Capital Ring 4. Crystal Palace to Streatham (& the source of "Peckham Springs"?)

 

Gill and I are walking around London via "The Capital Ring" (78 miles with 15 separate routes). While it is not a race and we can take as long as we want to complete, we have been busy lately with various other "commitments". So this post is more than a little late (we did the walk last month). Will try and catch up.

We started at Crystal Palace station and thankfully this was a short route (4.1 miles) since it rained and rained nearly all the way. Not so heavy that you had to give up but we were pretty soggy but it was not cold o windy for March. 

South London is surprisingly hilly in parts (by London standards). There was nothing too steep and some great views. This route was mostly suburban but lots of parks, commons and remnants of ancient forests (such as the Great North Wood). There was even a 19th Century mansion in Norwood Grove where we stopped for coffee (flasks) and treats under a tree while sheltering from the rain. 

When we came towards Streatham Common we were amazed at the wonderful "Rockery Gardens" which are well worth a visit. There used to be famous mineral water wells here which are now sadly unused (and reminded me not unkindly of another more modern, South London mineral water site, called "Peckham Springs")

Streatham Common is a real London "Green Lung" and it must be a fantastic community asset. We finished with a beer at the local Spoons (which now may be closed for a refurbishment so check). 

Will post more pictures of walk on Facebook