A Woodland Walk in South London
Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Wood
I don’t have a dog, but if I did I’d want to walk it in Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Wood. “How do you know this if you don’t own a dog?” I hear you ask. Well, I’ve looked after a dog quite a few times and have experienced the pooch heaven that is this vast area of woodland in the London Borough of Southwark. The muddy pathways that cut through trees and brambles take you on a walk around 11 hectares, so a full circuit of the nature reserve can give your dog a good hour of exercise.
Of course, you don’t need a dog to enjoy the beauty of this ancient woodland. It’s perfect for a leisurely walk alone or with friends, and it goes without saying that woods are fantastic places for kids to play.
As with many green spaces in London, the woods illustrate the contrast between natural and urban spaces that pops up everywhere around town. From the golf course next door you can glimpse a view of the London skyline, while inside the woods you wouldn’t know you’re anywhere near a buzzing city.
And imagine this – the woods could have become houses and flats in the 1980s, if it wasn’t for the determination of local people to preserve their natural spaces. They campaigned to save it from developers and in 1982 the space became the London Wildlife Trust’s first nature reserve.
Long before this, the woodland had been part of the huge Great North Wood that covered land from Deptford to Selhurst. The Victorians developed on much of it in response to the building of Crystal Palace in the 1850s though. They erected fancy houses in Sydenham Hill and even directed a railway line right through the middle of the woods. However, when the Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire in 1954, the railway closed and many of those big houses were demolished, which meant the wood could expand again.
But enough of the history, let’s answer your burning questions on how you can enjoy the woods now:
What will I find inside the wood?
Lots of trees, paths, brambles and rare fungi, as well as a pond full of native aquatic plants like marsh marigold, yellow flag iris and hemp agrimony. You’ll also come across a few remnants of the old railway that ran through the woods in the 19th century.
How do I get there?
There are a few entrances…
Bus services 356 and 363 will take you to the Sydenham Hill entrance.
Bus services 176, 185, 197, P4 and P13 will drop you near the Cox’s Walk entrance in London Road.
Sydenham Hill Railway Station is also near Cox’s Walk.
There’s also an entrance on Grange Lane near the tollgate opposite Dulwich College. It’s a steep walk up the lane, but I've noticed some people using electric bikes as an easier way to climb the hill.
Can I take a wheelchair or pushchair?
Annoyingly, the gates make the woods inaccessible for wheelchairs. The footpaths are uneven, which also makes it difficult to push a buggy around.
Anything to bear in mind?
Yes - pick up after your dog! Apparently, nutrients in dog faeces can raise nitrogen levels in the soil, leading to a loss of English bluebells and other important wildflowers.
Any pubs or cafés nearby?
The Wood House pub is almost directly opposite the Sydenham Hill entrance, or the P4 bus at the bottom of Grange Lane will take you to the cafés and pubs in Dulwich Village. Alternatively, hop on one of the buses that go to the shops and eateries in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich.
If you do decide to venture down to south London for a woodland walk, I hope you enjoy it! Let me know in the Comments how you found it, or please do share any other good tree-bathing opportunities in London.