Stage 1 Map
From East Croydon Station, turn left and follow the Tram line into Addiscome Road. Follow Addiscombe Road until you reach some traffic lights. At these lights, if you look to the left you'll see one of the few buildings left standing from the East India Company training academy, the officers quarters. Continue along Addiscome Road. The tram now bears off to the right, before we lose sight of it. On the left, you'll pass Addiscome Farm, which is one of the oldest buildings in Croydon. After a while, we come to a roundabout. Turn right here into Shirley Road. Climb the hill, and just before the next roundabout, turn left into Barnfield Avenue which almost immediately becomes Eldon Avenue.At the end of the road, turn right into Shirley Avenue. A right turn then takes us into Wickham Road.
Stage 2 Map
Follow Wickham Road, until you come to a roundabout. Take the third exit here, into the High Street. Follow the High Street, which becomes Glebe Way, for a downhill run. At the bottom of the hill is a roundabout, where we go straight across into Croydon Road.
Stage 3 Map
Just before the hill, turn right into Gates Green Road. If you want to know where you get to if you go straight on, look at ride 3
Proceed along Gates Green Road. The scenery changes to couintryside along this road.
After a while, turn right into Nash Lane. There's a bit of a climb now. Follow Nash Lane, though the tiny hamlet of Nash. At the end of Nash Lane, directly in front you you'll see, and maybe hear, the Metropolitan Police dog training centre. This was featured in a recent a recent TV documentary series. Turn left into Layham's Road.
Stage 4 Map
Follow Layham's Road. You'll pass Layham's farm, where there are often car boot sales on Sundays in the summer. Have a look in the fields you pass on your left - I have seen ostriches and emus here, in the past! Just before the end of the road, you'll pass a caravan park on your left, where fairground travellers often stay during the winter months. At the crossroads, go straight over into Skid Hill.
Stage 5 Map
Follow Skid Hill. Unfortunately, the road, and the side roads that adjoin it are often used as a rubbish tip. I've never quite seen the point of fly-tipping. If you've taken the trouble to load your rubbish into your car or van, isn't it just as easy to take it to the Council tip as it is to leave it somewhere in the countryside? It's still free! After a bend to the right, the road becomes Hessiers Road. There's a fine view of the valley to your left. With sheep grazing on the hillsides, you could almost be in Wales. You'll see a narrow twisting road that traverses the valley. This is Hessiers Hill, which we'll be on shortly. Just before the road junction, turn left into Hessiers Hill. This is a fast donwnhill run, but take care. At the bottom of the hill, the road is often completely washed away, and you find yourself cycling through a pile of gravel. The road becomes Beddlestead Lane, and you start a long climb. When you get to a Communications mast on your right, marked on the map as a "wireless station", it's worth looking behind, as on a clear day you can see all the way to central London.
Stage 6 Map
At the end of the road, turn right into Clarks Lane. When you get to the road junction, turn right into Limpsfield Road.
Stage 7 Map
Follow Limpsfield road. At last, a downhill run. On a clear day, you can see Central London to your right. Canary Wharf is quite easy to spot. Cross over the roundabout, and follow Limpsfield Road into Warlingham.
Stage 8 Map
Continue to follow Limpsfield Road.
Stage 9 Map
At the large roundabout, take the right hand exit into Addington Road. At the lights, turn left into Farley Road. Now there's a nice downhill run. You won't really need to peddle again for about a mile, as the road becomes Croham Valley Road and finally Croham Road. In fact, it's fairly easy going all the way to South Park Hill Road, where you take a right turn. We're now back on the route we started on. At the end of the road, going over the two mini roundabouts, turn right then left into Park Hill Road.
Stage 10 Map
Go straight over the roundabout, to stay on Park Hill Road. At the end of the road, turn left into Addiscombe Road. To avoid negotiating the one way system, it's easiest to get off and cross Addiscombe Road just before the threepenny bit building. Walk across Cherry Orchard Road at the Zebra crossing, past the Post Office,then East Croydon Station is right ahead of you.
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