Hillcrest Wood

Hillcrest Wood is accessible from Wells Park Road and via the 1960's housing estate in Vigilant Close. Access is not recommended for wheelchair users from the Wells Park Road entrance as the path is very steep and a bit slippery especially if it has rained! The wood is a fragment of the Great North Wood that once covered a large part of South London. The Wells Pk. Rd. entrance was previously the path down to what was Upper Sydenham Station (closed September 1954) to Peckham Rye and connections up to central London and the penultimate station to what was the Crystal Palace upper level station, which was located on the parade itself in the other direction. The Upper Sydenham station building remains but is now private flats.

A rummage through the overgrowth will bring you to the tunnel where both platforms ended. Through the tunnel, now blocked off, leads to the Sydenham Hill woods on the other side of the ridge. Following the path to the back of the houses at Vigilant close you'll see a garage block. Here was the location of the signal box that guarded that part of the line.

Tiny woodland with old trees and you a can see the other side of the tunnel from Sydenham woods

This place is amazing for kids even adults the kids playground I loved it they have a drop slide almost strait down drop mad good the animals you get to see amazing the bears was out the people are friendly good atmosphere well worth the journey

Small but nice little wooded pathway with a Victorian tunnel

A nice little slither of woodland around the old railway and station.
It would be good to visit with someone who can explain the site.

Small but plenty of birdsong. The other end of the Sydenham Hill railway tunnel!