Best walks to or from Eltham

Eltham Station to Sidcup Station

remarkably green. Almost entirely off-road and traffic-free, following the waymarked Shuttle Riverway through parks, ancient and younger woodland and green riverside footpaths. Mostly flat with some short slopes near Avery Hill and one unpaved muddy section; kissing-gate barriers. Follows the Shuttle Riverway along the River Shuttle from its source; passes the Winter Garden glasshouse in Avery Hill Park (free, open 10-16); toilets at Eltham station.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

Lunch: A cafe in Avery Hill Park is the only mid-route stop, plus plenty of benches and bus stops.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Eltham Station to Woolwich Arsenal Station

particularly amazing views across south London, Kent and Essex. A green walk over the top of Shooters Hill, one of London's tallest points, through shady ancient woodlands and meadows, using the well-signposted Green Chain Walk. Muddy sections even into summer and with multiple steep bits and banked-earth steps. Uses the Green Chain Walk over Shooters Hill. Shepherdleas Wood has beautiful bluebells; best views from Oxleas Meadow, Eaglesfield Park and Shrewsbury Park. Easy detours to Severndroog Castle and Eltham Palace. A few buses on Rochester Way, Shooters Hill or Plumstead Common Road.

Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.

Steep in places and muddy when wet; multiple steep sections and steps.

Lunch: A great café at the top of Oxleas Meadow with a public toilet, plus several shops along the way; coffee at Severndroog Castle.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Bromley South Station to Eltham Station

great views, history all around; amazing London views. An amazingly green walk through the woodlands and green spaces of south-east London, with suburban roads at intervals. Mostly off-road and varied underfoot; lots of stairs over rail lines and narrow points and cycle barriers. Paths in places (such as Elmstead Woods) are not always clear. Follows King John's Walk and the Green Chain Walk network through south-east London.

Easy: 8km, moderate ascents.

Crossing the busy-ish Plaistow Lane near Sundridge Park has no visible crossing point or lights. Numerous footbridges with steps.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Catford Station to Eltham Station

A mostly quiet, hilly walk along residential roads and through two large parks (Mountsfield and Sutcliffe) and with some good views and re-naturalised river habitat. Well-paved throughout but with steps exiting Mountsfield Park and 100–200m slopes of around 5%; no nasty road crossings. Sutcliffe Park has the re-naturalised River Quaggy with wildflower meadows and boardwalks through reeds and wet woodland. Hither Green and Lee stations are on the route, intersecting 10+ bus routes; Sutcliffe Park isn't locked at night but Mountsfield Park is.

Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.

Steps exiting Mountsfield Park, which is dark, unoverlooked and should be locked at night (Davenport/Laleham Roads are a simple alternative). Quite hilly.

Lunch: Cafés in both Mountsfield and Sutcliffe parks; cafés, a pub and food shops near Hither Green station, and more where the route crosses bigger roads (Tesco at Catford Shopping Centre).

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Blackheath Station to Eltham Station

A very direct route along lots of quiet, low-traffic roads and footpaths, plus a few small to medium parks. Runs close to the train line and the very busy A2 for a stretch and which some will find noisy; mostly paved and partly a cycle path.

Easy: 4km, gentle ascents.

Confusing navigation near Kidbrooke station around recent property developments. The Edith Nesbit Walk section runs between the raised A2 and a sports field; it is the noisiest part and has felt dirty and unsafe to some.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route