The Waterlink Way
What is it?
The Waterlink Way is a walking route and cyclepath extending from South Norwood Country Park to the river Thames at Deptford Creek. It is approximately 13 kilometres in length and connects Beckenham, Sydenham, Catford, Lewisham and Deptford. It follows part of the National Cycle Network Route 21 which extends between London and the Sussex coast.
The route follows the rivers Pool and Ravensbourne. It generally follows traffic-free paths, shared by cyclists and pedestrians with linking sections of mainly quiet roads in between.
What will you see?
This is very much a river walk. It follows the rivers through a number of parks including South Norwood Country Park, and the lovely Ladywell Fields (pictured) where you can stop for a coffee at the Good Hope Cafe. The end of the route is only a step away from the Cutty Sark in historical Greenwich.
How do you navigate?
The route is navigated by blue National Cycle Network signposts on streets and at major junctions. The signs indicate cycle route 21 and generally mention the Waterlink Way by name. Through the parks and along the roads between the signposts there are also circular metal way markers set into the pavement. The signs and markers are easy to spot and are located at every turn or deviation from the straight path or where the route may be confusing.
Does it feel safe?
The route is very popular with runners and cyclists particularly in the summer months and it is rare to find yourself alone on the paths. Although the route travels through some more run-down stretches of the rivers, you tend to be close to roads or around people. It is rare to feel isolated on this route.
What are the route options?
The route runs pretty much in a straight line so there is no real opportunity to make a circular walk. However it passes close to a number of train stations and bus routes so it is possible to walk it in sections if the whole route is not managable. As it follows the rivers most of the route is generally flat and suitable for most abilities.
Suburban walking reccommends a 7.6 km walk from Bromley to Lewisham. The route deviates slightly from the Waterlink Way at the start to allow for a visit to the fantastic Beckenham Place Park containing woodland, a mansion and even a swimming lake. It then travels along the Waterlink Way ending at Lewisham station for easy transport links home. If looking for a slightly longer walk we would definitely reccommend continuing to Greenwich either along the Waterlink Way or across Blackheath from Lewisham.
For more information on the route visit the Sustrans website.