Notable Sights

• Joydens Wood map - Woodland Trust
• The Faesten Dic Anglo-Saxon defensive structure.
• Five Arch Bridge Footscray Meadows.

Navigation

1. Exit Bexley station and follow Station Approach down to Bexley High Street.
2. Turn right at Bexley High Street and follow the road under the railway bridge, over the river Cray and towards St Mary the Virgin Church.
3. At the junction to Manor Road, cross over Bexley High Street, and turn left down Manor Road and right through the kissing gates onto a public footpath.
4. Follow the footpath for about 20m before turning right, passing Pelham Cottages and eventually arriving at Vicarage Road.
5. Cross Vicarage Road, turn left, then right down Stable Lane.
6. Follow Stable Lane for about 1Km, passing Hurst National Grid substation, a number of riding schools and equestrian centers and passing through Mount Mascal Stables until you reach a fork in the road by Keepers Cottage.
7. About 10m prior to reaching the fork, there is a kissing gate on the left hand side as the entry to Joyden's Wood. Pass through that gate and follow the path
8. After about 50m take the left-hand fork in the path heading uphill.
9. The path opens out into a clearing with Five ways signpost, take the left hand path marked as Ferndale Avenue.
10. Look for the boundary markers with a red-top / white arrow labelled Faesten Dic Trail, follow these as for around 2 km as the path loops right around the edge of Joyden's wood.
11. After passing the sign post labelled Old Oak, continue straight and down hill for 100m until the main path forks.
12. Follow the route through the stile, again, labelled with the Faesten Dic Trail red/white marker.
13. The path bears right onto a bridleway, stay on the bridleway for about 1 km as it curves around to the right before arriving at a fork and gate onto Parsonage Lane.
14. Follow Parsonage Lane for 2.5 km until it reaches North Cray Road.
15. Cross North Cray Road and head into the churchyard of St James Church.
16. Follow the path through the churchyard, passing St James Church on your left, and exiting the churchyard.
17. Turn right, then left on the footpath and head straight towards Five Arches Bridge.
18. Cross the bridge and take the path on the right.
19. As the path forks, take the left hand path moving away from the River Cray.
20. Continue along the path through green space until it runs parallel with houses and towards a playpark.
21. Turn left onto the footpath exiting the park onto Riverside Road.
22. At Riverside Road, turn right and follow the road until the end where the footpath starts (also marked London LOOP)
23. Follow the path through a kissing gate and up a short mound.
24. Continue on the path bearing right and passing between 2x fields with the railway line running parallel.
25. After about 1 km you'll reach another kissing gate, proceed through, down the slope and past Bexley Cricket Club.
26. Continue on the path as it turns left and under the railway line before reaching Bexley High Street.
27. Turn left on Bexley High Street and left again onto Station Approach to finish the walk back at Bexley station.