Morden Hall Park, Morden,

Surrey SM4 5JD

TRAIL

Walking

GRADE

Easy

DISTANCE

1.9 miles (3.1km)

TIME

1 hour

OS MAP

Landranger 176;Explorer 161

Contact020 8545 6850

mordenhallpark@nationaltrust.org.uk

Facilities

http://nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

In partnership with

An oasis in suburbia - Morden HallPark walkTake a stroll through thishistoric parkland, created bythe Hatfeild family in the 19thcentury, and experience inspiringsurroundings. Admission is free.Enjoy your walk and let us knowwhat you thought.

TerrainThis 1.9 mile (3.1km) walk takes approximately an hour for a reasonably fit walker, giving opportunityto pause to take in the features described. The terrain is reasonably flat. Surfaces can be muddy andslippery in places in wet weather please wear appropriate footwear and consider the weather conditions.Dogs are welcome under control and on a lead in areas of closely-mown lawn and around buildings.Cycles must give way to pedestrians and National Trust bylaws should be obeyed at all times.

Things to see

The stable yard

This building was constructedin about 1879 to house carriageand riding horses, and is a realdemonstration of the Hatfeilds'wealth. Note the trout on theweather vane, reflecting the linkswith the River Wandle and fishing.Step inside to discover our newvisitor centre, which providesan interactive space for learningabout sustainable green living andnew energy-saving products, aswell as a community exhibitionspace, our offices, craft stalls, acafé and eco-toilets.

The Snuff Mill

The Hatfeild fortune came fromdrying and grinding tobacco(using the watermills) into a finepowder known as snuff, withthis particular mill remaining inuse until 1922. You can see theoriginal waterwheel that oncepowered the huge millstones tocrush the tobacco.

The rose garden

The rose garden was plantedin about 1920 by Gilliat EdwardHatfeild, who gave the Park tous in 1941. We have completedhistorical research into the gardenand are undertaking work torestore the original look stillfurther.

Morden Hall Park, Morden,

Surrey SM4 5JD

Start/endStart: The Riverside Café, nextto Garden Centre Car Park, gridref: TQ262686End: The Riverside Café, nextto Garden Centre car park, gridref: TQ262686

How to get thereBy foot: Short walk fromMorden town centre, downAberconway Road from theUnderground Station on theNorthern Line. There areentrances to Morden HallPark around its perimeter. TheWandle Trail also crosses thepark. This route follows theRiver Wandle from Croydon,through three London boroughsto its mouth at the RiverThames in Wandsworth. Thereare art and sculptural featuresalong the way

By bike: The Wandle Trail isalso great for cycling. The routeis mainly off-road and formspart of National Cycle NetworkRoute 22. See Sustrans fordetails

By bus: There are several busstops close to the Park and avariety of frequent bus servicesfrom surrounding areasincluding Sutton, Mitcham andWimbledon. See www.tfl.gov.uk

By tram: The Tramlink runsbetween Wimbledon, Mitcham,Croydon, and BeckenhamJunction. Alight at PhippsBridge which stops at thesouthern side of the Park

By underground: Mordenunderground station (NorthernLine) which is about 0.75 miles(1.2km) from the Park

By rail: Morden South stationapproximately 0.5 miles (0.8km)away

1. To enter Morden Hall Park, pass through the gate between the Riverside Café and the GardenCentre, under an archway. Turn right. On your right you will see workshops associated with theHatfeild family's estate including a boiler house for heating the greenhouses in the kitchen garden,on the other side of the wall, potting and tool sheds and day stables for the working ponies. Someof these are now leased to local craft workers. Ahead of you the stables are visible. During 2010the Stable Yard was renovated to be the most energy-efficient historic building in the country. It nowoffers new visitor facilities, including an exhibition space.

2. Follow the sign to the Snuff Mill, which is now an Learning and Community centre providingactivities for groups from the local area. The millstones on display outside are originally from a spicemill, but show the edge turning arrangement of the stones used. You will also pass a second-handbookshop next to the Snuff Mill.

3. At the Snuff Mill proceed across modern bridge over the main tributary of the River Wandle. Youwill pass a little building on the left where G.E. Hatfeild bred trout, then Morden Cottage on yourright. The building is thought to have originally been a hunting lodge before becoming a permanentresidence. Look out for the rose garden beyond the cottage.

4. Walk along the path with the rose garden on your right and go through a gate, turn right, crossingover the tarmac bridge across a stream of the Wandle and take the first path to your right. Passthrough a smaller gate and back into the rose garden, on the far side of the stream that divides it intwo. Continue on this path out of the garden and into the arboretum. On the head of the closest islandin the summer grows a plant called gunnera, or giant rhubarb. The 18th-century statues of Neptuneand Venus have also been returned after a long absence and can be seen on the island in the RiverWandle.

5. Follow the path along the course of the River Wandle, with the river on your right. When the pathforks at a pond, stay left, on the hard standing. When you come up to the avenue of lime and horsechestnut trees near the gate by the Surrey Arms pub, turn left and walk along the avenue. Avenues oflime trees were a status symbol, and horse chestnuts were very fashionable trees.

6. Carry on walking down the avenue past the path coming up from Phipps Bridge tram stop. Re-cross the tarmac bridge and continue straight on. To your right, in the trees, we have created anatural play area for children, themed around life from the perspective of an insect.

7. Cross over the ornate white Victorian bridge, and in front of you will see a second white bridge withMorden Hall beyond, surrounded by a moat. Approach Morden Hall. Cross back over the bridge intothe park, turn left following the path crossing over two small wooden bridges. Once over the secondbridge turn right, following the signpost to the wetlands, which is flooded and is home to a rich varietyof wildlife. (N.B. The path through the wetlands is wet after rain and in winter. If you would prefer notto take this route, continue straight ahead and make a circuit of North Park before continuing from thispoint at point 9).

By road Off the A24 and A297south of Wimbledon and Northof Sutton. From the M25, exitat junction 10 and take the A3towards London. Join the A289(Bushey Road) at the Mertonjunction. Follow the brown signsto Morden Hall Park. Parking isin the Garden Centre car park

http://nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

8. When you leave the wetlands you will reach a T-junction with a tram crossing to your right. Instead,turn left and follow the path with the wetlands on your left; North Park is to your right. Turn left at theend of the wetlands, cross over a wooden bridge, with glimpses of Morden Hall through the trees toyour right.

9. Retrace your steps back over the two small wooden bridges to the white bridge over the Wandle.Do not cross it, instead pass straight ahead towards the Snuff Mill.

10. At the Snuff Mill turn right and retrace your steps back to the Riverside Café and our shop, whereyou started.