Starting from Herne Hill Rd Surgery, 1-3, Herne Hill Rd, SE24 0AU.
[1] From the surgery turn right along the right hand side of Herne Hill Road to reach Coldharbour Lane. Cross over Coldharbour Lane at the pedestrian lights and turn left at the far side. Continue past Loughborough Junction station to the crossroads and cross over Loughborough Road at the lights (with care – there is no pedestrian phase).
[2] Turn right and continue up Loughborough Road. After a large block of flats (Woolley House) on the left turn left into Barrington Road. Opposite Loughborough Centre on the right cross over Barrington Road and go straight ahead up Angel Road.
[3] At St John‘s Angell Town School on the right bear left up Angell Park Gardens with a church on the right. At the end of the road cross over Wiltshire Road (unmarked) to reach the railings in front of Max Roach Park. Turn left, follow the railings round to the end in St John’s Crescent and turn right into the park.
(A) The Park is named after the American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader Max Roach (1924-2007). It comprises three separate areas along Brixton Road and is the start of the Brixton Tree trail. Note the varied mature trees which line the Brixton Road edge of the Park.
[4] Go up the path ahead and then turn sharp left to follow a clockwise route round the children’s play area. Take second left to the left hand corner of the park and out onto Brixton Road to see a sculpture called First Child.
(B) First Child is one of a very few pieces of contemporary artwork in this area of London. It was designed and made by sculptor Raymond Watson, and shows the joy and happiness of having a child and the grief of a child dying. It is dedicated to the children of Soweto.
[5] Return to and turn left on the clockwise route, walking parallel with Brixton Road. [At this point there is an interesting loop described below which adds another third of a mile to the walk. Otherwise continue from para [4].
Go straight ahead to exit the park into Villa Road. Cross Villa Road and follow the path ahead into Brixton Road. Continue up Brixton Road and at a green area (still Max Roach Park) turn right and follow a path round to the left. At a fork bear second left across the green and continue to exit the park at the far right hand corner (Note- this path is a little uneven.)
(C) The area you have reached is Angell Town. This was once a notorious housing estate dominated by concrete blocks and overhead walkways. It has been redesigned and rebuilt as a pleasant and sustainable development with input from local residents
At the road turn right and continue past a basketball court on the left right up to a parking area ahead where the path turns right. Follow the path into Peckford Place past a circular lawn on the left and turn right to reach Brixton Road. Turn left, then left again by a bus stop to cross Villa Road and return to Max Roach Park. At the railings turn left.
[6] Continue the clockwise walk round the children’s play area. Past the hammocks on the left bear left to reach St John’s Crescent where you first entered the park. Turn left and follow the railings to a wooden building on the left.
[7] Cross over the road on your right (Wiltshire Road) at bollards towrds a post box, turn left at the far side and then turn right into Fyfield Road. At the end turn right into St James’s Crescent.
[8] Follow the Crescent round to crossroads and cross over Barrington Road. Go ahead up the left side of Millbrook Road and then straight ahead through a gate into Wyck Gardens. Continue ahead up a path to reach Loughborough Road.
[9] Turn right and at the crossroads with Coldharbour Lane cross over Loughborough Road at the lights (with care - there is no pedestrian phase). Continue along the left side of Coldharbour Lane, past Loughborough Junction station to reach pedestrian lights under the second rail bridge. Cross over and continue ahead up Herne Hill Road to reach the surgery.