Shire Lane, Farnborough, Orpington, BR6 7JH
High Elms Country Park
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
6.2
Wildland
1–2 hours, Half day
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
6.2On the North Downs ridge, High Elms brings together woodland, chalk meadows and remnants of a country estate. Its landscape still holds traces of the Lubbock family’s time here: the former mansion’s footprint, an ice well, formal garden features and orchards connected with the estate’s history.
High Elms earns its place through more than its generous green space: a nature reserve and SSSI landscape of woodland and chalk meadows sits alongside the physical traces of a former estate. The mix of nature trails, an ice well, gardens and orchards gives a walk here several different threads to follow.
Peaceful · Atmospheric
Find your way
Open mapShire Lane, Farnborough, Orpington, BR6 7JH
Opening map…
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The experience
Explore the woodland and meadows on a nature trail, then look for estate traces such as the ice well and former garden features. Allow extra time for the BEECHE centre, café or orchards if open.
Things to do
Follow the nature trail
Explore the park’s woodland and meadows on the nature trail; Bromley Council says a leaflet is available.
Check before visiting
Look for the estate’s ice well
Seek out the ice well, one of the historic features Bromley Council identifies among the park’s visitor attractions.
Explore the orchards
Visit Beeche Orchard near the café and beehives, or walk to Clockhouse Orchard, which the Orchard Project describes as five minutes from the café. Clockhouse marks an older orchard site dating to the 1850s.
Visit BEECHE
The Bromley Environmental Education Centre at High Elms is a visitor and education centre with a café. Check current opening and activities before your visit.
Take in the chalk meadows and woodland
Explore the park’s contrasting habitats; Bromley Council notes that they support wildlife, including species rare in London.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1–2 hours
A short nature-and-heritage wander
- 01
Start from a park car park and follow a section of the nature trail through the woodland and meadows.
- 02
Make time to look for estate remnants, including the ice well and former garden features.
- 03
If open, finish at the BEECHE visitor centre and Green Roof Cafe.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of High Elms
- 01
Explore more of the nature trail through the park’s woodland and chalk meadows.
- 02
Visit the historic estate features, including the ice well and formal garden area.
- 03
Walk to the Beeche Orchard by the café and beehives, then consider the Clockhouse Orchard, reported as a five-minute walk from the café.
- 04
Check whether BEECHE and the Green Roof Cafe are open before planning around them.
Verified history
High Elms was the country home of the Lubbock family. The supplied Orchard Project account says John Lubbock was a friend of Charles Darwin and that Clockhouse Orchard marks the site of an older estate orchard from the 1850s. Bromley Council confirms that estate features including the ice well and formal gardens remain visitor interests. The park’s main house is reported in the supplied video account to have burnt down in 1967; treat that date as secondary-source information.
Hidden details
Clockhouse Orchard’s older roots — Clockhouse Orchard was planted in the 1990s on the site of an older orchard dating to the 1850s. The Orchard Project notes that a few veteran and phoenix trees remain.
Beeche Orchard and its beehives — The community-planted Beeche Orchard is near the café and next to the park’s beehives; apples, pears, quince and medlar grow there, according to the Orchard Project.
When to go
April · May · June · September · October · Early morning for a quieter walk; check visitor-centre and café opening before planning a visit around them.
Spring and early summer suit a visit focused on the meadows and orchard setting; autumn offers seasonal tree colour. The supplied sources do not specify peak flowering dates.
Some paths may be muddy after rain. Wear footwear suited to the conditions and check current route conditions before setting out.
The route
- surface
- Some sections may become muddy after rain; check conditions.
- start point
- High Elms Country Park; use current official information to choose an entrance and trail start.
- parking start
- Bromley Council lists the main car park and Cuckoo Wood car park off High Elms Road. The supplied Google Maps pin is a main-place pin, not an entrance or parking pin.
- Woodland and chalk meadows
- Nature trail
- Ice well and formal garden features
- Beeche and Clockhouse orchards
Worth pairing with
Farnborough village
A local walking account describes a circular walk linking Farnborough village with High Elms. Check the route and road sections before following it.
What to look for
- 01
Look for the old ice well and surviving features associated with the former estate. The Clockhouse Orchard marks the site of an older orchard dating to the 1850s
- 02
the Orchard Project notes that a few veteran and phoenix trees remain. The park also has chalk meadows and woodland supporting wildlife, including species rare in London.
The story
Science, Archaeology
Best time to go
Spring for wildflower meadows and fresh woodland growth; autumn for changing tree colour. The park can be explored in other seasons too.
Spring is a good time to explore the meadows and orchards; autumn brings seasonal colour among the trees. For a quieter walk, consider an early visit and check current opening and visitor-centre details before setting out.
How long to spend
1–2 hours, Half day
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Families · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 10am-5pm
- Tuesday: 10am-5pm
- Wednesday: 10am-5pm
- Thursday: 10am-5pm
- Friday: 10am-5pm
- Saturday: 9:30am-5pm
- Sunday: 9:30am-5pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
A public country park with woodland, meadows, formal gardens and visitor facilities. The main place pin is not an entrance or parking pin; Bromley Council lists two car parks off High Elms Road. Check current access and conditions before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
Bromley Council lists two car parks off High Elms Road: the main car park and Cuckoo Wood car park. Check current parking arrangements before visiting.
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Toilets
Public toilets are listed by Bromley Council; check availability before travelling.
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Food & drink
The Green Roof Cafe is listed at the park’s BEECHE visitor and education centre. Check current opening arrangements before visiting.
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Dogs
Dogs are reported as allowed in the supplied place information. Check current rules and any local restrictions before visiting.
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Accessibility
Bromley Council lists a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance and toilet in the supplied place information, and says all-terrain Trampers are available for use at High Elms. Check availability, route surfaces and suitability in advance.
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Cost
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Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around High Elms Country Park
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
