Cudham Circular Walk – Complete Guide & Map

Take a hike around Cudham, a circular walk at London’s doorsteps. This inspiring and unforgettable 12-mile route promises a full day of exploration as you travel through its tranquil woodlands, wildflower meadows, and picturesque villages. Winding through a patchwork of pines and beech trees, you’ll feel connected to nature and the history of the area. Along the way, you’ll find hidden gems such as the historic house of Charles Darwin and the picturesque village of Downe. Not convinced yet? Come with us as we take you on a journey of beauty, and peace.

If the term “Countryside in London” had a name it would be the Cudham Circular Walk. So close to London as on the TFL network (yes, no need to buy a train ticket), but yet feeling so far from the hustle and bustle of the city, welcome to the Downe Bank, Charles Darwin’s favourite countryside spot. No wonder why. Come and see it for yourself!

Logistics of the Cudham Circular Walk

Highlights of the Cudham Circular Walk

The Cudham Circular Walk

So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk.

Chelsfield

We start our walk in the suburb of Chelsfield in the Borough of Bromley. Chelsfield is mainly a commuter town, with an old town centre and a more recent development near the train station, known as New Chelsfield.

To get to the trailhead, there is a 1.7-mile (2.8 km) walk up and down Windsor Drive. Alternatively, you can take the bus R1 and get off at High Street/ Worlds End Lane (stop M), the closest stop to the start of our walk. From there, the start of the Cudham Circular Walk is a further 0.7 miles (1.2 km) through a forest path.

High Elms Country Park

We start the trail at the High Elms Country Park. The 250 acres of land which also includes a Golf Course, are classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the variety of fauna and flora found in the park. Look out for the majestic beech and pine trees, listen for woodpeckers and nuthatches, watch for butterflies and smell the wildflowers and the bluebells.

The history of the estate can be traced back to the Norman Conquests when William the Conqueror gave the land to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. During the medieval time, the land was used for farming. It was not until 1808 when successful banker John William Lubbock bought the land, that the estate became a private country residence. In 1840, his son, also called John who inherited the land had a mansion built. In 1938, it was sold to the council and became a nurse training centre. It later evolved as a public space, however, the mansion, destroyed in a fire in 1967, is no more.

Continue your walk through the woods and you soon arrive on a footpath flanked on both sides by beech trees. This path, on the highest point of the estate, is called Beech Walk. The trees were planted in 1840 by the son of John William Lubbock, in memory of his father.

Cudham

We leave the High Elms Country Park onto the hills and fields of the Downe Bank. Follow the signposts of the Cudham Circular Walk onto endless lush green fields, tree tunnels, countryside roads and woodland areas. On your way to Cudham, you walk past farms and meet with horses grazing in meadows.

Be aware that the countryside roads are narrow and do not have sidewalks, therefore you need to share the road with passing vehicles. Moreover, some of the footpaths on this stretch of the walk are quite bushy and spiky. Be mindful of it and prefer long trousers to a pair of shorts to avoid scratches and red patches on the skin.

You then step into a woodland area composed of tall pine trees before entering a wildflower meadow with daisies, phacelias and buckwheat flowers.

You walk across another field with horses before reaching a park at the rear of St. Peter and St. Paul Church.

The date of the construction of the church is not known, however, it is believed that a Saxon church has been standing at this location since at least the mid-tenth century. The Normans would have destroyed the original church and replaced it with the current one, which of course has undergone many extensions and refurbishment since.

To take a look inside, walk on the side of the church and you can enter through the porch. Exit the churchyard onto Church Approach, and cross over Cudham Lane to get to the forested area in front of you.

West Kent Golf Club

You leave Cudham, and back onto the rolling hills of the Downe Bank in the direction of Downe village. After walking up and down the grassland by Bottom Barn Farm, you enter a woodland area.

You are welcome by a set of stairs to facilitate your walk up the forest.

At the top, you exit the woods onto Single Street. Cross. Cross over and follow the footpath parallel to Single Street. The hedgerow marking the separation from the road has been planted as part of renovation and conservation work in the area.

Once you come out of this footpath tucked between the hedgerow and fenced meadows, you enter a field of tall yellow grass on the hillside overlooking the West Kent Golf Club. Founded in 1916, the location of the Golf Club changed twice, in 1940 and after the war in 1946 to its current location.

As you are walking on the hillside, you can see the players down below and the magnificent Club House where guests and golf aficionados alike enjoy their lunch on the sunlit terrace.

Downe

Walk across a field of golden corn and you arrive at High Street Downe. Here you have 2 choices:

• Continue the walk on the Cudham Circular trail
• Make a detour by Downe village

Let’s take option 2.

When you are at the intersection of the field and the High Street, take right onto the road leading to the centre of Downe Village.

The village lies on a hill, hence the name Downe, meaning “hill” in old English. The village’s prominent landmark is the house of the renowned resident Charles Darwin, who lived there for 40 years from 1842 to his death in 1882. Once you reach the roundabout at the centre of the village, take Luxted Road leading to Charles Darwin’s house. Please note that there is no sidewalk on this road, so if you do not feel comfortable sharing the road with the passing cars, you can alternatively take the footpath after St Baptiste Church.

If you fancy taking a break in the village, you are not spoiled with choice. Once a popular High street with more than 20 shops and restaurants, Downe now has only 2 pubs and 1 Indian restaurant. I tested the Queens Head pub as the reviews on Google were better than the ones of the George and Dragon, and I would not recommend it. Whilst the ladies behind the bar were really pleasant, the cleanliness of the place was not up to the expectations.

Let’s go back to option 1.

Once you finish your visit to the village, or if you opt to continue on the trail, take a left onto the High Street. At the end of the road, you enter a footpath flanked by hedgerows on both sides. Follow the path through this tree tunnel of dense vegetation. From time to time, an opening in the shrubbery lets you take a glimpse at the adjacent crops.

You then arrive at the High Elms Golf Club. Originally it was a nine-hole golf course created at the end of the nineteenth century by John Lubbock, grandson of John William Lubbock who purchased the estate in 1808. The current High Elms Golf Club settled at this location in 1967.

Get across the golf course and we are back in the woods where we started the Cudham circular walk. We now need to walk back to Chelsfield Station following the same route we took at the start of our journey.

Happy discovery!

Map of the Cudham Circular Walk

Do you want to do this walk? Download the GPS map by clicking on the button below. Following my step-by-step guide to learn how to upload the map onto your navigation app.

Final Thoughts on the Cudham Circular Walk

In conclusion, the Cudham Circular Walk is a perfect way to appreciate the charm of the nearby villages and the last remains of the countryside in London. From the historic building of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church and the tranquil woodlands of Cukoo Wood to the lush landscapes of the Downe Bank, this walk provides an unforgettable journey for nature lovers.

And you, what is your favourite walk in London? Let me know in the comments below.

Like this walk? Pin it!