Leaving home at 1030 I caught a No 407 and alighted at Centrale and boarded a New Addington bound tram at 1054. This conveyed me to the Addington interchange where I disembarked and waited for a No 433 to return me to Croydon.
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| My tram heading up the hill to New Addington |
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| About six buses an hour |
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| Three high numbered buses |
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| Transport UK 1536 arriving |
I had arrived at 1115 and there was already a No 433 waiting and this bus an electric TransportUK No 1536 picked me up at 1120. We went to the Gravel Hill roundabout and then on to Featherbed Lane where we turned left and then right into Courtwood Lane which I had also done on the No 353. Indeed this route used to be known as the No 354 before the trams came and linked Croydon with Bromley. Soon we were alone though, heading up Bardolph Avenue and then Pixton Way, Linton Glade, Sorrel Bank and on entering Peacock Gardens we then used many roads all with bird names.
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| The bottom of Gravel Hill |
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Houses very like our own-so Wimpey 1970s
houses in Forestdale |
Eventually we emerged onto Farley Lane and turning right set off for Selsdon Sainsburys where we went straight across swapping the No 409 for company with the No 64.
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| The No 433 on its own in Forestdale |
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| Metrobus No 409 at Selsdon Sainsburys |
We passed across the lights a 1134 and started to descend as we me Croham Valley Road and passed Ballards Way. Once past the site of Selsdon station we took the right turn into South Park Hill Road which meant we then reached Coombe Road so as to climb Park Hill Road. After continuing North to Upper Addiscombe Road we turn left past the Threepenny bit to East Croydon station arriving at 1146. It was then a short journey to Park Street where the bus terminated at 1151.
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| The park street terminus |
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East Croydon stationwit another No 433 going
the opposite way |
I then walked to east Croydon station and caught the 1159 Tattenham Corner train to Woodmasterne. I arrived at 1223 and walked down to Chipstead Valley Road and there went left up Rickman Hill.
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| Arrival at Woodmansterne |
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| Train leaving for Tattenham Corner |
This was quite a climb and it took me ten minutes to reach Ridgemount Avenue where the No 434 departs from. As I arrived Metrobus/Go ahead 192 headed off the way I had just come. It was then a half an hour wait for the next bus.
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| Climbing Rickman Hill |
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| The bus I missed |
It was a good job I had plenty of reading matter wih me as Merobus 191 arrived a 1250 and finally I was aboard at 1303.
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| The bus stop where I waited half an hour. |
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| Metrobus 191 |
The bus turned left and descended the hill and at the bottomthe bus went right along Chipstead Valley Road until it met Coulsdon High Street. The bus here turned north towards Purley passing Metrobus 189 on the No 434 in the process.
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| Coulsdon Post Office |
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Coulsdon Town station which used to be called
Smitham |
Beyond the bypass the bus turned away from the Purley direction and headed up Smitham Downs Road which, as with the initial part of the journey was a hail and ride section. At the top we took Smitham Bottom Lane only briefly before diving right down Woodcote Valley Road which we took all the way to Foxley lane.
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Enterring Hail and Ride section on Smitham
Downs Road |
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| Approaching Purley Cross in Foxley Lane. |
At Foxley lane the bus was no longer alone, as it had been since leaving Coulsdon High Street, and with other buses went to Purley Cross and stopped opposite Tescos for a quick driver exchange. This lasted only from 1324 to 1326 and we were then off along the A22 in the direction of Eastbourne. Quite soon after going under main railway line we turned right into Foxley Hill Road and then right into higher drive as we crossed the Caterham railway line.
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| Opposite Tescos Purley we exchanged drivers |
The bus then climbed up the hill side past St Barnabas church at 1329. This was the way Mother Bernie had comeon the Surrey churches'Ride and Stride' in 2024 as we headed for Bletchingley via Caterham. We passed the final of the four buses on the route at this point No 190.
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| Turning into Hayes Lane |
Once at the top of the Downs at 1329 we took Wattenden Road so as to access Hayes Lane without the sharp bend that would otherwise be required. Hayes lane then led us down to the A22 once more and we turned right in the direction of Caterham here.
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| Kenley Water Treatment works alongside the A22 |
The bus then followed the A22 through Whyteleafe to the Wapses Lodge roundabout where we arrived at 1345. Going stright over towards Caterham we reached the clocktower and circled it and termianted at 1351. Exactly two hours after finishing at Park Street on the previous bus.
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| Changing the destination in Caterham after arrival |
I then had a break for coffee and pasty at Coughlans. I then needed to get to Merstham to ride the No 435. There is a bus the No 411 but looking at the timetable I hadn't long missed it so as it is a two hourly service it seemed sensible to try and walk as it was only about four miles.
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| Woodland way |
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Looking back from War Coppice Road
towards Caterham |
I thus walked past Soper Hall and along Harestone Valley Road then along Weald Way past Caterham school . Next I took Woodland Way which became very steep before going right along War Copice Road.
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The unmade road signposted as the
North Downs Way |
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WilleyPpark Farm which is used also as a
recycling centre for damged aircraft |
At Whitehill lane which again I had traversed with Mother Bernie on the 'Ride and Stride' I went straight over onto an unmade road which led me to Willey Park Farm. By this time the drizzle was becoming very annoying and I was quite damp.
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| Descending the North Downs |
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| Crossin the M25 |
At the farm there was a footpath heading south and I expected that would take me down the scarp slope of the Downs. This it did and I reached the Surrey Wildlife Trust Quarry hanger Reserve on Spring Bottom Lane. Going west along this road I reached Warwick Wold Road and I took this south across the M25. This road eventually, after many road works took me to Bletchingley Road where I turned right and went under the M23. This road led me into Merstham where I arrived at 1610 at a No 435 bus stop.
However, that meant I had to wait 45 minutes for the next No 435 and since this would require travel in the rush hour I decided to leave the bus until next time. Therefore I walked to Merstham station and to the Quality Street stop and caught the next No 405 bus home.
