wellness
Croydon Council Updates 12 Walking Trails With Official Distance Ratings
Trails across Croydon parks now carry official distance and difficulty ratings updated this month by local council staff.
How we reported this
Croydon Council released updated ratings for 12 walking trails on 8 July 2026, sorting them by exact distances and effort levels measured in metres of elevation gain.
More residents turned to outdoor routes after the council cut indoor gym subsidies at the end of 2025, pushing daily step counts higher across the borough.
Staff at Lloyd Park on Coombe Road measured the perimeter loop at 1.8 kilometres with 22 metres of climb, marking it easy for beginners. The Friends of Wandle Park group added waymarkers to its riverside path along Waddon Ponds, listing the full circuit at 2.4 kilometres and flat grade.
Easy Trails Under 3km
Shirley Hills path from the car park on Oaks Road covers 2.9 kilometres out and back with only 45 metres of ascent, suitable for families with pushchairs. Council records show 1,240 visits logged on that route during June 2026 alone.
Moderate to Challenging Routes
The longer Addington Hills trail starting at the junction of Coombe Lane and Shirley Hills Road stretches 6.7 kilometres with 118 metres of climb, rated moderate to hard on the new scale. South Norwood Country Park loop via the lake path measures 4.3 kilometres and 67 metres of gain, listed as moderate.
Croydon Ramblers documented average completion times for each trail using GPS data collected between March and June this year, confirming the Addington route takes most walkers 95 minutes at a steady pace.
Walkers can download the free Croydon Trails map from the council website or pick up paper copies at the Purley Leisure Centre desk before heading out.