Best walks to or from Purley

Purley Station to Kenley Station

A short, hilly suburban route rising up the side of a steep-sided valley and mostly on very quiet residential roads with some footpaths/alleyways and a crossing of a nature reserve grazed by cows. One very steep section - a long flight of stairs between Friends Road and Cliff End - otherwise under 10% gradient; a couple of kissing gates but no stiles. Crosses Riddlesdown, City of London open land.

Tough: steep ascents. 2km.

A long, steep flight of over 100 steps between Friends Road and Cliff End; grazing cows on the nature reserve can cluster around and block the gate, and dogs must be on leads; cross Downs Court Road near the Cliff End junction to avoid a blind bend.

Lunch: A couple of eat/shop options and a pub near Kenley station.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Sutton Station to Purley Station

A good South London urban route on pavements through green, leafy residential streets, with a bit of hill here and there over the buried North Downs. Purley is traffic-heavy but the route becomes quieter up the hill and with some good distant views.

7km.

Stanley Park at Carshalton has no clear through route; locals squeeze through a gap in the fence at the Carshalton Beeches side. The stretch into Sutton can be a little busy.

Lunch: Possible refreshments at Woodcote Green and Carshalton Beeches.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Wallington Station to Purley Station

A greener-than-expected suburban route, with a steady climb out of Wallington on a traffic-free path, open downland in the middle, a downhill footpath into Purley. Ground can be soggy or slightly muddy in wet weather and with steps and grassland. Toilets in the large Tesco at the Purley end.

Easy: 4km, moderate ascents.

Lunch: Roads and shops at either end, but no facilities in between.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Purley Station to East Croydon Station

A mainly quiet-roads suburban route, a little dull and with a pleasant green start through a park. Includes steps at Sanderstead Station and over a couple of railway bridges.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Coulsdon Town Station to Purley Station

A good off-the-main-road urban walk through residential streets between Coulsdon and Purley, on all paved surfaces and quite firm underfoot and but fairly hilly with steep ups and downs. Several footpaths between houses are easy to miss without a map; roads are not busy.

Tough: steep ascents. 3km.

Lunch: There is a Tesco Extra in Purley after the railway bridge.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route