attacked by low hanging branches as we left the metropolis of Croydon behind and quickly reached the leafy suburbs. The bus dropped me at Warlingham Sainsburys, which was an obvious place to stock up on a meal deal. I did consider something healthier after the BBC Panorama program last night about Ultra Processed food. As a concession, I had a nice original coke to avoid the aspartame.

I followed the road for about a kilometre, the fauna of the verges was so high, initially I didn’t think there was a pavement, but there was and I was pleased to find it. I turned off the road onto a footpath and soon saw a big pile of chalk I recognised from the previous leg (a cairn marking my last point on the GMT!). This was good, as I was slightly uncertain of where I had deviated from the path at the end of the last leg. It was nice to see some GMT waymarkers as the route headed of across some very nice fields. There were glimpses of the Croydon skyline, which became particularly strange as I came across the remnants of a sheep shearing “party”. I’m sure there aren’t too many shepherds in Croydon!

Soon after that, I came across my first closed footpath of the trail. I always find this annoying, especially when it says, “There is no alternative.” The closure was for a new development, and the only alternative was down a road, I feel sure the council could push the developer to signpost the diversion and even, maybe, a few signs in the road warning cars of walkers – wouldn’t cost much. Instead, you are just left to your own devices. This wasn’t too bad a diversion, the worst I have come across is when a footpath bridge is closed with no alternative!

The countryside around here really surprised me with quaint little churches and old trackways, and all under the flight path of the private jets going into Biggin Hill aerodrome. However, I soon got to Addington for a long walk through old council estates. There was so much open public land it had a good feel to it, and still plenty to see – the first (or last) travelling fairground truck to arrive and lots of litter. The fly-tipping has become much worse as you get close to urban areas, together with overflowing bins and rubbish around the open areas – it would be easy to sort out. While walking I have too much time on my hands – so have found the technological solution! For example, when you buy a McDonalds, the bag, cup and box etc have a unique barcode that is scanned at the time of purchase and linked to the card of the purchaser. When rubbish is found the cost of dealing with it (I guess it would need to be returned?) goes to McDonalds, who know who’s rubbish it is – they can pass the cost onto the customer – or preferably just ban the customer. Easy!!! Rant over!

There was very little evidence of the GMT on this whole route, and I was totally dependant on the route I’d transcribed onto the Ordnance Survey App (the best £24 a year you can spend!), but there was odd bits of evidence such as the Meridian High School in Addington. On the way through New Addington I needed to find a route into Birch Wood. Just as a spotted the overground path, littered with fly tipping, a black VW golf pulled up and a guy in a hoodie jumped out and headed down the path – it looked really dodgy! Anyway, as there were no alternatives so I made a decision to follow. I saw nothing untoward, in fact, I think he was just going for a jog! It was worth the risk, as it got me onto the most glorious woodland walk for over half an hour. You would never know you were behind a massive housing estate. The nice countryside continued through to West Wickham with its flint Church and fields of horses.

The next conurbation was Hayes (in Kent – there seems to be a few other Hayes around), here the route was through real tidy suburbia, with gardeners, tree surgeons, driveway cleaners and generally immaculate streets. The GMT was not waymarked at all, but weaved through streets picking up as many parks on the way (all with duck ponds). Even then, when I thought it would just be streets the rest of the way, the route headed into Wickham Common with very impressive historic earthworks. As I walked towards Bromley I passed a Meridian stone marker, which is always a reassuring sign when following an invisible line. Then into Bromley town centre looking pretty vibrant, with nice park and duck pond before getting to Beckenham Palace. This is not to be confused with Buckingham Palace, or where the Beckhams live. I’d not heard or been here before, but lovely grounds for a modest size house. I think the rest of the travelling fairground I saw earlier was still here.

It was a short road section to Lower Sydenham Station, where the path heads north following the railway and rivers towards Lewisham and the Thames, respectively. There are a series of linear parks following the river, and they are really nice. I can only imaging what this area must have looked like a few decades ago. The first was the Pool River park, the way the river has been made to meander, with little weirs and shallows, together with really nice plants – it must be wildlife heaven. The river still has concrete walls for flood defence, but they are nicely engineered, switching sides to allow different areas to flood in high water. I must say its a really good job! I have a recollection of doing a project on the River Ravensbourne which is the next section leading from Catford down to Lewisham. I don’t recall too much about the project but certainly proud of what has been done here. This whole section was a great surprise, especially as I walked it during school finishing time, it was great to see load of kids using it and having a great time walking home from school.

The GMT passes straight through Lewisham, somewhere I’ve never been before, and I jumped straight on a train so will have a look around when I start the next leg. I’m now very close to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and will reach the epicentre of my quest on the next leg. I wasn’t expecting too much for this leg – but could have easily written much more – so it must be the countryside that is boring!!!!