Transport for LondonRoute details
Green Chain Walk: Section 4 Charlton Park via Plumstead Common to Bostall Woods or Oxleas Meadows
| Walk facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3.6 miles (5.8 km) |
| Location: | Greenwich |
| Start: | Charlton Park (GR 421-778) Get there with Journey Planner |
| Finish: | Bostall Woods (GR 471-779) or Oxleas Meadows (GR 439-762) |
| Factor: | Green Chain Walk: Section 4 Charlton Park via Plumstead Common to Bostall Woods or Oxleas Meadows |
| Recommended direction: | Charlton Park to Bostall Woods: west to east. Plumstead Common to Oxleas Meadows: north to south |
| Terrain and surface: | Fairly level from Charlton Park to Plumstead Common with some short slopes. Undulating elsewhere with some fairly steep slopes. Mixture of tarmac paths, pavements, rough tracks or paths and grass. No stiles. 2.0km (1.3ml) beside roads |
| Points of Interest: | Charlton Park, Royal Artillery Barracks and Museum, Plumstead Common, The Slade, Winns Common, Bleak Hill, Great Bartlett Wood, Bostall Woods, Shrewsbury Park, Eaglesfield Recreation Ground, Oxleas Meadows |
| Signage: | Complete. Logo: 'a linked G-C' and text 'Green Chain Walk' |
| Temporary Diversions: | |
| Refreshments and toilets: | Pubs at Charlton Village, Plumstead Common and Shooters Hill. Cafes at Charlton Village and Plumstead Common. Public toilets at Charlton Park, Plumstead Common, Bostall Woods and Oxleas Meadows |
| Public transport and breakpoints: | NR: Falconwood. Buses: Charlton Village, Ha-Ha Road, Plumstead Common, Wickham Lane, Longleigh Lane, Bostall Hill, Shooters Hill |
| Links with other walks: | Green Chain Walk Sections 2,3 and 5, Capital Ring Section 1 |
| How to get the map: | Download it from www.walklondon.org.uk or call 0870 240 6094 |
| Principal promoters: | LB Bexley, LB Bromley, LB Greenwich, LB Lewisham |
Walk details:
- A 'short cut' from Charlton Park to Bostall Woods, avoiding Oxleas Wood but passing through one of the hidden gems of southeast London, namely Plumstead Common.
- From Charlton Park the section starts with a long stretch beside fairly busy roads.
- However, it is not without interest as you walk beside the ha-ha (sunken wall) of the military training ground of the Royal Artillery Barracks, whose impressive 100m long facade can be seen in the distance.
- Also visible is its Rotunda, which houses a Museum of Artillery.
- Plumstead Common is delightful.
- First there are some small open spaces on undulating ground, then the main part stretching away to your right is dominated by the mock Tudor clocktower of the RACS Links Building.
- Further on is The Slade, one of several small ravines caused by landslips in this area, which are havens for wildlife.
- (If you follow the southward branch, The Slade requires a short diversion.) GCW 4 divides at Plumstead Common.
- One branch continues eastward, passing through The Slade with 90 steps down and 99 steps up.
- You cross Winns Common and Bleak Hill, then descend steeply into Great Bartlett Wood and across Wickham Lane.
- The route climbs steeply into Bostall Woods, but levels out to meet GCW 2 and 3 at Longleigh Lane.
- The other branch heads southward, climbing sharply with two long flights of steps up to Shrewsbury Park, where you have fine views across the Thames.
- At Eaglesfield Recreation Ground you reach the summit of Shooters Hill at altitude 130m (427ft) with extensive views to the east into Kent.
- Nearby rises a distinctive water tower, visible for miles around.
- After crossing Shooters Hill you follow a quiet lane down to Oxleas Meadows to meet GCW 3 and 5.
- There are short links to GCW 6 and 7 and to Falconwood station via Section 3 through Oxleas Wood.
