Nooks and Crannies

[bigbadwolf]

I was on Sydenham Hill yesterday and I was caught short. On seeking an appropriate bush to deposit my ablutions and I stumbled upon something I never knew existed.

I discovered a previously unknown short cut. Now I've lived in Forest Hill and Sydenham all my life and consider myself pretty savvy concerning my local knowledge but I never knew of the secret path linking Sydenham Hill and the High level drive housing complex.

I personally have no need to go to High level drive as I don't have any aquaintances, or indeed friends who live there but I thought it was a refreshing discovery.

Has anyone else discovered any Narnia like lands (a bit prosaic I know) around Sydenham and Forest Hill.

P.s No dogging hotspots or any other associated cottaging sites. Thanks.

[Thomas]

Was that near Dome Hill Park - the map shows the area as "the wood"? The area behind what used to be Upper Sydenham station on Wells Park Road towards Vigilant Close is very quiet and deserted. Sydenham Hill Wood is also interesting - strange to walk through what used to be the back gardens of houses that were demolished some years back and have reverted to nature.

[Trawlerman]

Looks interesting. Thanks.
I'll look these up

[Rebelmc]

Was that near Dome Hill Park - the map shows the area as "the wood"? The area behind what used to be Upper Sydenham station on Wells Park Road towards Vigilant Close is very quiet and deserted. Sydenham Hill Wood is also interesting - strange to walk through what used to be the back gardens of houses that were demolished some years back and have reverted to nature.

I don't know if the path that bbw refers to is that much of a secret, it's tarmaced, so enough people know about it.

It runs down the side of 14 Sydenham Hill and behind the garage block that's part of Bluebell Close.

I don't know what map you're looking at Thomas, but usually references to 'the wood' in that area mean the house and it's grounds at 16 Sydenham Hill; the house is called The Wood and there's a thread about it in the museum section, complete with pictures.

[ummy]

Lived there for many years when the houses and flats were first built - used the 2 shortcuts through the trees many times - one from behind the houses on Sydenham Hill which cut down through the trees (not tarmac then - we just made our own pathway through the trees and came out behind the block of flats at the end of Vigilant Close) - and then of course the pathway through from Wells Park Road through the open land/trees, past the old tunnel and came out at the bottom of Vigilant Close. Great days !

[bensonby]

are we all talking about this path: Click

[ummy]

no - that's low cross wood lane which runs from behind the Dulwich Wood House down to Sydenham Hill Station - used that one a lot too going to/from work (often in the pitch black through the woods!)

I will check out Google maps and see if I can send a link to the 2 walks I was referring to

[ummy]

Walk 1 - Walk along Sydenham Hill from the roundabout at Crystal Palace, you come to Bluebell Close on the right hand side - a short terrace of houses - cut round the side of the house on the far left of Bluebell Close, bearing left, meander down through the trees and come out around Talisman Square - I wonder whether they now have blocked off any of that access - this was 40 years ago when the houses had not long been built ! But pretty treachourous at times at midnight after a few beers ! What WAS I doing !
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=b ... a=N&tab=wl


Walk 2 - accessed via Wells Park Road - From the top of Wells Park Road from Sydenham Hill, walk down on the right hand side and a short way down, past the bus stop, at the end of black railings there is a gate - go through there, follow the tarmac path down through the trees, past the old railway tunnel entrance and comes out at the bottom of Vigilant Close