The London LOOP (London Outer Orbital Path) is 140 miles long, and encircles the capital slightly inside the line of the M25. In "The London Loop" by David Sharp (ISBN 1-85410-759-3) it is divided up into 15 stages, each beginning and ending near a railway station. The book has good route descriptions and maps, though you do not really need these since it is generally well waymarked green fingerposts showing the blue London Loop circle.

The London LOOP links up a large number of open spaces round the capital. Some members of the Wednesday walkers have expressed interest in doing the a stage a month of the LOOP , so Piers Nicholson has agreed to lead a group doing the LOOP. We walked the first stage, from Banstead to Kingston, is on Wednesday 2 December All sections are accessible by public transport. Detailed suggestions for public transport links to the start and end of the next walk will be posted on www.piersnicholson.com/london_loop.html

There is a good outline map of the whole LOOP at http://www.walklondon.org.uk/walk_finder.asp and you can also click on individual sections to get route descriptions. The next sections are:

We welcome walkers from other groups within the Rambleers Assopciation.

You can see some pictures of the previous stages of the LOOP here
Stage 6 - Banstead to Kingston Bridge (sorry-no pictures)
Stage 7 - Kingston Bridge to Hatton Cross
Stage 8 - Hatton Cross to Uxbridge Lock
Stage 9 - Uxbridge Lock to Moor Park
Stage 10 - Moor Park to Elstree
Stage 11 - Elstree to Cockfosters
Stage 12 - Cockfosters to Enfield Lock
Stage 13 - Enfield Lock to Harold Wood
Stage 14 - Harold Wood to Purfleet
Stage 1 - Erith to Old Bexley
Stage 2 - Old Bexley to Petts Wood
Stage 3 - Petts Wood to West Wickham
Stage 4 - West Wickham to Hamley Green
Stage 5 - Hanley Green to Banstead



Wednesday 2 March: London LOOP stage 4: West Wickham to Hamsey Green (9 miles)

This very pleasant section passes through attractive countryside linking several country parks and commons.
Start at Hayes Station at 11.15 am
This section will be led by Don MacLeod - phone 01737 551133 or mobile (on day only) 07722 887 080
Information for Wed 2 March Route directions at http://www.walklondon.org.uk/section.asp?S=4

Getting to Hayes station
by public transport

There are plenty of permutations for getting to Hayes Station
The tfl.gov.uk website recommends catching the 9.49 Southern train towards Victoria, change at Mitcham Junction to catch the 10.11 tramlink to New Addington, and change there to a 314 or 353 bus to Hayes Station arriving at 10.59

Weather forecast see www.bbc.co.uk/weather




Wednesday 6 April: London LOOP stage 5: Hamsey Green to Banstead(9 miles) - FINAL STAGE !!

This very attractive section of quite strenuous walking features in quick succession four commons controlled by the Corporation of London. Riddlesdown, Kenley Common, Coulsdon Common and Farthing Downs
Start at 11.00 am at corner of Limpsfield Road and Tithepit Shaw Lane (TQ349595)
*** Alternatdive start (for those who do not like buses) at Whyteleafe Station (see below) to join Hamsey Green walkers around 11.30 - timing no guaranteed
Leaders phone 01372 725742 or mobile (on day only) 07 909 747 335

Information for Wed 6 April Route directions at http://www.walklondon.org.uk/section.asp?S=5

Getting to Hamsey Green

Catch 9.49 to Sutton and change there to 10.03 to West Croydon. Walk to West Croydon bus station and take route bus 403 towards Warlingham. Get off at corner of Limpsfield Road and Tithepit Shaw Lane

Alternatively take train to Whyteleafe Station and walk about 10 minutes north along Godstone Road (A22) to the junction with Old Barn Lane (SSA 80 F3) to join the walk at approx 11.35am. (Old Barn Lane has a clear Loop sign and is almost opposite the Loop path where it meets Godstone Rd from the Hamsey Green side)

Weather forecast see www.bbc.co.uk/weather