From where the Ravensbourne enters the Thames through Deptford Creek to it's source, Caesars Well at Keston Ponds the river has history. Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Elizabeth I on Deptford Creek and the Romans named the point where the underground spring emerges from the ground to form the river after their emporer, Caesar.

In an easy going ride, we follow the Ravensbourne from the Thames as it makes it's way through Lewisham and Bromley to it's source.We'll return via route 21 the Waterlink Way.

Lunch at a pub in Keston.

Some off road sections. Unsuitable for racey road bikes.

Report

What Wikipaedia has to say about the River Ravensbourne.

Mick, Richard, Sarah, Dave, Anthony, Sue, Ian, Toni, Paul, Karen, Rob, Mark, Ruth and Eric.

Our journey took us from where the Ravensbourne enters the Thames through Deptford Creek to the Ponds and Caesar’s Well at Keston.  The Ravensbourne is a short river only about 12 miles in length form source to the Thames and an ideal river to follow for a short bike ride that takes you the along length of the Lewisham borough and beyond.
From Deptford Creek we crossed Creek Road and made our way up Creekside stopping halfway to take in the view of the creek from Halfpenny Hatch Bridge. From this foot cycle bridge you get a really good framed view of the Laban Centre framed by the lifting rail bridge, it hasn’t lifted in a long time if it ever did, on the line between Deptford and Greenwich.

We cross the river at Deptford Broadway where the river was originally forded centuries ago and where the creek becomes the Ravensbourne. On through Brookmill Park and then we cross Loampit Vale entering the redeveloped Sundermead estate. There’s been a nice opening up of the river here with the removal of the culverts, though it’s collecting litter behind the temporary fencing no doubt while it awaits its very public opening. From one area of regeneration in the centre of Lewisham we moved to another at Ladywell Fields where the park is undergoing a major transformation in the guise of a Quercus project and a £460,000 EU grant. Despite the major works taking place the cycle route has actually been prioritised and remains open with a temporary bridge over the river between the centre and southern fields.

At Catford Bridge we turn off the Waterlink Way and head down Canadian Avenue, Fordmill Rd and Knapmill Rd into the heart of Bellingham to catch glimpses of the river in the culverts between the streets. A couple of times we emerge onto Bromley Rd before eventually turning up Beckenham Hill Road and entering Beckenham Place where our river menders beautifully along the southern edge of a shady meadow.  The down side of this section is incredibly awkward getting in and out of the park at the north and south exits. The annoying thing about it is that if anyone wanted to get in here on a motorbike all they have to do is enter through the car park.

Out of Beckenham Place it’s down Ravensbourne Avenue, across Beckenham Lane and down Martin’s Road to Queen’s Mead Recreation Ground and then onto Church House Gardens. All the while the river is appearing and diapering at the side of the ride and under the ride as it goes behind houses, under the road and under the ground. As the river emerges from the southern side of Hayes Lane it is now only a couple of feet wide and resembles a ditch rather than a river.

Through Norman Park we ride beside what has now become a very narrow stream and is now called Ravens Bourne so maybe it’s not a river any more but a bourne. We enter Bromley Common and have to leave the river as it crosses private land. The route across Bromley Common is OK as long as it is dry as it is today (so far) but a little rain can turn the farm tracks very muddy and fill the ruts with water. We pick up the river again in Padmall Wood just before it comes out of the bottom of the three Keston Ponds. Finally we reach Caesar’s Well which is at the top of the southern most pond on Keston Common. Only Anthony dares to taste the water as it comes out of the ground and declares it to taste better than both tap and mineral water.

Our expedition to the source of the Ravensbourne over, we head into Keston and have lunch at The Fox. A good selection of food including bar snacks and meals is available at The Fox and at reasonable prices.
Our journey back to Lewisham took us west an up through Spring Park to pick up the Waterlink Way and head down and North back to Lewisham and Greenwich. As we crossed South Norwood Country Park the heavens opened for about half an hour and we were deluged with a warm summer storm.

We were now following the Pool River which had been transformed into a torrent by the rain coursing into it off the hilly tarmaced roads to the west. In Cator Park we stop to look at the plaque with the H G Wells quote “When I see an adult on a bicycle I have faith in the human race.”

Just before Catford we stop to look at the confluence of the Ravensbourne and Pool. Most leave the ride at Ladywell Fields and I leave in Deptford as Anthony, Sarah and Eric head back to Greenwich.

Ian Pendleton