The 52 mile Green Chain Walk, London's first long distance footpath, opened in 1977. The network links together the open spaces in the great arc of protected, undeveloped land with a total area of 4,500 acres, that sweeps around South East London from Crystal Palace to the Thames at Erith and Thamesmead. I followed the maps and guidance from the Inner London Ramblers website. Although I have walked parts before this is my project for 2024.
Section 9 starts at the junction of sections 7 and 8 on Mottingham Lane and takes a southerly route to Beckenham Place Park. It is around 6 miles in length. My friend Mike joined me and we arrived at Mottingham station around 11am then headed to the start point.
So along Mottingham Lane then Grove Park Road passing the chapel of Eltham College on the way.
Into Foxes Field and Mottingham Sports Grounds.
Lower Marvels Wood with the Grove Park Ditch running alongside.
The woods are getting quite muddy as expected.
Passing Grove Park cemetery and the junction with section 9A I walked last week.
The path runs alongside the railway then across it on a bridge.
After a short section of road with pleasant views a wooded area surrounding Sunbridge Park Golf Club is entered.
A view of the golf course then more wooded paths alongside it. Now follows quite a long stretch of road walking with nothing to report.
A couple of rough unadopted roads are walked along. The gateway here was once part of the London School Board's headquarters on Victoria Embankment, how it reached here is unclear. A pleasant path leads towards Ravensbourne.
The river Ravensbourne is crossed then the railway by the station.
Beckenham Place Park is reached and near the entrance rocky outcrops of puddingstone are seen with an information panel. These are similar to the Dog Rocks I saw on section 4.
A view across Crab Hill. Then at another signpost the end of section 9 is reached with the junction of sections 8 and 10. We made our way back to Ravensbourne station where we took the train to Blackfriars and lunched in Dogetts before making our way home.