Carshalton to Collier's Wood via the Wandle Trail

A Leafy Riverside Walk Through London's Suburbs

This surprisingly green route takes you through the south-western suburbs of Greater London. The walk is linear, beginning at Carshalton Station, with tube and bus connections to return to your starting point. The direction is easily followed by staying beside the river (usually on the west bank), and you will hardly notice that the gradient is entirely downhill apart from one set of steps crossing a railway line. The River Wandle rises in the foothills of the North Downs from ponds at Waddon and Carshalton, flowing for 12 miles through Croydon, Sutton, Merton, and Wandsworth to join the Thames upstream of Wandsworth Bridge.

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Start Point

Carshalton Station

Grid Ref: TQ 27760 64843

Total Distance

5.1 miles (8.2 km)

Total Climbing

10 metres

Estimated Time

2–3 hours

Difficulty Grade

Easy

Trail Navigation Files:

💾 Download GPX Route Google Earth (KMZ) 📖 About River Wandle

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

Essential paper map for exploring London South:

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The Walk Report

Entering Grove Park from North Street, you can see the two Carshalton Ponds that form one of the river sources. Buildings of interest around the ponds include Honeywood (a heritage centre), The Lodge ecology centre, and All Saints' Church (recorded in the Domesday Book with a 12th-century Lady Chapel).

Soon after leaving Grove Park, you arrive at Wilderness Island, where the two branches of the Wandle from Waddon and Carshalton unite. The river frequently divides into multiple channels originally created as mill races. Passing Culver's Island, Watermeads, Ravensbury Park, and Morden Hall Park (owned by the National Trust), the trail follows the west bank towards Merton and Collier's Wood.

At the end of the walk is Merton Abbey Mills, occupying grounds once belonging to Merton Priory. The craft centre contains the former workshops of William Morris and Arthur Lasenby Liberty, along with a working waterwheel from Liberty Mill. From here, a riverside path leads to Merton High Street and Collier's Wood Station along the established Wandle Trail.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.

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Carshalton to Collier's Wood via the Wandle Trail

Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)

The Walk Report

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