Kinley to Coulsdon South via Devilsden Wood and London Loop

This roughly 10 km / 6.2 mile point-to-point walk links Kenley with Coulsdon South through a varied stretch of the southern London green belt, combining open downland, wooded slopes, broad valley views, and a notably historic section of the London Loop. Although usually rated easy, the route feels a little more demanding than the label suggests because the elevation gain is around 200 metres / 656 feet, with a few short but definite climbs and descents, especially around Happy Valley and the approach to Devilsden Wood. The terrain is generally good underfoot on established paths, but chalk, clay, and woodland sections can become slippery after rain. (innerlondonramblers.org.uk)

The walk begins near Kenley railway station, Kenley, Greater London, the nearest clear landmark for the start area, and finishes at Coulsdon South railway station, Brighton Road, Coulsdon, London. Coulsdon South is a practical endpoint because it has direct rail connections and sits close to the southern end of Farthing Downs. (southeasternrailway.co.uk)

For public transport, the simplest plan is usually to take a train to Kenley station to start and return from Coulsdon South station at the end. Both stations are on National Rail routes in south London, making this a convenient linear hike without needing to retrace steps. If you need to break off near the latter part of the route, the Ramblers’ London Loop notes that bus 466 from Coulsdon Road can connect toward East Croydon. (southeasternrailway.co.uk)

If arriving by car, parking is easier at the finish than at the start. Coulsdon South Station car park is an obvious option near the endpoint, while Kenley Common has no public car park, with only marked on-street bays on Hayes Lane for access to that common rather than the station itself. That makes rail the more straightforward choice for most hikers. (apcoa.co.uk)

What the route feels like

From the Kenley side, the route quickly settles into a greener, more open landscape than many walkers expect within London. This part of the borough is shaped by chalk downland and commons, so the scenery alternates between exposed ridges, hedged fields, and pockets of woodland. The gradients are rarely long, but they come in waves, and the cumulative ascent is what you notice by the end rather than any single climb. Expect a mix of compacted paths, grassy tracks, and woodland trails. In wet weather, the descents into and out of the valley can be muddy and slick. (walkingthelondonloop.uk)

One of the standout landscape moments comes around Happy Valley, where the route opens to broad views and then drops into a more enclosed, sheltered valley floor before climbing again. The Ramblers’ route notes mention benches and viewpoints here, and this is one of the best places to pause, check HiiKER, and gauge how the next undulating section is unfolding. (innerlondonramblers.org.uk)

Woodland, downs, and wildlife

The passage through Devilsden Wood is one of the most distinctive sections. It is an area of ancient woodland, and that usually means a cooler, shadier atmosphere under a mature canopy, with more roots underfoot and a narrower, more enclosed feel than the open valley and downs. In spring, this stretch is especially valued for woodland flowers such as bluebells and wood anemones. (woodlandtrust.org.uk)

Happy Valley itself is particularly good for wildlife because it contains a mosaic of habitats including woodland, scrub, chalk grassland, and meadow. That variety supports butterflies, bees, and a strong display of wildflowers, with cowslips in spring and orchids in early summer specifically noted by local natural history sources. Hikers moving quietly through the valley and along the grassland edges should keep an eye out for pollinators and birds using the hedgerows and scrub. (cnhss.co.uk)

After Devilsden Wood, the route emerges onto Farthing Downs, where the character changes again. Here the walking becomes more open and airy, with long views across the surrounding landscape and, in clear weather, toward the London skyline. The downs are chalk grassland, so they can feel bree