Best walks to or from Mitcham Eastfields

Mitcham Eastfields Station to East Croydon Station

some good views. A route of two parts: roughly half on the busy, lively London Road and residential streets, half across the open common land of Mitcham Common with ups, downs and great views. The common can be soft, wet, boggy and muddy in places and especially around the ponds; some bike barriers.

7km.

Mitcham Common and the back alleyways are unlit and could feel uncomfortable after dark; do not cross the busy London Road roads against the lights.

Lunch: Both Croydon and Mitcham have plentiful refreshment opportunities.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Mitcham Eastfields Station to Wallington Station

A greener footpath alternative diverting through Beddington Farmlands (two lakes and birdwatching hides) and Beddington and Grange Parks. The first stretch out of Mitcham is alongside a busy road; thereafter it is mostly firm gravel through the Farmlands and surfaced through the parks. Farmland paths can be muddy in winter and there are steep steps each side of a tramway bridge. Beddington Farmlands has two birdwatching hides overlooking lakes; herons, egrets, lapwing and other wildfowl seen.

Easy: 6km, gentle ascents.

Steep steps each side of the bridge over the tramway, and steps on the railway footbridge. Crossing the busy A237 Carshalton Road is tricky.

Lunch: Plenty of shops and cafes in Wallington and Mitcham, but nothing in between.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Mitcham Eastfields Station to Norbury Station

A wholly urban route, mostly on quieter residential streets and pavements with some footpaths and traffic-free cut-throughs, including Streatham Vale Park. Good paths throughout and with steps over the railway at Mitcham Eastfields that can be avoided via the level crossing. Streatham Vale Park and Oakleigh Way Recreation Ground have benches to rest; passes Mitcham Eastfields station.

3km.

The road crossing at Eastfields level crossing can be busy.

Lunch: Shops at each end and a coffee shop at the corner of Streatham Vale Road and Woodmansterne Road.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Sutton Station to Mitcham Eastfields Station

Starts outside Sutton station past shops, then a mainly residential route as far as St Helier Hospital, with views to Croydon and the Crystal Palace transmitter. Beyond there it follows pavement beside a park into open space and becoming vaguer at Poulter Park; the path beside the River Wandle was very muddy. Follows the River Wandle towards the end.

Easy: 6km, flat terrain.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

St. Helier Station to Mitcham Eastfields Station

A pleasant, flat urban walk on quiet roads, good footpaths and through parkland, with no hills. The route deliberately strings together the greener spaces and including a stretch of the Wandle Walk through Ravensbury Park and a finish through Morden Recreation Ground. Follows part of the Wandle Walk through Ravensbury Park.

4km.

Church Road can be too busy to cross directly; use the roundabout crossing instead.

Lunch: A cafe at the entrance to Ravensbury Park, near Mitcham.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Mitcham Eastfields Station to Streatham Station

A flat, easy-to-navigate but unremarkable walk basically along a straight main road, passing the small green space of Figges Marsh and with a hill up into Streatham towards the end. A short detour through Figges Marsh adds a little greenery.

Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.

Lunch: Enough convenience shops along the way to keep you nourished, though few appealing places to stop and eat.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Wimbledon Station to Mitcham Eastfields Station

A walk with a lot of road walking, brightened by an excellent middle section along the River Wandle on the Wandle Trail, through trees and past a city farm. A busy and trafficky main-road stretch near South Wimbledon could be replaced by quieter back ways; all good pavements and paths with no steps. Follows the Wandle Trail through the middle and passes Deen City Farm. Connects South Wimbledon (Northern line) into the network. Wimbledon Common is about ten minutes further on.

Easy: 4km, gentle ascents.

Lunch: An excellent refreshment opportunity at Merton Abbey Mills.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route