CAMRA’s Bromley branch held its annual cramble (crawl/ramble, for the uninitiated) on Saturday 9 August. It was a great success, with near perfect weather and a turnout of around a dozen participants. At exactly midday, we left Knockholt station and immediately began the climb up to the A21 footbridge to cross to the edge of Chelsfield Lakes golf course. No drama negotiating the golf course but crossing Court Road was somewhat difficult, until a considerate motorist stopped to allow all ten of us to cross. We then started walking along a footpath through a wooded area, along the side of the motorway slip road and, after about 100 yards, climbed the highest stile of the whole trip. This took us into a field occupied by some very inquisitive horses and it seems that if you haven’t got carrots as payment, you are not welcome to cross the field!
Several more fields and stiles later, we emerged onto Shoreham Lane and, a few yards along the lane to the left, there were the steps up to the Bo-Peep. We were offered a choice of Bexley Redhouse or CBM Garden of England, both of which were in really rather fine condition. With our drinks chosen, we made ourselves comfortable in a shady spot of the garden, as can be seen from the photo below (taken by Norman). We saluted the memory of the Crooked House in Himley on the second anniversary of its illegal demolition.
Suitably refreshed, we headed back down the lane where we encountered our only traffic jam of the day. After crossing yet another stile into the next field, we started on the longest and by far the most interesting section of the journey. Many photo stops were made from our high vantage point, with views over east and west London. Most of us had previously seen views of Canary Wharf, the Shard, the BT tower and the like but, amazingly, we could also just make out the Wembley arch, faintly on the distant horizon.
Eventually we arrived hungry and thirsty at the historic Five Bells to find the eleventh and twelfth members of our group already sitting in the sun out at the front. Inside we were treated to a surprising selection of six cask ales! In fact, one of our crew was prompted to write in the beer score comments, ‘TBH I was knocked out by the fact that this small pub had six cask beers on and they were all in superb condition’. St Austell Proper Job scored 4 and Vale Red Kite 4.5! Small pub it may be, but the front area and vast back garden provide a broad selection of places to get comfortable. The menu is equally wide ranging. From lighter bites to main meals, it was just what was needed when you have worked up an appetite and struggled to the wrong side of 2pm before eating. The photo below, kindly taken by Chris the publican and supplied by Kent Sadler, shows the full party assembled outside the Five Bells.
On from the Five Bells along Warren Road, a small alleyway on the left took us back to Court Road. Passing through the churchyard of the 12th century St Martin of Tours, it was all downhill for the rest of the cramble. We crossed Warren Road, entered Chelsfield Green and carried on parallel to the road. This took us past the WWII Hurricane pilot’s memorial and the viewpoint across London. There are some old orchards here and, in another week or two, we will be in peak scrumping season! After passing through the station car park, crossing Warren Road and the railway again, our final destination, the Chelsfield, was on our left. Only Black Sheep Bitter was available but it was in fairly good condition so once again we made ourselves comfortable in the small back garden and reflected on a most enjoyable cramble (four miles by my calculations). We heartily thanked Richard Gadd and his dog Molly for researching and guiding us through.
Our route included several parts of our branch’s ‘Bromley Pub Walks‘ project (see below) although the stretch between the first and second pubs is yet to be documented.
Norman Warner
