Walking the London Orbital Path | London Loop Section 5 (4K)

Walking the London Loop Section 5 from Coulsdon South to Hamsey Green in the London Borough of Croydon
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I'm finally back on the London Loop for the first time since February 2020 picking up at Coulsdon South and walking Section 5 to Hamsey Green. The London Loop is a 150-mile orbital path around London divided into 24 sections. I started on Section 9 at Enfield back in January 2018 and have been walking the London Loop clockwise, in the opposite direction. Section 5 is one of the must picturesque so far passing across a chain of Commons managed by the City of London - Farthing Downs, Coulsdon Common, Kenley Common, and Riddlesdown. We also pass through Devilsden Wood, Happy Valley, RAF Kenley, Riddlesdown Quarry, and Betts Mead.
The Ramblers are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the London Loop in September 2021 with a Love your Loop event - more info here: innerlondonram...
More info about the London Loop with maps and notes tfl.gov.uk/mod...
Transport for London London Loop Section 5 route map and directions content.tfl.go...
More info about Farthing Downs here en.wikipedia.o...
Music:
Tupelo Train by Chris Haugen
Little Drunk, Quiet Floats by Puddle of Infinity
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Watch: It's Great to be Back ... on the London Loop | Walking Section 4 • It's Great to be Back ...
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[@hdoddema]

I think this video shows again how great the concept of public footpaths is, at least to my foreign eyes. The little paths between houses or across fields (or over the grounds of astronomical observatories) are all so nice.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s a great sentiment Harry

[@TrevRaynsford]

I did this walk many times when I lived in London. Ended up at The Fox in Old Coulsdon for a meal and a couple of pints of ale. Happy Days!

[@ianprince1698]

in memory of my dad who took me on many a walk on riddles down and the north downs many years ago

[@2Sugarbears]

More London Loop please. I just loved this walk. Thanks so much John.

[@kenl7057]

At long last, John, you have returned to the Loop and completed section 5, which in my view is the best section of all. We walked it in early Spring with leafless woods and the drumming of woodpeckers, so it is good to see it so luxuriant, the meadows teeming with flowers. Sections 2 and 3 come fairly close in quality also, so keep going. We would like to see them in Summer too.

[@dominicrivron2306]

London Loop walks? Spread 'em out. One of the great things about your videos is that you never know what to expect (in a good way) from week to week. And it's nice when the London Loop pops up now and again.

[@gphunk1995]

Sunday is now complete. Will look forward to watching this later.

[@thewalkingman777]

I love the London Loop so much, mostly because it takes you to places you'd never go otherwise and they are usually really nice. I finished it two weeks ago. I think you'll love sections 2 and 3 just as much as this one, John, when you get around to them. I'd recommend doing them both together and making sure the walk goes into the evening. I felt a bit bereft after finishing so I started the Capital Ring the next day lol

[@Sweeneysglassstory]

Always makes me laugh seeing someone unlike a video as if there a paid KZbin critic 😂 this is actually my first time watching your footage & im loving it! I’m almost 29 & live a train ride away from kings cross, never in my life did I know London had so much nature, really interesting video & so relaxing to watch :)

[@susanjanemay5713]

Really lovely walk, I was so surprised to see such countryside Within London. I'd really love to see more of this walk please 🙏🏻😊

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Lovely walk! (Tho' I would have caved in and stopped at the Fox for a pint of real ale!). Btw, we have stinging nettle in the U.S. also, alas! Glad to say it seems you are healing up well.

[@thomasbates2326]

Excellent walk, John. I loved the beginning by Farthing Downs. I've walked here. Somewhere close by an information board tells you that DH Lawrence walked here with a friend apparently. This was when he was a teacher in Croydon

[@redfred70]

Hi John, really enjoyed the video. I used to live in this area and have many happy memories of spending my teenage years with my mates in Happy Valley, Kenley and Riddlesdown. That was 30 years ago, but I often dream and look back with a wistful nostalgia for days gone by, seemingly endless sunny days and the exuberance of youth. Love the London Loop walks, I think the next one will also be very scenic. Many thanks - David in Essex.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

yup.. see you on the next walk...lovely walk out in the country. thanks a lot John

[@mitzy123]

I've done this walk myself and it's beautiful! Section 5 and 2 were by far my favourites

[@DaveFord]

A super video John. (I think that you might be right about Italy!).

[@lloydevans1552]

Love the videos and reading the comments. Thank you for bringing the wide open spaces to our lounge this evening.

[@morriganwitch]

Thank you John what a lovely walk xxx

[@sandrasmith3207]

Fantastic walk. Can't wait for the next installment of the London Loop.

[@stuartshipton5612]

The scenery was breath-taking, like watching an episode of The Detectorists! Thanks John.

[@terryflynn1956]

So good to see you getting Loopy again John . What a great walk in a truly beautiful location enhanced by the gorgeous weather. You wouldn’t believe it’s in London . 😊👍

[@RajSinghKhalsa]

Great Walk John , hopefully I'm starting the London loop with my son in the School holidays, you looked and sounded very tired around the 25min mark of the video and a well deserved pint after I trust, keep up the good work

[@MarkDavison59]

Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to return to London! I've walked those paths many times over the years. My heart is now aching to return! One of my blessings is have had a friendship with 2, late, Spitfire pilots who flew out of RAF Kenley during the war. Also a dear, late, cousin whose home was damaged during the Dornier attack on 18 Aug 40. Thankfully she, and the rest of the family, were unscathed!

[@davidshearer8793]

Amazing views - and so close to London. The wisdom of our ancestors to set aside a green belt around London. And as for the Roman Legions marching around Coulsden, it doesn't matter if it's true, but it ought to be true - so I'll believe it.

[@lizstevenson7801]

Thank you so much for this beautiful walk, having grown up in London I must say I have not heard of some of the places you walked through today. I did enjoy seeing this as I now live in Australia.

[@alltheteam69]

More of London Loop please John. I’d love to do it one day but doubt I’d be able to sniff out my way without signage. Be great to see you and Feargal Sharkey teamed up exchanging knowledge and stories. Thank you

[@edwardwilliamson1]

The 'loop' in London loop stands for 'london outer orbital path'

[@MetalFan10101]

London London Outer Orbital Path?

[@randomuploadsism]

or it stands for, loop, because, it's a loop.

[@d4nn7b]

The LL is easily one of my fav walks, and when you head out SE towards Bromley/Kent area I promise it gets better and it’s really rural around the Keston/Farnborough area. I used a TFL guide to navigate the loop and it’s doable. But a OS/AZ map is recommended. You can do the LL walk continuously or you normally like to mix it up a bit. All the best, see you on the next one.

[@patrickhassett7077]

Cheers John. You recommended walking the London loop a couple of weeks ago so I've made a start. Walked section 2 today!

[@peterjackson4132]

Another discovery for me thanks John. Your descriptive language you say is second to none.

[@fruitytea]

Delightful, bucolic countryside, I can't believe it's London! I look forward to more in future.

[@ifadams2908]

Thanks for sharing the beautiful countryside .

[@JohnRogersWalks]

My pleasure

[@ivanhockenhull2604]

More peripatetic revelations. These London hinterlands are fascinating, John. Ankle injury? Pah! Loved it, as usual.🇯🇪

[@darrellleverkuhn2204]

John, I just happened to come across your videos about the London loop today, and I really have enjoyed them. I did not know about the London loop, but will definitely learn more about it before returning to England. I have friends in Cockfosters and we’ve taken lovely walks in Trent Park but I don’t think any of us knew about the loop even though it goes through the park. The thought of enjoying the great city by journeying it’s green belt is very intriguing to me. My last trip in early 2020 I enjoyed walks in the Carlisle area and am hoping to get back to the Ribblehead viaduct. But now I have more London walks to do as well. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to more. And yes, I agree the romance of the journey is what truly inspires…. No matter the path or it’s adherence to someone else’s notion of direction. Keep up the great work.

[@robertbarling5601]

Cheers John for another great video. It really made my day. It is great to relax and wind down in the evening with a beer and watching your video. We are indeed blessed to have such a beautiful amount of green space around London. Bob.

[@lindahart6049]

So enjoy your walks, and look forward to Sunday posts. Thanks for taking us along!

[@MRoderick89]

Had a bit of a bad week but time to relax and chill watching another great video thanks John 👍 I hope you are doing well

[@gparry42]

Great walk again,thankyou. Nice to see the fast disappearing token on the post box !

[@formdemon]

Thanks yet again John. I walked around this area some years ago so it is a delight to revisit it with you.

[@marty9011]

What a great walk, beautiful scenery & I heard the Roman sandals too !!

[@ashleysgaze]

Great to see you back on the ‘Loop,’ John. Damn fine walk! ❤️

[@2Sugarbears]

I enjoyed it so much that I watched it again.

[@TheDutchman92000]

Another great walk thank you, this was my first view of the London Loop, please keep them coming.

[@1Electricmoon]

Good to to see you in my manor John! 😃 I look out through my window to Kenley Common whilst watching your videos, very hilly here and keeps us fit. Really good connections to London where I also do a lot of walking. Cheers Nigel

[@Ben_Mdws]

Looked a beautiful day for it John.

[@bernardt3026]

We have stinging nettles in Australia - along with several hundred other invasive plant species.

[@ANorthernSoutherner]

Great Video John. Spent 8 years there and my family still live in Old Coulsdon, and most of those paths you trod I've ran many miles up and down them! Can feel like another world while still being in London!

[@jessiecooper2136]

Hey John. I wonder if Tithepit is a shortening of 'To the Pit', the the road taking you to the pit. Or some agricultural meaning in Tithe. I find this fascinating - how history is embedded in the language we use but forgotten. Dan and Jessie

[@martharunstheworld]

That is such a beautiful trail! I love the London Loop! Our Bay Area Ridge Trail (San Francisco) is near completion, but there are a few sections that are not done. Following you on the different sections is such a fun journey. We have stinging nettles in No America as well. "Fun"! LOL

[@simon1066]

This is a lovely walk John. Thanks for sharing, I’m inspired to do it myself.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Simon - you really won’t regret it if you can get out on the Loop

[@pauljones5066]

I really like your vidoes, John, many thanks. Nice weather btw!

[@Mouxbar]

I was going to suggest a Spike Milligan character of the permanently lost hiker: "Where are you?" "I'm not entirely sure..." "Where are you going?" "Over there somewhere..." I see Gary in the comments beat me to it :-) Glorious as ever, put a smile on my face!

[@philburdett]

A splendid bucolic prologue to my week, sir! Good stuff as ever...

[@GeorgeChoy]

I thoroughly enjoyed that, personally I would like you to carry on with that sequence but with breaks every now and again

[@janhenkins]

Fantastic John, I was looking forward to this section of your loop walk. I live about 200 yards away from where you ended your walk in Hamsey Green (in Warlingham), and it was great fun walking the entire section "with you" so to speak. I think that you did miss Devil's Den because you were a bit misled by those missing signs, it's a small section of woods which you can enter closer to the motor gate at the other end of the road that goes through Farthing Downs. No matter though, that whole section including Happy Valley is simply sublime. Next time you are in the area, take some time to visit the Chaldon Church - it contains some well-preserved murals from the Viking era. I also have a vague recollection of it being mentioned obliquely in a Ben Aaronovitch "Rivers" novel as being part of a mystic triangle of some sort, which is neat (even if I am misremembering it). What a cracking video this one is, even if I am super-biased being from the area. Thank you very much indeed!

[@katkylekim]

Fantastic John ,beautiful London beautiful nature .....

[@briancox144]

Yes your right John Rogers what a stunning walk indeed did you find out what observatory it was amazing chalk cliffs fantastic video thanks for sharing John .

[@stephenquinn6485]

Excellent vid john I did Harmonthsworth last weekend. Carshalton yesterday and on routemaster london Vents tour today

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Fantastic Stephen

[@TheIainMay]

Very enjoyable and informative ,just love the Sunday walks sets me up for the next week on my own 1.5 mile walk to work in Colchester through the Roman gate.Thanks John as always .

[@howarddavies9932]

Great company as ever - certainly inspires me to take up the London Loop ( once I have finished doing the Thames Path) - such wonderful unspoilt countryside - amazing. More Loop walks please.

[@sarac.3259]

Ditto. Did the Thames Walk some years back - fabulous. Now need to do this. The video is defo a revelation. So much more green space than one would think even when you live in London or Greater London.

[@jadeddragon9407]

Just what I needed just a beautiful day and vista... Oh and the question you put at the end of the walk, Answer: intermittently, at your leisure, all in goode time. when you have completed that, then may I suggest the Australian Bicentennial Trail (bicentennial national trail map pdf) May take you a couple of weeks but would give your good wife a chance to catchup with the Rellies..! thanks again John

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Brilliant. John at his best. Thanks John !!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Little Acorns

[@aprilmeeker9697]

Loved this walk! I’d love to see more soon. I’m with you on the romance of the Roman Road. That particular track looked very “Roman road-ish” to my eye. 😉 thank you for all the great walks!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks April- I think this is one of those walks that will stay with me for a while

[@ianmaddams9577]

Well thank you John. I just sat down and made the wife watch one of your walks for the first time . As she always says to me on a Sunday. Is it time for John yet” And it has inspired us both to walk the London loop next yr . Thanks for taking us on yet another walk 👍🏻

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s brilliant Ian thanks for passing that on

[@ianmaddams9577]

@@JohnRogersWalks always a pleasure. Your an inspiration.

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Another great walk, thanks John, do hope you didn't have too much hassle getting back home 🤗💙

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks- it was actually not a bad journey home in the end

[@kevincross9206]

More my neck of the woods (excuse the pun) and where my dad came from. I absolutely have to do this part of the loop, will be ideal with the dogs 👍🏻

[@CaptainNow2]

Hiya!! I have been enjoying your videos for a few days now, KZbin auto-played a couple of videos and I found myself stopping working to listen/watch you chat and walk...so, new subscriber! Very enjoyable content here, thank you for creating all of these lovely videos!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much for subscribing Wayne, greatly appreciated

[@alexthomson7465]

You might wish you'd missed the England v Germany match instead 🤣. What lovely places! Cheers John

[@stuartroyle1402]

another brilliant video,,you are the best public information service regarding "what people can dicover for them selves".thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Stuart - very kind of you

[@hikingdenbiking6245]

Great way to spend a Sunday evening, another great episode.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers S-Walking

[@StarWarsJay]

Hi John. Very enjoyable. Thanks for your hard work mate. I’m a Londoner. Born here and apart from a brief spell abroad and a couple of years on the coast, I’ve lived here for most of my life however, I’m constantly surprised by hearing about new (to me) areas of London. Every now and then a place nabe pops up I’ve never heard of.

[@nige_breaks_bikes9782]

Quite bizarre … cycling home thinking it would be cool to see you back on the London loop and here it is ! Fabulous section and lovely film …. Nice 👍😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Very glad you enjoyed it

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

Hi John- As usual very enjoyable and I was not aware of the London Loop and maybe an idea for when I finish the saxon Sore Way. Cheers Kev

[@grandmasterbeats9732]

HELLO JOHN WHAT A MAJESTIC WALK ON THE LONDON LOOP WITH SOME INCREDIBLE SIGHTS INCLUDING CROYDON TOO. . ALSO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I SPOKE TO MY SAX PLAYER ADRIAN NORTHOVER HE KNEW OF YOUR GOOD FRIEND IAN SIN CLAIRE WHOM I UNDERSTAND YOU DID A WALK WITH. SO ONCE AGAIN I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON YOUR NEXT WALK WHEREVER THAT MAYBE.

[@paulvarnsverry11]

Another outstanding video - with the perfect sign-off.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Paul - I’ve just filmed the next walk ... but think I’ll leave it as a surprise

[@williamclarke2020]

John, please continue your London Loop perambulations. I know the great city is your primary focus. And I love those, mate! But it is so wonderful to see the green and the blue sky. The world needs more meditative and "earthy things".

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks William I will indeed aim to get back out on the Loop as soon as possible

[@richardsewell9789]

A new walk for you John, it goes through Waltham Abbey... The Greenwich Meridian Trail is a long-distance walk that follows the line of the Prime Meridian.

[@mattmclafferty6265]

Thankyou John! Gauranga

[@SirPrancelot1]

That was beautiful John. Thanks.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks

[@john80c]

A great video I expected Croydon to be just masses of houses but it too has decent green spaces

[@minijames2777]

Great to see you back on the London loop John,great walk as always, looked very hilly. See you on the next one👍🏼

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers James

[@chrisrainbow2393]

I love your walks john, nice to have the info that goes with them so i will see you on the next one, wherever it may be .

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Chris

[@MeTheRob]

I have never seen such a green episode. So dreamy. Unknown territory for me. I miss the chalk land of my childhood..

[@JohnRogersWalks]

It was a real surprise Rob - I wonder what the next section holds

[@CYPRUSINSIGHT]

Tea and hobnob at the ready. Bring it on.

[@diannereeks1150]

Great walk. More loop please

[@harvey22]

Thanks, John! A beautiful walk. Richard from Reno

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Richard

[@edgarbokye4656]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Edgar

[@ralphwinter6421]

Thanks John, enjoyed the walk.. Cheers mate.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Ralph

[@damedavidfrith55]

Love those words don’t have a map lol how many times will he have scenic detour,thanks for another cracking ramble round London

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks David

[@laudermarauder]

A thoroughly enjoyable video. Thank you sir.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Lauder

[@DamoSuzuki66]

Amazing walk, very inspiring. Glad the ankle looks much improved! All the best.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Michael

[@Drdee1]

This took me right back to doing this section of the LOOP the other way round, the observatory and RAF base stick in my memory. John, you are so right that there is a lot of open countryside close to London and people really need to get out there and enjoy it. I've told anyone who's asked me about the LOOP and the Capital Ring that walking either of the walks will change the way they feel about London. There are perceptions about what Croydon and Essex are like, which change when you do this section and go through Epping Forest. Final thought - why do people steal the disks marking walks?

[@kazzam8514]

Brilliant John, 👍

[@Gregdotgreg]

The Roman Road was the track with the bridge over the railway And the Victorian railway viaduct you filmed a train going over!

[@dolorespinto3106]

keep the the romance, John. We need it. Thanks.

[@georginacox7292]

Barking just had a tornado and I was born in Carshalton good video. Have visitedd Walthamstow house

[@richardperkins7414]

Fantastic video, thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it Richard

[@luluandmeow]

Thank you John, doing the loop backwards, you rebel!

[@leoncioelleon4400]

John under a glorious sun!

[@julieblackstock8650]

skylarks alive and well in Suffolk. First time I have ever heard or seen since moving across the border into Suffolk in April