McGresty
as it happens
Sydenham Hill Wood
There are those times you set out to do something specific. This thought went through my mind as I was negotiating a narrow trail. My Leki pole had been set high for a very much needed third leg and at the same time it was difficult to see due to the dense woodland where it was quite dark, with the occassional blast of bright sun light bursting forth in a few gaps of the high overhead leafage. The reason I had come to this place seemed to be diminishing. Underfoot there lay long sort of viney threads which my feet went under a few times and almost tripped me up. To make matters worse there were a number of vinelike growths from other trees which had long thorns on, ouch!
Not all was bad though, the slight breeze made leaves wiggle and as the sunlight hit the higher ones it was like will-o'-the-wisps and walking in a magic zone. Step by step was a slow process because of low branches on nearly every tree, some were Holly and the sharp leaves often pierced my jeans on the top of my thighs. Then finally I needed to stop. My left foot was only half on soil and next to it was a deep drop of about 2 feet where water had run, that was it. Stepping very carefully backwards, I did an about face, to get back to the main trail.
The reason I had chosen to come to this wooded area was to photograph some Munjac Deer, an Asian breed which are very small and all over Southern England. The website which said they were in this wood was wrong. I spoke with a number of locals and all said the deer had gone. One lady told me that she had seen them in Norfolk, which is a very long way from where I live and I was not about to spend hundreds of UK Pounds to go there and have to bunk up in some very expensive BnB. Now my "specific something" was being turned into a hike and so I continued on with that in mind.
One aspect of the main trails was there were a lot of steps in some places. I had planned to take one last trek while in England and decided this would be it. Then I came across this archway. It is actually a Victorian Folly ruin and was built in 1866, the archway and window were commissioned by Alderman David Henry Stone, Lord Mayor of London in 1874, as an ornament for the garden for his private estate. The Victorian English did a lot this foolishness.
Once the photo of the archway was taken I began heading back and at one stage had to turn around because there was no way out. Sometime later I finally exited the place. Not quite a wipeout, but close. The month of May is in its last stages and the temperatures are in the 80's, maybe even the 90's (I hope). A nice change after all the rain and cold. At least I had some exercise.
Not all was bad though, the slight breeze made leaves wiggle and as the sunlight hit the higher ones it was like will-o'-the-wisps and walking in a magic zone. Step by step was a slow process because of low branches on nearly every tree, some were Holly and the sharp leaves often pierced my jeans on the top of my thighs. Then finally I needed to stop. My left foot was only half on soil and next to it was a deep drop of about 2 feet where water had run, that was it. Stepping very carefully backwards, I did an about face, to get back to the main trail.
The reason I had chosen to come to this wooded area was to photograph some Munjac Deer, an Asian breed which are very small and all over Southern England. The website which said they were in this wood was wrong. I spoke with a number of locals and all said the deer had gone. One lady told me that she had seen them in Norfolk, which is a very long way from where I live and I was not about to spend hundreds of UK Pounds to go there and have to bunk up in some very expensive BnB. Now my "specific something" was being turned into a hike and so I continued on with that in mind.
One aspect of the main trails was there were a lot of steps in some places. I had planned to take one last trek while in England and decided this would be it. Then I came across this archway. It is actually a Victorian Folly ruin and was built in 1866, the archway and window were commissioned by Alderman David Henry Stone, Lord Mayor of London in 1874, as an ornament for the garden for his private estate. The Victorian English did a lot this foolishness.
Once the photo of the archway was taken I began heading back and at one stage had to turn around because there was no way out. Sometime later I finally exited the place. Not quite a wipeout, but close. The month of May is in its last stages and the temperatures are in the 80's, maybe even the 90's (I hope). A nice change after all the rain and cold. At least I had some exercise.
What can I say...
Jun 01, 2026
More posts from: Treks
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