Upper Selsdon Road, South Croydon, CR2 7BL, England
Croham Hurst Woods
Ancient woodland
Place photograph
5.8
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.8An 84-acre woodland hill on Croydon’s edge, where a walk through trees can lead to rounded ancient-looking pebbles, remnants of historic workings and a Bronze Age barrow memorial. Climb towards the open summit for views over Croydon.
Croham Hurst earns its place through a striking mix of woodland, hilltop views and tangible traces of deep time. It is a substantial green escape on Croydon’s edge, with a recognised scientific interest and enough path choices to make exploration more than a quick viewpoint stop.
Peaceful · Atmospheric
Find your way
Open mapUpper Selsdon Road, South Croydon, CR2 7BL, England
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The experience
Explore the woodland paths, make the climb to the more open high ground and look for the Bronze Age barrow memorial and rounded pebbles. Croydon Council identifies the 34.3-hectare site as an SSSI and notes its historical and natural interest.
Things to do
Walk the woodland paths
Explore the extensive woodland on foot. Croydon Council notes a public bridleway on the north-eastern boundary; it does not provide a specific walking circuit in the supplied information.
1–2 hours
Look for the Bronze Age barrow memorial
Find the memorial marking the site of Bronze Age barrows. The monument is a physical reminder of the hill’s archaeological past; do not assume the original barrows remain visible.
Notice the rounded pebbles
Watch for rounded stones on the ground. A visitor video discusses them as part of the site’s geological story; the supplied sources do not establish a detailed geological interpretation.
Find the old sand-pit features
A visitor’s walk-and-talk video points out disused sand-pit cuts among the paths. Treat these as landscape features to observe from established paths, not places to climb into.
Climb towards the open high ground
Follow a suitable path uphill to the more open top of the Hurst. Visitors report views over Croydon; the climb can be steep in places.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
Quick escape: climb into the woods
- 01
Start from an entrance you have confirmed locally; the supplied map pin marks the place, not an entrance or parking spot.
- 02
Follow a woodland path uphill towards the more open high ground, allowing time for the climb and breaks.
- 03
Look for rounded pebbles and the Bronze Age barrow memorial before returning by a suitable path.
Half day · Half day
Half day: explore the hill and its traces
- 01
Explore the woodland paths, choosing a route that suits your comfort with hills and uneven ground.
- 02
Make time for the more open top of the hill and the reported views over Croydon.
- 03
Seek out the rounded pebbles, former sand-pit features and Bronze Age barrow memorial; return on another path only if it is clearly marked and open.
Verified history
The hill has evidence of a long human past, including Bronze Age barrows. A memorial stone marks the barrow site, although the supplied sources do not establish that the original burial mounds remain visible. A visitor’s account also describes Croydon parish boundary markers and former sand-pit workings in the woods. Croydon Council confirms the site has historical as well as natural interest.
Hidden details
The barrows are marked, not necessarily visible — A memorial stone marks where Bronze Age barrows once stood. It is a small detail worth seeking out, but the memorial is not evidence that the barrows themselves survive above ground.
Old extraction scars in the woodland — A visitor’s route video identifies disused sand-pit features. Their exact position is not verified here, so look from established paths rather than entering excavated ground.
When to go
April · May · September · October · A clear morning or afternoon; choose dry conditions for the hill paths and visibility from the top.
A visitor video specifically highlights autumn colour, while the hilltop views are most rewarding when visibility is good. No source establishes a particular flowering season or seasonal wildlife spectacle.
The climb and uneven woodland paths may be more difficult when wet or icy. Watch your footing, especially around tree roots and loose stones.
What to look for
Look for rounded pebbles on the ground, old sand-pit cuts, the Bronze Age barrow memorial stone and the transition from woodland to more open ground near the top.
The story
Archaeology
Best time to go
Autumn for woodland colour; spring and summer for leafy paths. The hilltop and historical details can be explored in any season, subject to conditions underfoot.
Autumn is especially rewarding for colour in the woods. Choose a dry, clear day if you want to climb the hill and enjoy the views; wet or icy conditions may make paths and exposed tree roots more difficult.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
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Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Croydon Council describes Croham Hurst as woodland between Upper Selsdon Road and Croham Hurst Golf Club, with a public bridleway along its north-eastern boundary. The supplied information does not confirm every entrance or route’s access conditions; check locally before visiting. Paths climb the hill and may be steep or slippery underfoot.
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Parking
Parking availability and arrangements are not verified. Check before visiting; the supplied map pin is a place pin, not a parking location.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The supplied source information says the car park and entrance are not wheelchair accessible. Paths include hills and uneven or potentially slippery ground; check current conditions and access options before setting out.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Croham Hurst Woods
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
