Weekend rambles: Shabden Park (2¼ miles; easy)

insidecroydon

15 years ago

WALKER DUNELM offers a short, easy stroll near Banstead Woods for this weekend

This short walk provides good views of Chipstead Valley and Banstead Woods.

For hardy souls it could provide an extension to the Chipstead and Mugswell walk outlined here.

Starting from a small parking area by the entrance to Shabden Park Farm (which is usually closed on Mondays), walk down the farm lane and, after passing the farm, go through a gate and downhill on a rough, stony track through woods.

An easy downhill stroll: the opening few yards of a walk around Shabden Park

When the track ends, turn right on a stony track with a barbed wire fence on the left.

After 800 yards, where a track joins from the right, go through a wicket gate and immediately turn left, downhill on a signed permissive path.

At the bottom of the valley, climb up by a fence on the left, go through a kissing gate and follow a field edge path which turns right into woods.

Almost immediately bear left (do not take the path to the right leading to a permissive horse ride). As you go through the wood note the coppiced trees and the occasional remains of trees blown down in the 1987 hurricane. At a fork and post with a yellow footpath waymark, bear right. Walk through a clearing and slightly downhill.

On reaching a crossing track, at a post with three waymarks and a sign prohibiting horse riders, turn left. Follow the path downhill, through a kissing gate and maintain direction, then uphill on a permissive path.

At the top of the field turn left on a clear, grassy track, then turn right through a wicket and walk uphill past Shabden Farm to return to the car park.

For all Walker Dunelm’s previous weekend rambles, click here

Maps: Explorer 46

Distance: 2¼ miles Time: 1 hour

Terrain: Stony tracks, grassy fields, woodland. One steepish descent, one steepish ascent.

Parking: A small parking area by the entrance to Shabden Park Farm (grid ref TQ276563). If full, there a few small roadside lay-bys between the parking area and the White Hart pub. There is also a car park adjacent to the village hall.

Nearest town: Coulsdon

Refreshments: The White Hart, Chipstead

Public toilets: None

Stiles: None

Grade: Easy